The Understudy by Jessica Zierenberg

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Reviews of undiscovered films and plays

Hidden gems of the foreign silver screen

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............. Top three underappreciated flims

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Edited by Jessica Zierenberg, Bekka Fogle, James Riner, and Clarissa Root ÂŠ 2012

I Wanna Live Again! To the surprise of many, It’s a Wonderful Life was not always the beloved classic it now is. The director of It’s a Wonderful Life, Frank Capra, bought the right to the story from a Christmas card and was determined to make it into a movie. Capra had one of his former actors, Jimmy Stewart, in mind for the main role. Capra called Stewart soon after his return from WWII, described the plot of the film to him, and told Stewart that he would be perfect for the lead. Jimmy Stewart became very interested in the film.

“If there’s an angel in it, I’m interested.” “If there’s an angel in it, I’m interested,’ Stewart recalled telling him. “We need more angels. Don’t say any more. I’m your man.” Many problems arose for Capra, even during production. Capra produced It’s a Wonderful Life through his newly created company, Liberty Films. Wheeler Dixon in his book American Cinema of the 1940s: Themes and Variations explains that It’s a Wonderful Life had an enormous budget for that time period: $3,780, 000. This lavish sum actually caused the end for Capra’s shortly lived production company. What really doomed It’s a Wonderful Life was the competition it was placed against. The film’s main contender was a blockbuster film called The Best Years of Our Lives. Wheeler Dixon says that Director Capra

“had to watch in disbelief as audiences decisively rejected It’s a Wonderful Life and flocked to see The Best Years of Our Lives, which had opened a month earlier.” It’s a Wonderful Life landed at 26th on the list of top grossing films in 1946. It was nominated for Five Academy Awards but won none of them. It lost four of those five nominations to The Best Years of Our Lives. There are different speculations today why It’s a Wonderful Life did so bad during its release. Lawrence Quirk, in his biography about Jimmy Stewart, believes

“It just seemed too apple-pie, too all-American” it was the post-WWII mindset. “It just seemed too apple-pie, too all-American, too ingenuously simplistic to a world that had suffered through six years of human nature at its most terrible.” New York Times movie critic Bosley Crowther felt the same way. He wrote in his 1946 review that the film’s weakness was the “sentimentality of it – its illusory concept of life.” He criticized Capra’s characters and plot as “theatrical attitudes rather than average realities.” Capra wanted to show his audience small town values and optimist virtues, but the audience was far too skeptic due to the horrors of WWII. Others actually believe the opposite was true. Wheeler Dixon theorizes that Capra’s propaganda work during the war “had exhausted him, and he returned to Hollywood transformed and saddened, much of his idealism gone.” Joseph McBride in his book Frank Capra: The Catastrophe of Success even points out that Joe Walker, a cinematographer who worked extensively on It’s a Wonderful Life, said, “I never saw any big change in Capra at all until he came back from the war.

He was more anxious. He wasn’t the . . . happy director on Wonderful Life that he had been before the war.” The online Britannica explains that It’s a Wonderful Life “initially failed to connect with audiences” because it was not like Capra’s “prewar movies known for their snappy dialogue and light comedic touches.” The audience expected Capra work to be the same but the war had changed him. It’s a Wonderful Life was sadly the first film to show this.

Statistics and Ratings •

Second Best Film Never to Have Won an Oscar

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#1 Most Powerful Movie of All Time by the American Film Institute

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#20 Greatest Movie of All Time

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Ranked #3 on the AFI’s list of the 10 greatest films in the genre of ‘fantasy’

It’s a Wonderful Life was swept into obscurity. Whatever the underlying reasons were for its poor reception, It’s a Wonderful Life was swept into obscurity. Capra had to sell the rights to It’s a Wonderful Life when he sold his Liberty Films production company to Paramount. Paramount felt no attachment to the film, so when the time came to renew the film’s copyright, they didn’t do it. The film lapsed into public domain. “The negative was restored by the American Film Institute to pristine perfection. Now secured by copyright. Perhaps it says something about our current

The film lapsed into public domain. era that we need to believe in such a film;” (Dixon 178). This film has done much better today than it did then. Just check out the statistics of how it’s done today!

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One of Capra and Stewart’s favorite movies

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95% of the critics on Rotten Tomatoes have given the film good reviews.

Jimmy Stewart said, “The movie simply refused to stay on the shelf. Those who loved it loved it a lot, and they must have told others. They wouldn’t let it die any more than the angel Clarence would let George Bailey die. When it began to be shown on television, a whole new audience fell in love with it. Today I’ve heard the filmed called ‘an American cultural phenomenon’” (1977). “What is remarkable about It’s a Wonderful Life is how well it holds up over the years; it’s one of those ageless movies, like Casablanca or The Third Man, that improves with age” (Roger Ebert). Critics and filmgoers alike seem to agree that It’s a Wonderful Life was a wonderful film.

“The movie simply refused to stay on the shelf.”

dreams, one seeking Cinderella and the other Rapunzel. The musical follows the stories to their standard endings, where everyone has their happily ever after, but then explores what happens to these characters after their wishes are fulfilled.

by Jessica Deland

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nto the woods, and out of the woods, and home before dark!” is the characters’ refrain in this charming Broadway musical that combines four Brothers Grimm fairy tales: “Cinderella,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel,” and “Little Red Riding Hood.” Each of the main characters has a wish they want fulfilled: Cinderella wishes to go to the king’s festival, Jack wishes that his cow will give milk, and the Baker and his wife wish to have a child, but they can’t because a witch cast a spell on the Baker’s family that made the family line barren.

For various reasons, each character ventures into the woods on a journey: Cinderella to visit her mother’s grave, Jack to sell his cow, and the Baker and his wife to find ingredients for a potion to lift the curse. Interspersed throughout these characters’ quests is Little Red Riding Hood’s journey to her grandmother’s house, as well as two princes’ search for the princess of his

hese four stories overlap in clever ways, where characters from one story play a part in others, and the characters and even storylines have been altered to make them highly comedic. For example, the Baker and his wife end up obtaining a potion ingredient from each of the other characters: a cow as white as milk from Jack, a cape as red as blood from Little Red Riding Hood, hair as yellow as corn from Rapunzel, and a slipper as

pure as gold from Cinderella. Their attempts to persuade, buy, and steal these ingredients from the characters often fail or go awry, and are also hampered by the Baker’s desire that his wife return home, but her insistence on helping. It doesn’t help matters that the witch keeps showing up to nag them about finding the ingredients. However, the witch is one of the best comedic elements in the play. Played by Bernadette Peters in the original Broadway production, the witch is the main source of comical acting and dialogue, most especially with her comedic timing. The characters’ interactions with one another and the chaos caused by the overlapping of these stories keep the viewer laughing throughout the entire musical.

nterspersed throughout the humor, however, is a serious strain that focuses on teaching moral lessons. After the characters undergo their various experiences, they take turns telling the audience what they learned from them. These bits of wisdom do include humorous statements, but as the musical progresses, they focus more on serious topics such as motherhood, learning from mistakes, accepting consequences, and making moral

decisions. Into the Woods is a new take on these overtold fairy tales, showing these characters growing and changing as they come to understand and accept the consequences of their wishes and actions.

hat really makes this musical come together is the stunning music, written by Stephen Sondheim, that weaves in and out throughout the entire musical. This music is the key to bringing these four

very different stories together. The songs are reused throughout the play, sung by different characters but about similar ideas and desires. The song that does this best is the main theme where all of the characters sing at the same time about their wishes and goals. It helps connect these characters to one another and

portray the common themes in each of these stories. The music is funny and energetic, and also serious and instructive at times, but overall memorable enough to stay in your head for days after you listen to it.

ith its comical characters, moral teachings, and remarkable music, Into the Woods is a musical you will never forget. The musical, along with its original Broadway cast, deserves a five star rating. It entertains while it teaches and breathes new

life into stories that we all know by heart. It makes you laugh, but also tugs at your heartstrings. I highly recommend this emotional experience to anyone who loves music, loves fairy tales, or just loves to laugh.

blue skies above him. Convinced that an intense storm is coming, he makes his mission to construct a tornado shelter in his backyard.

By Alex Pinkham

aranoid schizophrenia or legitimate apocalyptic visions? The film Take Shelter eventually answers the question of what is plaguing Curtis, its main character. The resolution does not come until the film’s final seconds.

he film follows Curtis (Michael Shannon) as he witnesses supernatural phenomena taking place in his everyday life. The things he sees both in his dreams and waking life confuse and torment him. He has nightmares of everything from his furniture moving on its own to people trying to harm him. As time passes, Curtis has the ominous feeling that something bad will happen. He begins to hear sounds of thunder when only

urtis’s delusions and his obsession with preparing for what he believes is to come take a toll on his personal life. He puts his job in jeopardy and he strains relationship with his wife and young daughter. His wife, played by Jessica Chastain, does everything she can to support and understand Curtis, yet cannot help but feel fear as she knows Curtis’s mother suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

he entire film kept me hooked. I felt intrigued from start to finish. The actors deliver convincing performances that establish a tension that builds more and more as the movie progresses. Shannon particularly impresses me in his portrayal of Curtis.

He managed to simultaneously unsettle me and gain sympathy from me—all the while remaining completely believable. I especially appreciated the ambiguity

of the film. Not knowing until the very end of the film whether or not Curtis was crazy kept me on edge. Chastainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acting also blew me away. The way she expressed her dialogue down to the subtlety of her looks and gestures added so much to the film.

he directing is another mesmerizing aspect of the movie. Every shot of the film was carefully crafted and beautiful. The scenes absorbed each bit of my attention. Director Jeff Nichols used

the cinematography to his advantage, as the directing enhances the plot. For example, in one particularly tense scene, Curtis drives his car with the rain pouring hard outside. He rubs the inside of the windshield, trying to improve

his visibility in the stormy weather. Just as he sees more clearly, a man appears standing in the road and Curtis loses

control and crashes. Every element of this scene was especially well done. The close-up camera angles, the music, the soundsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;everything contributed to intensity. It heightened all of my senses and I was on the edge of my seat. Just like in so many other scenes of the movie, I could not look away.

highly recommend Take Shelter. It is not an overdone film with showy special effects or an extremely farfetched plot. It is simply a visually stunning film with a thought-provoking plot. The final scene of the movie will haunt you for days after!

here were several notable aspects about the film, including the following: acting, creative futuristic technology, and the different take in the plot on an extra-terrestrial species.

irst, the performance of Jodie Foster inspired me in this science fiction by Lindsey Nelson film. The film places Foster in many unique circumstances that require the skill to demonstrate sincere emotional response. At one point in the film, Foster is considered delusional for her unreasonable claims, unsupported by any ook, all I’m asking is for you …to take a chance on scientific proof. Having fought her whole something that just might end to prove her beliefs up being the most profoundly through her research, impactful moment for humanity, for the this scene shows Foster’s history…of history.” Jodie Foster said ability to recreate pent these profound words in the 1997 novelup emotion from an based science fiction film Contact. extensive history of Jodie Foster as Ellie Arroway Foster stars as Eleanor “Ellie” Arroway, derisive and skepticism a young girl in search of life outside of the solar system. towards her strong belief of extraAfter both of her parents terrestrial life. Her reactions to some of pass away, Ellie loses the unbelievable events that take place in faith in God, but keeps the movie are a very realistic response to alive a different type of the situation. faith as she continues her research. Her hard work econd, the technology of extrafinally pays off when she terrestrial life portrayed in the movie stumbles upon evidence is creative, yet advanced enough to of extra-terrestrial life demonstrate the progressive level of an and their instructions alien species. In the movie, they build on how to contact them. machine that allows further contact with Throughout the film, and others from outside of Earth’s solar system. with the help of Palmer The ideas behind this technology are Joss, Ellie finds closure based strictly on science, which provides with herself, her beliefs, the audience with a solid grasp of its make and comes to discover and build. This machine also fulfills the a renewed sense of audience’s expectations of technology spirituality and humility. “above and beyond” that of our own.

hird, the movie focuses on a different relationship between Earth and their terrestrial counterpart. Unlike other alien doomsday films, this movie focuses on a realistic relationship with aliens. The relationship is far more diplomatic in nature, yet it still requires the faith and trust of humans to keep it going.

verall, Contact is an interesting take on Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contact with an extra-terrestrial species and encourages the reader to reflect on his or her own spiritual and scientific beliefs about life outside of the solar system. This unique

movie has either devoted fans or dejected fans. Many feel like the ending didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t provide the shock value expected after a long chain of rising action. Even though I agree that the movie did not end dramatically, I know I agree only because I saw more value in the messages of spiritual and scientific faith; in my own opinion, I felt that the ending of the movie was fitting for the plot given. Those wanting an alien vs. human movie will not find it in Contact; however, if you want a reflective movie that explores possible relationship paths with extra-terrestrial life, this movie is for you.

by McKenzie Livingston Original French title: Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain aka The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain (Edited for content. French, English Subtitles) Starring: Audrey Tautou, Matheiu Kassovitz

oth times I watched Amélie, I was eating or had just eaten something supremely tasty. The first time, it was a pizza—homemade, mind you—with a light, thin crust, just the right amount of cheese, and sweet tomato sauce. It was sitting contentedly in my belly while I was introduced to the characters of this delightful French film. Of course, it might have been that I was happily full of pizza and nothing--not even a poorly executed film--could have ruined that happiness. But soon I was no longer full, but the movie had me entranced.

I had never seen anything like it. Watching it felt much like that first dip in the ocean, when your feet have been propped up in a stuffy car for five hours, and you relish the feeling of water creeping up on your feet. It’s always refreshing to find a piece of your soul in a poem, or a book, or especially a movie. It’s pretty rare these days to see a film that has that “ocean effect,” but for me, Amélie did.

he movie begins with our heroine, Amélie, as a young girl who lives a sheltered life with a goldfish named Blubber and two very eccentric parents. After she grows up and moves away, a rare sequence

of events occurs, catapulting Amélie towards something she didn’t expect—true love. Now, now, don’t roll your eyes and say to yourself, “Self, this is probably a romantic comedy and therefore, I won’t be watching it.” Amélie doesn’t follow the procedural

rom-com formula. That’s why it’s so refreshing. I’m going to make another analogy. I’m going to go so far as to say that Amélie is the equivalent of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, partly because that’s what I was eating the second time I watched it. We all know that B&J’s is one of the more expensive choices in the freezer aisle, but there’s a reason for that. It’s

rich, creamy, and above all, it’s creative. I mean, who else besides the Vermont creamery would think to dip potato chips in chocolate, and then throw them into ice cream? I don’t think Haagen-Dazs would go that route (but that’s another analogy for another movie review). The point is, Amélie succeeds in making a delicious, colorful, and yes, creative movie that I could watch again and again.

want to say one more thing about this film—a caveat, if you will. It’s not for the faint of heart—just like Ben & Jerry’s. You have to be committed before you dive in, because the water can get deep. Yes, it is in French, and unless you’ve spent some time in Montmarte, you will need to pay attention—something that happens

to be hard in this day and age when distractions abound. I mean it, though—watch the movie. Revel in it like you would a favorite poem, with a pen in your hand, circling favorite words and passages. Heck, you can even criticize it. I myself was a little put off by the Fun House scene, only because a man in a skeleton mask wouldn’t give me butterflies (which is the desired effect in this scene); instead, I’d cut into

a run before he had a chance to stroke my cheek. Of course, none of this will make sense to you until you go see the movie, and I’m telling you—go see it! And don’t just see it. Watch it. Turn its metaphorical pages. Rinse your toes in its refreshing waves. Dip your spoon into its chocolately-creamy top layer, and savor it. Right now.

I by Carolyn Lott

nsure what you’re going to watch this Friday night? Can’t make up your mind between a knee-slapping comedy and an intense drama? Looking, perhaps, for a good mystery or little romance? Bon Voyage has all this and more to please every type of filmgoer!

eleased in 2003, this gem of a French film, written and directed by Jean-Paul Rappaneau, the Oscar nominated screenwriter of That Man from Rio, is a masterpiece because of its ability to weave an intricate plot which will have

sabelle Adjani plays the beautiful and spoiled actress Viviane Denvert who is drawn to men who offer her money and security. However, the men she loves devastate her when they leave. Will she be able to find a man who can offer her money, security, and love?

erard Depardieu plays Jean-Etienne Beaufort the cabinet minister who is romantically attached to Viviane at the beginning of the film. With the inevitability of invasion, is he willing to put her safety above his own?

regori Derangere is Frederic Auger, the writer who is Viviane’s former lover. Wrongfully imprisoned for murder, he escapes a Paris prison fleeing to Bordeaux. Can he escape the country before the Nazis arrive or will his countrymen take justice into their own hands before that is possible?

irginie Ledoyen gives an especially convincing performance as Camille, a passionate physics student trying to help her smuggle her Jewish professor (Jean-Marc Stehle) and his jars of heavy water out of the country before the

you laughing one moment and crying the next, jumping and sighing throughout.

on Voyage takes place in 1940 in France on the eve of the German invasion and follows the intricate connections between the lives of a screen siren, a writer, a student, a professor, and a government worker as they try to escape Paris ahead of the Nazis.

Germans can use it to create a nuclear bomb. With the country filled with spies, who can they trust with their secret to get them out of the country?

he performance of all the actors is solid throughout, drawing you into the story and not letting go until the credits role making another reason why this film is a bijou or gem in French.

ritics also agree with categorizing this film as a jewel. Roger Ebert of the Chicago-Sun Times called Bon Voyage a “farce crossed with action and oiled by romance” and “grand, confident

-Chicago-Sun Times

entertainment”. The score also makes this film a “can’t miss”. New York Times film critic Stephen Holden praises the original score by Gabriel Yared for elevating “the characters’ silly romantic shenanigans just enough to lend them a gloss of pathos and add an extra layer of glamour to the film’s already sensuous texture”. The movie is “certified fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes with a 76% overall approval rating and 69% of audiences giving the film three stars out of five for its being “froth, but stylish and giddily entertaining”.

on Voyage is rated PG-13 for mild language and violence. The dialogue is entirely in French but subtitles in German, Italian, and English are offered. Running time is 114 minutes. It is now available for rental on Netflix and purchase on DVD.

nce you watch it, you’ll never want to say bon voyage to this hidden treasure.

-Rotten Tomatoes

Heath Ledger by Kristen Standage

n January 22, 2008, the entire world was shocked to hear of the accidental death of the talented actor and aspiring director Heath Ledger. He was mourned by fans world wide both for the loss of such great talent and the death of one so young. Of his nineteen performances, there was one in which both Heath Ledger’s role, as well the value of the film itself, was overlooked.

n August of 2005, a new adventure fantasy film entered the box office by the name of The Brothers Grimm. Most film critics shared the opinion of Stephen Hunter of The Washington Post who wrote, “The Brothers Grimm looks terrific, yet it remains essentially inert. You keep waiting for something to happen, and after a while your mind wanders from the hollow frenzy up there with all its filigrees and fretwork.” I believe the reverse. The Brothers Grimm is a terrific story, made sad by its poor visual effects, but made rich by the outstanding performance of Heath Ledger and others.

illiam and Jacob are thrown amongst the political turmoil of Napoleon France and its invasion of their home land of Germany. The costume and set design, the accents, and the caricatures are perfectly recreated to take you back in time and place in our world history. The two brothers become con-artists by creating fantastical creatures based on local folklore to scare the populace, then riding in and saving the day for a substantial fee. The real conflict of the film happens when the two brothers encounter a fairy tale that is actually real and threatening their lives.

he audience will enjoy pieces of all of the great fairy tales written by the real Brother Grimm including: Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretal, Snow White, Cinderella, and The Gingerbread Man. As an experienced

screenwriter, I can testify to the difficulty in combining all the great fairy tales in such a deliberately new, unique, creative, and masterful way.

he Brothers Grimm is a fantastic story that is overshadowed and overlooked by the badly done computer animation. The writer uses powerful foreshadowing in the beginning that will mirror the final battle between brothers in the end. The history of the time period is combined with the fairy tales in an unusual but most ef fective and enjoyable fashion. Most importantly, the writer honors the style of the original Brothers Grimm in its twisted, dark, yet moral teaching nature. This wonderful creation is made sour by the animated moving trees, creatures, and other CGI that is far below modern standards.

ll of the actors contributed greatly to this film, but none more than Heath Ledger. In the role of Jacob, Ledger plays (for the first time in his life) a nerdy, weak, stuttering man who is very nervous and unsuccessful with women. His physicality, and the accent he chose for this role are humorous and fantastic. His character growth and emotions are real and powerful, especially when he faces the death of his brother William. Most importantly, Ledger captures the nature of wide-eyed unyielding faith. This unquestioning belief in the stories he writes and the fairy tale they eventually live is paramount to the success of the film

and its power over the audience. If Jacob did not believe, or if the audience thought he didn’t believe, then there would be no story and the audience would not believe it. he Brothers Grimm is a wonderful film that had everything set against it. The directors fought over it, it was late releasing, and Heath Ledger’s wonderful performance was overshadowed by the release of Brokeback Mountain in the same year, for which Ledger won an Academy Award for Best Actor. The Brothers Grimm seemed to have little effect on Ledger’s career one way or the other, but I believe the stretches he made in his role as Jacob prepared him for the greatest roles he would play in the future. There are many forces acting on whether or not a film gets the attention it deserves and many memorable performances are forgotten. The thing to remember is, “Never judge a film by its critical review.”

Brit Marling by Heather Orme

he goal of The Understudy is to seek out and find those films that inspire, but more than that we are interested in the actors and actresses that make these films great. There is so much talent that goes unnoticed and uncelebrated. We want to spotlight an actor that represents independence and individuality that isn’t affected by the conformist industry of

film. Brit Marling caught the eye of everyone during the Sundance Film Festival but wasn’t receiving the appreciation deserved for being an actress as well as talented writer; therefore Brit Marling is an actress The Understudy decided to point the spotlight on for the 2012 Rising Star.

coording to IMDB.com, Brit Marling was tired of being cast as “the cute blonde in horror movies.” So Brit decided to take things into her own hands and taught herself

to write. To date, Marling has written and produced four films, two featured and honored at the Sundance Film Festival, Another Earth and Sound of My Voice. Kate Torgovnick from ABC News states that her performance in Another Earth had Hollywood buzzing of an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay as well as Best Actress for Marling.

he reason that Brit Marling caught the attention of The Understudy is not only for her talents as an actress and her outstanding abilities but also for her background. Torgovnick reports that Marling is a graduate from Georgetown University in economics. She was offered and seriously considered a job at the prestigious firm of Goldman Sachs, where she was an intern during school. Marling was great at her job as an investment banker but found “there were other people around me who really loved waking up with the market and watching the way what was happening politically in one country would change things

in another,” Marling explains, “They were getting this energy from it. But there was no electrical charge in it for me.” When Marling realized her lack of passion for the markets she moved her focus from banking to acting. She

moved to California and put her efforts into acting, this was where she felt her “electrical charge” was served best.

arling’s passion might have taken a dip early in her career as she felt that she wasn’t ever going to get a break in the tough acting world. When she actually did get parts they were always for roles she didn’t believe in. “How terrifying to surrender your life to being chosen all the time. Having to be chosen and re-chosen,” she tells IMDB.com. Marling didn’t appreciate the fact that she had to wait on others for opportunities to make

her mark on the world. She wanted to work but also wanted to make sure that the roles that she would be putting her name next to were characters worth playing. By becoming a writer Marling had control over what roles she would be playing and what those characters would say and mean to the world. Writing was her way of “not asking permission” and taking control of her career.

ecause of Marling’s success as a writer and actress in 2011, she has had numerous offers and been courted to play along side many of today’s biggest stars. However,

Marling isn’t about to be swayed because of the amount of money that is put into a film. She has proven her integrity as an actress can’t be swayed by the paycheck, ““When I read a script, I never look at the cover page first, it always has who’s picked it up, who’s involved. You get a feel for how much money’s behind it.

I always take that page off and read the script and go by that. If the story’s great, it doesn’t matter if it’s being made for $500,000 or $100 million at a studio,” quotes Kate Torgovnick.

With this motto, Marling is the person to watch in 2012. Any film that she decides to put her time and effort into will obviously not be just a whole lot of money dressed up.

or 2012 Marling is scheduled to play in three films, one of which she wrote herself, The East. It really doesn’t matter if others want her to be the “blonde.” Marling writes her own career and The Understudy predicts a big year and big career for this leading lady.

by Julia Willis

n every era, things get over looked. Especially movies. In the 1950s, specifically, I pulled out these three movies that for some reason or other got pushed under the rug, not for everyone but for almost everyone, and I’ll tell you why I think they should be put back onto the shelf, or better yet into your DVD player.

she’s sleeping on his couch! The story unfolds when the reporter discovers who his guest really is and many hilarious and unexpected things start happening to the couple. Ann undergoes the task of acting like a commoner among commoners and finds herself having the time of her life while the reporter strives to keep her secret to himself in order to get an exclusive interview for his paper. The comedy stars Audrey Hepburn as Princess Ann, Gregory Peck as the reporter, and Eddie Albert as his friend and photographer. If you were to ask me why this movie isn’t as popular as some of the other 1950s films such as The King and I or The Ten Commandments, I would say that it’s probably because of the ending. I admit that the first time I watched it I wasn’t too pleased with how the story ended either. However, the more I watched it the more I started to appreciate and even love the ending. I think that the artistic value of this film comes from the story, especially it’s ending. Plain and simple. Ann faces several choices as the plot unfolds along her red carpet life and it’s her choices that make the film so enriching to watch.

he first movie is Roman Holiday. The movie was made in 1953 and it was directed by William Wyler. The film is about a bored and sheltered young princess named Ann who cleverly escapes her guardians and takes a tour of Rome. When a newspaper reporter stationed in Rome finds her sleeping on a public bench, Ann’s life is never the same. Not recognizing her as the princess, the reporter takes her back to his apartment and dashes off to cover the Princess Ann’s press conference, completely unaware that

he second film is Treasure Island. It was made in 1950 and it also happens to be Walt Disney’s very first full live action film. The story is based on the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson about the young Jim Hawkins’ search for treasure. The synopsis of the story is that Captain Smollett and his crew, including the boy, are enchanted by the idea of locating the legendary buried treasure and charter a sailing voyage to a Caribbean island. Unfortunately, however, a large number of greedy, treasure hungry pirates are aboard the ship, including Long John Silver. Bryon Haskin directed the movie and it stars Robert Newton as Long John Silver, Basil Sydney as Captain Smollett, and Bobby Driscoll as Jim Hawkins. An interesting fact about Bobby Driscoll is that he was only thirteen in this film and yet he was an academy award winner. This was his fourteenth film! Of course, Treasure Island is no Pirates of the Caribbean, but in its time it was said to have held

“Daring Action!”, “Breathless Suspense!” and it was known as “The World’s Greatest Adventure Story!” The film holds several artistic values from its accurate and elaborate costumes and dramatic fighting scenes, to its classic story. The movie opens with a title card that reads: “If sailor

stars the beautiful and famous Shirley Jones as Laurey, the handsome Gordon MacRae as Curly, Gene Nelson as Will Parker, and the well-known celebrated Gloria Grahame as Ado Annie, who is probably best recognized for her role as Violet in It’s A Wonderful Life. The film does well at showing what life was really like in Oklahoma during the 1900s. Times were changing and so were the states. When I was a child, my family treasured this movie and often quoted its many witty lines and sang the memorable songs from it. We loved the music! The music is obviously the best artistic aspect of the film and perhaps, unfortunately, the most overlooked. The beloved compositions come straight from Roger’s and Hammerstein’s admirable talent and should be given the opportunity to be heard, seen, and enjoyed. In my opinion, Oklahoma! is a timeless classic that every age can enjoy!

tales and sailor tunes, storms and adventure, heat and cold –if schooners, islands and maroons and buccaneers and buried gold, and all the old romance retold exactly in the ancient way can please me as they pleased of old the wiser youngsters of today… So be it!” In my opinion, the new movies with their computerized characters and unbelievable feats are fun to see, but you can’t beat the classics. No school like the old school!

he third film is the musical Oklahoma! It was made in 1955 and it was directed by Fred Zinnemann. The film is set in the Oklahoma territory in the early 1900s, this musical tells the story of two pairs of lovers. Curly is a cowboy who had trouble admitting his feelings to Laurey, as she does to him, because of their stubbornness. Judd, the hired hand at Laurey’s farm, tries to come between them. Ado Annie is torn between Will, a cowboy who has strong feelings for her, and Ali Hakim, a peddler who’s a regular ladies’ man and doesn’t want to marry her. The film

It should be kept in mind that there are hundreds of movies made every decade and these are but a few of my favorites. There may be more, many more, that appeal to other movie-lovers as well and such movies should be given their moment to either be forgotten in time or set forth and loved by generations.

by Ally Toth

hen people look back on the years following the new millenium and the films that were made, they’ll remember it for the superhero movies, like The Dark Knight, Iron Man, and Spiderman, or the blockbuster hits, such as Transformers and Avatar. They’ll remember geeking out in the theater with their friends, as they watched the entire Harry Potter series and Lord of the Rings trilogy together on the screen. But what about the movies that slipped through the cracks, the great films that were missed through circumstances, or simply bad timing? This is a list of just three of the movies that have been overlooked over the past decade.

which would cause the families to become homeless. Kuzco’s plans are thwarted once he is turned into a llama by his ex-advisor, Yzma. After she knocks him out, Yzma’s orders her right-hand man, Kronk, to dispose of him, but Kronk loses his nerve and Kuzco ends up at the home of Pacha, the man who lives in the village that Kuzco wants to demolish. Once Kuzco regains consciousness and discovers what happened to him, he demands for Pacha to help him return to the palace, to which Pacha refuses unless the emperor changes his mind and builds “Kuzcotopia” somewhere else. Through a whirlwind of misunderstandings and thrills in the jungle, Kuzco discovers that no one back at the palace misses him because of his selfishness, and he decides to change his ways. Once Kuzco and Pacha finally make it to the palace, a mass of hilarity ensues between the pair and Yzma, which results in Kuzco turning human and Yzma becoming a cat. In the end, the changed Kuzco builds “Kuzcotopia” on a neighboring hill, and becomes a part of Pacha’s family. n my opinion, this movie has been far overlooked by Disney, who considered the film a flop after it only made $169 million out of their $100 million budget. The Emperor’s New Groove is a Disney classic and deserves to be on everyone’s shelves. All of the characters are lovable and endearing, and the story line is so hilarious, you’re laughing from start to finish. he next movie on my list is called Dear Frankie; it is the story of a young single mother, who protects her nine-year old son, Frankie from finding out the truth about his father by writing the boy letters, pretending to be him. Frankie is deaf, and his mother, Lizzie, constantly relocates him all over Scotland, claiming that it is just time for a change, when in reality, she’s keeping her son away from his father. For years, Frankie has been corresponding with someone he believes to be his father through the post. He thinks that his father, Davey, is a merchant seamen working on the HMS Accra, when in reality, it is all a fable his mother concocted.

mperor’s New Groove, made by Disney, follows the story of Kuzco, a very selfish, young emperor of the Inca empire, who wants to turn a village of “lowly” peasants into a summer home called, “Kuzcotopia,”

hen Lizzie finds out that the HMS Accra actually exists, and is docking in their neighborhood, she hires a man to pose as Frankie’s father for the

day. The end result is deeply moving, as this stranger enters into their lives and changes Frankie forever.

for Scott Pilgrim is no ordinary bass guitarist, and this is not an ordinary film. He takes out each of the “Seven Evil Exes” in turn, destroying them in various ways. Whether it is giving half and half to a psychic vegan ex, shredding down a railing on a skateboard, or blasting an ex with pure rock sound, each defeated ex bursts into a pile of coins that Scott then collects. At one point he even gains an extra life when he beats two exes at the same time.

his film is very sweet and touching; it is one of those feel good movies that give a positive outlook on life. The acting is superb, and the boy who plays Frankie is so adorable, and does such a good job of playing a deaf child, that you would swear he is truly deaf in real life. I honestly believe that this film is so underrated, and many people have never even heard of it. It only made $2 million in the box office, which is such a tragedy.

y final film choice is much more recent: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. This movie was made on a budget of $60 million, and grossed about $48 million in theaters, which is such a shame because this film is so fantastically done. In fact, it is probably one of the most creative movies I have ever seen, and I am astounded by the lack of interest this film has attained. People either really love Scott Pilgrim, or they really hate it. I happen to be the group of people who love it. This film is just so cleverly done and really makes you feel like you are in some sort of comic book/video game. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is about a Canadian bass guitarist (Scott Pilgrim), who falls in love with an American girl named, Ramona Flowers. There is just one problem: in order to be with her, Scott has to fight her “Seven Evil Exes.” Sounds a little weird, does it not? In a normal movie, that would probably be so, except

will admit that parts of this movie are really weird (Scott dreams about Ramona roller-skating in the desert, Scott and Ramona go flying through a random open door at a park, etc.), but the weirdness just adds to the brilliance. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is actually based off a graphic novel series, just like the film, 300, so the “POWS” that are literally spelled out when Scott Pilgrims punches a person, actually makes sense.

he best movies aren’t always blockbusters. They don’t win awards, they don’t have huge fan followings, and aren’t critically acclaimed. These movies have fallen through the cracks and never really found the audience that they so rightly deserve. When you’re thinking back on the films you’ve watched over the years, you won’t think of these films, but maybe you should. Give these movies a second chance. Unique and strange, funny and weird, heart-warming and uplifting, these are the most unfairly overlooked films of the decade.

of what real genius really is. However, when their finished, functional laser is stolen by their teacher for a military weapon, they must decide to intercept the laser from committing assassinations for a crimedrenched special interests group. by Stuart Taylor

ollywood has experienced many decades of fantastic movie productions that have wowed and entertained movie fans world-wide. One such decade was the 1980s. Although we can all remember our favorite lines from The Terminator and Ferris Buellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Off, there were many great movies within that same time frame that were overlooked by moviegoers in the past and continue to lie in the Hollywood graveyard. Here is my list of the three most underrated movies of the 80s:

Real Genius Real Genius follows the storyline of Mitch, the youngest student ever accepted to a university known for its programs for geniuses. At this university, Mitch finds himself partnered with his roommate, the science whiz and legend Chris Knight, on a project to develop a high-powered laser. For Mitch, this is his first heavy assignment to prove his scientific prowess. However, Chris, who has fallen on hard academic times due to his new found love of girls and partying, requires this assignment in order to graduate. Through the help of the unworldly smarts of their friends, Chris and Mitch employ their intellects of bigger explosions, hilarious pranks, and the deeper understanding

Real Genius makes the list as my first 80s movie that is vastly underrated. The movie is overly appealing for those who love clever humor with a very entertaining story line. The movie is so full of oneliners and running jokes that the infusion of a plot in this movie is only icing on the cake. The actors are perfectly casted to play the quirky, oddball student geniuses that they indeed surpass their jobs. Kilmer is great as the laid back, sarcastic undergraduate student ready to get on with life. His comedy really is what sets him apart in this movie and keeps you rolling in your seat.

Blade Runner Deckard is a Blade Runner, a detective of the future who hunts down and terminates replicants, who are artificially created humans, or robots. He wants to get out of the force, but is drawn back in when four replicants escape from their slave work in outer galaxies and hijack a ship back to Earth. Deckard finds his task more difficult than anticipated as the replicants go about maliciously seeking any way to extend their existence (they are programmed to shutoff after a certain number of years). As Deckard successfully picks them off one by one, he discovers the replicants have implanted in them memories of a childhood that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t theirs. The replicants have a desire for life and to be human that is only a false hope. Although he hunts them to

the end, the replicants end up teaching the detached Deckard what it really means to be human. Blade Runner is a great flick that was overlooked by moviegoers in 1982, but has since risen to cultclassic status. Although the movie has gained recent popularity amongst sci-fi lovers, it still deserves acknowledgment as a great 80s movie that was vastly underrated in its time. The story line for this movie is fantastic. As a viewer, you follow this movie with the mindset of a detective noir film as you watch Deckard trace down the renegade robots in futuristic L.A. Ridley Scott took the helm of directing this film and does an incredible job turning Los Angeles into a city of flying cars, overpopulated streets, polluted air, and sunless skies. His vision of the future is somewhat dark but very unique and fascinating to the viewer. However, the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to leave the viewer debating over the metaphysical questions is its lasting feature. Through the movies portrayal of the slave life of the hated robots and the cold, non-emotional humans, the viewer comes to ask him or herself: What is essence of humanity? What is the difference from being human and nonhuman? Why is life precious?

Gallipoli Gallipoli follows the journey of two young friends, Frank and Archy, who join the Australian army during World War I. The first half of the film documents the journey of the two as idealistic runners, detailing their personalities and values. Arcy has grown up on

an Australian farm his whole life and seeks to join the army as a way to defend his country. He is also an aspiring runner who sets records with each new race he competes. His family and grandfather, his mentor, strongly wish to dissuade of his dreams as a serviceman. Frank is a city-slick wise guy. He has spent most of his life bouncing around jobs but has made a small name for himself by his racing feats as a way to make a quick buck betting on himself. The two meet in a race, won by Archy, and after creating a friendship, decide to join the army to fight in the infamous war. The second half of the film chronicles the progression of these two aspiring heroes. Through a set of ill-fated and ill-planned actions, Archy ends up covering Frankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s place on the front line in the Battle of Gallipoli in Turkey, where the Australian Army Corps finds itself vastly overmatched by the enemy forces. Gallipoli received very little praise stateside during its theatrical run in 1981, grossing only half a million dollars in its first weekend and just over five million overall. Such a film as Gallipoli should never have been overlooked and is a great film that I still enjoy viewing. It was the recipient of eight awards at the Australian Film Institute Awards. Gallipoli is so compelling due to its portrayal of the human side of war. Although movies such as Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down have portrayed war in more graphic detail, Gallipoli successfully paints the gutwrenching reality of friendships lost due to war. Hope you enjoyed this breakdown. Each of these films is unique and provides a good review of three different movie genres. Real Genius is a comedy, Blade Runner is an action/thriller, and Gallipoli is a war drama. All are fantastic underrated films that will provide you a great time during your next movie night.

by Kelly Heath

veryone remembers Tom Hanks for his roles in films such as Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, and Sleepless in Seattle. However, Hanks has also been involved in various movies, as an actor, director or producer, which have not received the attention they deserve. One of my favorites which falls into this category is the comedydrama musical film, That Thing You Do! (1996), in which Hanks himself wrote, directed and performed. That Thing You Do! follows the story of a young, Beatle-esque band, The Wonders in 1964. They get their start in Erie, PA, playing small gigs, but after their drummer beaks his arm, the band recruits Guy Patterson as their new drummer. Guy brings a new, fast-paced beat to the band which gets them recognized by Mr. White (Hanks) who helps them soar to stardom. Thanks to Mr. White’s efforts, their hit song “That Thing You Do” climbs the charts until it reaches the top 10. After attempts to record their album and even appearing in a low-budget movie, the band breaks up just like most one-hit wonder bands.

Roger Ebert said of the film: ‘“That Thing You Do!’ is the first film written and directed by Tom Hanks, and not surprisingly it is as sunny and guileless as many of the characters he’s played: The movie may be inconsequential, but in some ways that’s a strength. Without hauling in a lot of deep meanings, it remembers with great warmth a time and a place… where the life of young people centers on music, on records, on the radio, and especially on the incredible phenomenon of the Beatles.” In this film, Hanks may not have a very large role, nor may it be his best role ever, but it is a very important one and he plays it well. One critic said of his role: “Hanks… gives his least impressive acting turn since the forgettable Bonfire of the Vanities (maybe it’s because he’s only in a supporting role). For a while, it looks like Mr. White is going to be an unappealing, no-nonsense business type, but Hanks, who seems incapable of playing a dislikable guy, softens White’s most abrasive edges and makes him into something of a father-figure” says James

Berardinelli. Another critic named Peter Travers said that Hanks’ role as Mr. White “is a supporting role but a crucial one. Bereft of passion, he’s as cold as a ledger, and a scary enough symbol of the future to split the band.” Nominated for the Oscar and Golden Globe awards, this film also won other smaller awards and is loved by many, and forgotten by most. However, it is one that people can truly connect with. Hanks is a talented writer, creating characters that we can relate to and sympathize with. He casts young talent who do a wonderful job convincing us that they are really rock and roll stars. The music brings you right back to the mid-60’s and the excitement of the times. It is easy to get caught up in this film and remember the simpler times in America. Since That Thing You Do!, Hanks has gone on to direct and produce many other well-loved films, such as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Polar Express, and Band of Brothers.