The Lost Weekend

Billy Wilder’s The Lost Weekend was a powerful film that depicts the life of a diseased alcoholic through the character of Don Birnam. A failed writer, Birnam becomes engrossed with booze; although his dearly loved ones struggle to help him battle this addiction. There are many ways to define an alcoholic, but this film portrays to society the definition of a true alcoholic. According to Webster Dictionary alcoholism is described as a chronic disorder marked by excessive and usually compulsive drinking of alcohol leading to psychological and physical dependence or addiction. People everywhere define alcoholism differently from having a drink anytime during the weekday, one drink a day; two drinks a day, etc. further showing more severe forms of drinking. In Birnam’s situation he literally can not function without alcohol flowing through his bloodstream. He also suffers from withdrawals when he cannot obtain liquor into his body. As a result, Wilder conveys the epitome of a chronic alcoholic. The story of Birnams’ dependence is one of serious importance that is not usually revealed on the big screen. Many films and television shows have portrayed drunks as being humorous and are not taken seriously. For example, The Simpsons’ character Barney Gumble is a character that the audience is enthralled by. The writers play with the concept of drunkards being hilarious. However, in Wilder’s film this is not the case, and he demonstrates how this evil spirit takes full control over the body and mind. Birnam says, “I can't be cut off completely. That's the devil. That's what drives you crazy.” Another example is the director uses the imagery of circles to illustrate the eternal struggle that Birnam attempts to defeat. While at the bar multiple circles from the shot glass symbolize this ongoing struggle. Birnam explains to Nat, “Don’t wipe it away, Nat. Let be have my little vicious circle. You know, the circle is the perfect geometric figure. No end, no beginning.” This can be related to Dante’s inferno of the circles of hell. Dante’s inferno is shaped in concentric circles with different levels of sinners. The inferno is shaped similarly to a cone with the first circle being the largest and progressively getting smaller. People have committed sins and are forever trapped in the circles of the fiery ashes and gates of hell. Sinners are therefore placed here for all eternity. Birnam battles this in his real life and it appears that he will struggle with this illness even until he reaches his afterlife because of this constant vicious cycle that he has succumbed to.

Le Samourai Introduced by Jude Law

The audience waited in anticipation at the Institut Francais not for Jean-Pierre Melville’s film, Le Samourai, but instead for the popular actor Jude Law. The theater knew that the attendance would reach full capacity if they asked Law to introduce his favorite French film. No woman would pass the opportunity to catch a glimpse of an extraordinary handsome actor. He agreed to the request and surprisingly Law presented the film in person. It was apparent that the audience consisted of mostly females who were dressed fairly nice to go to a theater, but basically in hopes of the chance to meet Law in person. The audience filled with excitement when he appeared onto the stage. Flashes of camera light came from everywhere in the room, similarly to that on a red carpet event. The audience was absolutely ecstatic to see the former Sexiest Man in the World. Surprisingly, he was interviewed for approximately 15 minutes about why he chose this particular film as his favorite. Having an extremely famous celebrity automatically predisposes the audience to enjoy a particular film. People have always been fascinated with celebrities and look up to them for guidance in their own life. There are magazines dedicated to what is considered popular at a particular time such as Vogue. Furthermore, the media has an overwhelming influence over people’s desire. One example is Paris Hilton in which many young girls are mesmerized by her and desire to someday achieve her stature. However, Hilton is the most horrible role model for any young girl. Also, “Bratz”, dolls that dress provocatively cater to adolescent girls in order to captivate them into thinking this is how they should become. This relates to the notion that a celebrity such as Law can have an influence on people. Personally my expectations for the film were high, because I knew that this film was one of Law’s favorites. I’m even guilty of succumbing to this influence from a celebrity. If Law was not present, I would have had zero expectations that would need to be fulfilled. In essence, a movie star completely alters one’s perception therefore influencing them to either enjoy or dislike a film all together.

Harry Potter Premiere

Thousands of fans brave the rain in order to catch a glimpse of their favorite character/actor in the new installment of the Harry Potter films. The premiere of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was held in London in Leister Square. Mostly screaming young girls idolizing the male actors while they walked the line of carpet to the inside of the theater. Posters displayed on the metal barricades that advertised the movie and its release date. I was standing fairly far away from the blockades and it made it difficult to witness the entire premiere that I would otherwise be able to see on television. However, I observed the actors walking to the fences where they fans stood in order to sign autographs. Mostly the Harry Potter books are the items the fans had brought in order to obtain the actors signature. Witnessing this event in person is similar to viewing it on television. From everything to the cameras, news teams, photographers, and chaos, it was all present. However, instead of watching it in the comfort of my own house, embracing the downpour of rain made the premiere more eventful. Due to the fact that I will remember how terribly cold it was during this premiere and my wishful thinking of wanting it to stop raining. Nevertheless, it began to rain violently with sounds of thunder and flashes of lighting arose. This did not stop the fans however; the anticipation exceeded the weather and the hours of waiting in order to achieve the pure pleasure of seeing their idols in person. The experience alone was fulfilling in itself because the movies are incredible, but mostly because the books are coming to life on screen and I’m able to see the actors. The Harry Potter franchise is gradually becoming as enormous as the Star Wars series, where the many devoted fans watch in admiration and some even dress up as the characters in the movie. A cultural phenomenon that appeals to people everywhere in the world exceeds any other film to date. The mere satisfaction that the fans acquire was an experience that I have never seen until that day. Movies today have an overwhelming effect on the people who watch the films. These fans become absolutely fixated on the actors and nothing can prevent them from being present at a once in a lifetime event. It appears that the fans in London and the U.S. rival each other to who are the better fanatics and more thrilled to see their heroes.

Claire Hooper: The Blessing

The art gallery featured at the posh restaurant, Sketch was the work of Claire Hooper entitled, The Blessing. Here, there was a panoramic view of 12 screens that featured the film that Hooper had created. The film begins with the main character in a room viewing a piece of art, when suddenly he breaks out into a violent seizure. Subsequently the film shows a supernova, an explosion of a star. It is possibly caused by a gravitational collapse that emits light from 10-100 million times that of the Sun. Similarly, the character’s seizure is having an explosion within his body. The epileptic seizure is a medical condition involving abnormal electrical discharge in the brain is characterized by periodic loss of consciousness. Furthermore, the supernova appears to be distant from the planet Earth, somewhere in the universe. This place is in the universe could potentially be a divine heaven created by the imagination which leads the human closer to a spiritual world. The luminosity created from the supernova is analogous to the appearance of a deity where the light blinds the person. One person who Hooper is influenced by is Saint Teresa of Avila. She quotes her, “My soul has been carried away, and usually my head as well, without being able to prevent it; and sometimes it has affected my whole body, which has been lifted off the ground”. This directly relates to the character, since he is unable to prevent his epileptic seizure. Therefore, his body and mind have been lifted to a different place, away from the real world. Also, the various colors created from the supernova are images that often result of acid trips. The screens sporadically show the film and this is connected because of the convulsions caused by the seizure. Hooper is making it more difficult to focus on the film because there are multiple scenes being displayed simultaneously. This piece of art allows the viewer insight to the mind of those wanting to reach the divinity in another world.

Maeda: Myspace

The field of art has drastically changed since when it first began. This is illustrated in John Maeda’s: Myspace gallery in Soho at the Riflemaker exhibition. For example, his concept for this exhibition featured art through the use of technology and computers. His gallery entitled, “Laws of Simplicity” was expressed in a form of digital art. Ironically, simplicity is generally not discovered in the form of technology. Computers’ insides are intricately assembled and have the complexity that many do not have the mental capacity to understand. Maeda’s work appears very simplistic to an onlooker at a quick glance, however, he compiles his work with concentrated ideals that are illustrated in his gallery. For instance, Maeda explores the idea behind the true meaning of human purpose. Life is exceptionally difficult to understand and decode due to the fact that human life is complicated. As humans, we want and desire for life to be simple and easy to comprehend. In Maeda’s piece, Post Digital, he writes, “No object in the real world is perfect. Whereas in the computer perfection can be guaranteed to 100.00% accuracy. Imperfection is about being human. Being digital is not.” This reinforces the idea that life is full of struggles and nothing is precise and technology is a way for humans to cope with the complexity of life. Through technology humans are able to reach this balance. In addition, Maeda also explores how this new technology can create a less complicated way of life. However, there are repercussions for this technology. Technology is what binds human beings in the modern world and disconnects people from the simplicity of life. The overwhelming amount of technology is perhaps controlling our lives. Humans are becoming analog in a digital world and are helpless to the technology. We cannot function if we don’t have a cellular phone or a computer nearby. Furthermore, as technology progresses, we begin to lose our privacy that once was extremely prevalent and valued. Maeda’s gallery provides insight into the advancement of technology and allows humans to reflect on this development as either beneficial or drawback to the contemporary world.