http://blogs.elsweb.org/tyler/2007/03/19/a-walking-shadow-a-poor-player/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:42:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 http://blogs.elsweb.org/tyler/2007/03/19/a-walking-shadow-a-poor-player/#comment-28 Rick’s Cafe Americain » Blog Archive » Final Paper on Gates of Heaven Fri, 27 Apr 2007 14:29:07 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/tyler/2007/03/19/a-walking-shadow-a-poor-player/#comment-28 [...] I talked a very good deal about the first 30 minutes of the film in the first half of my paper so I think I’ll just introduce and attempt to explain the Harberts who are more or less the stars of this film. But before I do I don’t think I can really get by in this paper without talking about the incredible monologue by Ms. Florence Rasmussen that seemingly separates the two main sections of this film. I haven’t gotten a good grasp on this woman’s purpose in the film yet but I guess it doesn’t really hurt to speculate. In Tyler’s blog he praises her scene but gives the impression that it all just seems a little too good to be true. I get the same impression that this scene was almost too perfectly absurd to be truly authentic (especially the sound of the car). But all the same, if this scene were in fact heavily doctored by Morris that would make it all the more important to the film. I have yet to come across a good theory as to her purpose but I kind of see her as a preparation to the next part of the film. The first 30-35 minutes of the film, upon first viewing, seem to be a pretty straight documentary style; they aren’t, but I think that’s the initial impression that audiences get. But then we get to Ms. Rasmussen who starts off by talking about this failed pet cemetery but then goes off topic about her son almost without our notice. This is also the way of the entire film. When we see this rather long monologue for the first time we get the impression that maybe we’re supposed to be looking at this thing a little more closely. And then, Morris comes in with the Harberts which are arguably the most important characters in the film. So, now I’ll begin with them… [...] [...] I talked a very good deal about the first 30 minutes of the film in the first half of my paper so I think I’ll just introduce and attempt to explain the Harberts who are more or less the stars of this film. But before I do I don’t think I can really get by in this paper without talking about the incredible monologue by Ms. Florence Rasmussen that seemingly separates the two main sections of this film. I haven’t gotten a good grasp on this woman’s purpose in the film yet but I guess it doesn’t really hurt to speculate. In Tyler’s blog he praises her scene but gives the impression that it all just seems a little too good to be true. I get the same impression that this scene was almost too perfectly absurd to be truly authentic (especially the sound of the car). But all the same, if this scene were in fact heavily doctored by Morris that would make it all the more important to the film. I have yet to come across a good theory as to her purpose but I kind of see her as a preparation to the next part of the film. The first 30-35 minutes of the film, upon first viewing, seem to be a pretty straight documentary style; they aren’t, but I think that’s the initial impression that audiences get. But then we get to Ms. Rasmussen who starts off by talking about this failed pet cemetery but then goes off topic about her son almost without our notice. This is also the way of the entire film. When we see this rather long monologue for the first time we get the impression that maybe we’re supposed to be looking at this thing a little more closely. And then, Morris comes in with the Harberts which are arguably the most important characters in the film. So, now I’ll begin with them… [...]

]]> http://blogs.elsweb.org/tyler/2007/03/19/a-walking-shadow-a-poor-player/#comment-14 Serena Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:40:49 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/tyler/2007/03/19/a-walking-shadow-a-poor-player/#comment-14 I’m thrilled that you quoted Macbeth. And I’d like to know about that scene too. You could always e-mail Morris ;) I’m thrilled that you quoted Macbeth.
And I’d like to know about that scene too. You could always e-mail Morris

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