The Coen Bros.

The Coens movies seem to provide the most obvious auteur style of any director that we have studied to this point. Maybe it was just the three movies that we watched in class, but you certainly don't need to dig very deep into those to leave with a very clear idea of what makes a Coen movie. The first thing that comes to mind is the "petty" crimes that blow way out of proportion and send the characters on a crazy cinematic journey. In Raising Arizona, it was H.I. and Ed's decision to steal a baby that unleashed to lone rider of the apocalypse. In Fargo, it is Lundegaard's decision to pay men to kidnap his wife in order to get ransom money from his boss and father in law. No Country for Old Men is a little different in that it made me go back and put quotes around "petty" crime. Maybe for this one, they decided to skip the pettiness in the name of badassness, which, is a very favorable choice. Each of these films is also set in a distinct setting that is highly developed by the characters and the plot. Another thing that makes the Coen's who they are is their sense of humor. No matter what horrible actions are being carried out by the characters on screen, the Coens always leave room in the script for a little humor. I suppose i am referring to a juxtaposition between very heinous and serious crimes and some goofy little interjection of humor. I remember the first time i saw Fargo, i was so caught off guard by the 3 murders, not to mention the grand woodchipping finale. definately makes for a more interesting movie to laugh when youre not expecting it, or to cringe when you least expect it.

Robert Altman

Given that his name is associated with MASH, i figured that the Robert Altman unit would be as long and boring as the television show. However i later learned that he was not responsible for any of that garbage, and he is actuallya fellow hater of the show. That knowledge was the first step of many to my eventual affection towards Robert Altman. Step 2: Watch The Long Goodbye. Something about movies that are clearly set in a particular decade always appeals to me, and in this movie, Altman certainly had the intention to create that period film. He executed this with subjective stylism and wardrobe. The satirical aspect of his presentation of the 1970s also allows the viewer to enjoy the period, without necessarily having to like it. This was also the movie that intorduced me to Elliot Gould who does a stellar job of carrying us through the wacky world of 1970s LA. I think he is a good role model too.
Nashville offered a challenge to my movie watching abilities or tolerance of the south or something, but ultimately i ended up enjoying the movie fully. I see how some people can complain about showing the entire song that a character sings and how country music can make you want to rip your hair out, but i feel like the big ALT man is aware of the strings that he is pulling. If you like country music, you most likely think nothing of it. IF you hate it, then you have the pleasure of meeting an onslaught of characters, defined by that kind of music. I just thought it was a good examination of something that is purely American and the relationship between entertainment and politics. I feel like the moments that i was made most uncomfortable by the setting/music, were the most thought provoking, and dare i say i might have even learned something about my opinion of that music?
The Player was great because you can tell that Altman really had something to say about Hollywood, and it was just the sort of message that his movies are made to convey. It fits perfectly because Altman is a master of creating elaborate settings, complete with wardrobe, music and characters, a satirical menace, and a stylistic auteur. As i said the setting, characters and wardrobe seemed to be right on. His sarire and his experience with the movie making business made it especially interesting, because he was making fun of something that he knows so well, but viewers such as myself may have absolutely no idea. He is an expert on hollywood which makes his cracks at it seem so legitimized. I remember feeling like i suddenly hated hollywood for my entire life. I also felt like this movie tied together all of the Altman elements that i had picked up on during the last films. This includes his restless camera movement, satire, setting, loose acting instructions, indecipherable dialogue and what not. I got the impression that he wanted to make something that showed who he was as a director, in contrast to movies that are not unique or original in any sense.