Alfréd Wetzler

Citizen Kane is undoubtedly one the world's most famous and highly-rated film. Its use of cinematic techniques, narrative techniques and experimental innovations in the areas of photography, editing, and sound brings the narrative to life and entices our engagement throughout the motion picture. Citizen Kane’s director, star, and producer were all the same genius individual - Orson Welles. Throughout this essay, I will look at such cinematic techniques used in the sequence “Young Charles…

Tim Burt and Robert Altman: Auteurs of the 20th Century All generations have produced their own Auteurs. All who have their own distinct creative ideas and procedures that allow them to create visually and auditory striking films. Two prestigious auteurs from the 20th century who have been recognized for their creative genius and their own unique style are Robert Altman and Tim Burton. Both directors have their own distinct style and approach to film making. Both of these directors are…

All through the ages Hollywood has been gifted with many directors who have been able to create Hollywood magic for many people sitting in dark movie theaters. One of these memorable directors was Frank Capra who died on September 3, 1991 at the age of 94. He was a leading director in the 1930s and 1940s and made many memorable movies like the popular Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Other classic movies included “You Can’t Take It With You” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”. Frank…

Is suffering supposed to make sense? Why do we suffer? At first this question seems intuitive. However, after the first spontaneous outburst of answers, we start to question why there is suffering in the world and how we can make sense of it. Generally, when these ultimate questions are asked we tend to assert conclusions based on God or our personal values. It goes beyond that. Religion provides a guideline for these questions, and our values are extremely important for a sense of identity,…

A dry, withered part of the world, for the most part, is established by the film’s mise-en-scene in Hell or High Water. From the dull colors of the cars and houses to the sea of lifeless yellow grass, it’s apparent the interactions between people, contrasted with the monotonous setting, are highlighted as an integral way the mise-en-scene reveals the characters. With the setting emphasizing their isolation, the mise-en-scene invites the viewer to empathize with the hardships the characters face…

Welles used sound to establish and further enhance the viewer’s attention to the meanings of what is portrayed on screen. Another impressive use of sound in Citizen Kane is the sequence after the end of the newsreel announcing the death of Kane. We are exposed to a room, dimly lit and shallow (unlike the deep and wide banquet room), full of men. The camera focuses on Mr. Rawlston, who, while he speaks, performs a myriad of motions towards and against the camera – all of which are enhanced…

Now that Barthes has tried to definitively exclaim that the author is dead, we examine other cinematic forms of authorship this week, notably through the practice of producers, studio executives, and commercial properties. Through the work of Matthew Bernstein, Thomas Schatz, and Timothy Corrigan we find arguments for sub-facets of authorial figures in cinema, but ultimately note that the auteur theory can only be applied to cinema directors. Matthew Bernstein states that rarely is there such a…

The Girl On The Train is written similar to a Hitchcock movie. Lacking the typical thrill of Psycho, the book still manages to use the key element of suspension. In true Alfred Hitchcock fashion, Paula Hawkins uses her imagination to conjure up a tightly woven plot that constantly shifts with every perspective change. Due to Rachel's constant blackouts, every time she remembers any, and I mean any, memory, they can't be…

The world of film is a place where two senses collide—hearing and sight. Being able to watch characters maneuver through life as the story unfolds is just part of the experience. When sound is added to the mix, an entirely different dimension to the adventure is created. This feature is capable of propelling the viewer even deeper within the plot; it can stop a person in their tracks, preparing them for what is to come. Sound guides the viewer from one scene to the next and creates anticipation.…

I am very fond of many of the theories, but I have chosen to compare Person Centered Theory and Adlerian Theory. These two theories I identify with on various levels and I attribute this to the fact that people are normally attracted to the familiar or the commonalities we identify with in each other and as a group. Person Centered Theory and Adlerian theory have different concepts as to how they should be used with clients, but ultimately they exert quite a few similarities as well as…