Honors Project Magazine
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Transcript of Honors Project Magazine
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Raya Reviews
#17 • DECEMBER 15, 2008
Of Mice and Men
Lovein the Time of Cholera
Interview with Top Five In Film Industry
2 Raya Reviews
Tableof12.15 Contents08
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ON THE COVER: Illustration by Raya
Departments
4 Editor’s Note
5 Interview Hollywoodʼs elite at a round
table interview
14 The Must List Rayaʼs Top 10 film adaptations
Reviews
6 Love in the Time of Cholera
10 Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck’s George & Lennie are back on the silver screen.Page 10
Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s love triangle gets complicated.Page 6
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EDITORʼS NOTE
CT
4 Raya Reviews
inematography and the idea of “movie magic” have fascinated
me ever since I was a little kid. My dad is a big movie lover and he so generously passed that gene down to me. I think it started with Disney movies, and then as I became older I found that watching and enjoying movies could be more then just a hobby, but potentially a career. There is just something magical about creating fascinating characters, and putting them in an interesting storyline, and then sharing it with the rest of the world. I use to think that only scientist thought that anything was possible, but in film everything is possible and to be able to give anyone an insight to all the possibilities that a good movie can bring is the type of impact that I would want to contribute to this world.
his year for honors when I discovered that we could research and complete a project on what ever we are interested on, it was a no brainer that mine would be film related. I wanted to read substantial novels that are either literary classics or have outstanding reputations. The first novel I chose was Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I have never read a book by a Hispanic author and have heard such good things about it that I would give it a shot. I also was interested in the film adaptation to see how a complicated love triangle could be portrayed on screen, especially one that involves Oscar winner Javier Bardem. The second novel I read, Nobel Prize champ John Steinbeckʼs Of Mice and Men has been a story that I have wanted to jump into for a long time. I have a weak spot for classic authors and Steinbeck perfectly meets my all American, working man, class-act expectations. I have been recommended Of Mice and Men many times and I could easily relate to its message of friendship and loyalty. Unfortunately, when it was time to watch the film, I only could get access to the 1992 version directed by and starring Gary Sinise as George and my fatherʼs favorite actor John Malkovich as the lovable yet dim witted Lennie.
oth of these novels are timeless literature and it was extremely satisfying to finally buckle down and enjoy these works. I really enjoyed being able to use my recently obtained literary analysis skills to find deeper meaning in the content of both the novels and the films. Aside from being able to design and create a digital magazine, complete the artwork, do the crazy little magazine excerpts and write analysis on the novel and the film, it was also utterly fascinating to truly explore what make s a good film adaptation from a novel?
B
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Are film adaptations becoming the new norm at our local megaplexs? We sat with the film industries most influential individuals to pick their brains for an insight into how they see the novel and film relationship in past, present and future cinema?
When a book is adapted for the screen do you try to read the book prior to seeing the movie? What about reading screenplays?
Roger Ebert: I donʼt make a point of reading books before their movies because my question should be, how good a movie is it, not how good an adaptation? If I have read the book, that inevitably enters somewhere into the review.
What is the biggest difference between writing reviews, screenplays, books, and directing a film?
Gerald Peary: I think being a writer helps. After all these interviews,
INTERVIEWSTARRI
NGRoger EbertFilm critic, screen writer & authorBest Known For: Co-starred on “Siskel & Ebert at the Movies” & his weekly review column for the Chicago Sun-Times
Gerald PearyFilm critic, writer, director
Best Known For: Film critic for the Boston Phoenix and director of “For the Love of Movies”
Steven SpielbergFilm Director
Best Know For: Directing films like, E.T., Schindler’s List, & Saving Private Ryan
James RocchiFilm Critic
Sergei EisensteinFilm director & film theorist
Best Known For: Russian silent films- Strike, Battleship
Potemkin, & October
Best Know For: His Reviews for the San Francisco Chronicle, Cinematical.com, Rotten Tomatoes, & American Movie Classics
I still have no idea where to put the camera, but I think Iʼm really good in the editing room. Iʼm good at structure. I understand rhythm and the sound of words. From the millions of movies Iʼve watched, my understanding of the language of cinema makes the editing room a comfortable place. I like shooting too. Somebody else operates the camera, but I look at the framing of the shot. I donʼt know any of the technical stuff but itʼs definitely fun shooting movies.
As a director, do you prefer to write your own script or adapt a storyline from a novel?
Steven Spielberg: When a director sits down to decide the script of a movie he realizes that there are two ways of doing it. One is to make his own script. The other is to borrow one from a book. Most of the original ideas that can be used to make movies have already been used. So, I have decided to stick to the latter!
What types of novels are generally adapted by films?
Sergei Eisenstein: Films most readily adapt novels with externalities and physical description: they fare poorly when they attempt the Modern novel and any fiction that has internal monologue or, worse, stream of consciousness. (continue pg 14)
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BOOK AND
MOVIEReviewsa heartfelt novel by Gabriel García Márquez, follows the complicated lives of two lost souls confined in their own love story. A series of ordinary events and a difference in destinies lead the two characters into the beginning of their own lives after engaging in a two-year love letter exchange. The story concludes only after a half of century has passed and the two soul mates are able to rekindle the passion that has been suppressed for all those years.
In the Caribbean during the late nineteenth century, Florentino Ariza, a devoted man, found the love of his life, Fermina Daza, after delivering a telegram to her father as an adolescent. The moment her saw her, he realized that this was the woman that he was to marry and spend the rest of his life with. After multiple love letter swaps with the help of Ferminaʼs Aunt Escolástica, a young love affair develops between the two. A misfortunate discovery of the love letters by Ferminaʼs father results in a banished journey for Fermina that will only end after her memory of Florentino is erased. When she finally returns home, she crushes the heart of the one who loves her most by denying him and telling him to “forget it”.
Shortly after, Fermina faces a personal cholera scare and her father enlists the help of the prestigious Dr. Juvenal Urbino. The doctor becomes immediately attracted to the uninterested Fermina and after a persistent courtship he gains her hand in marriage. As the two newly weds start their life with an addition of two children, Florentino climbs the career ladder and becomes President in his deceased and estranged fatherʼs family operated River Company of the Caribbean business with the assistance of his uncle Don Leo XII Loayza. His heart aches with the sickness from a loss sweetheart, but is mended by love affairs with perceivably unusual women, widowers, and a fourteen-year-old girl of the community. After fifty-one years of their continuous life styles, Dr. Urbino succumbs to a fatal fall, causing Fermina to become known as Widow Urbino. Florentino Ariza takes advantage of the
situation that Dr. Urbinoʼs death provides and renews his friendship with Fermina. After months of catching up, she realizes that her heart belongs to Florentino despite the warnings of her concerned grown children. Florentino invites Fermina on a river voyage where they finally make love and with the help of his authority as President of the River Company, a hopeless romantic of a captain, and a yellow flag of cholera, the lovebirds are able to sail down the river together “forever”.
The story was told in a very unusual, yet stylistic way that captured the relentlessness of the characters. The most riveting concept that the novel presented was the power of human emotion. Love is such a significant and beautiful intensity that it can drive individuals to make rash and unexpected life decisions that can only be justified as being in love. Florentino Ariza, a warm and adoring man was so love inflicted that it acted as a
Love in the Time of Cholera,
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Reviews driving force and paved the way he conducted his own life. Unlike Fermina, Florentino did not progress emotionally throughout the story. He was lovesick and heart broken from beginning to end and only received complete happiness towards his later years. Fermina on the other hand, faced a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the story. She was a more complex character in the sense that she had a family and a social life that she had to take care of and maintain in a time period where image and social class was of the most importance. The progress of the characters was the most vital part of the story line because it showed how the one who refused to completely move on was able to win over a love that never thought she could go back.
Overall, this book was written extremely well, but lacked the ultimate finale passion that love stories are notorious for. Márquez has a wonderful way of words and his hopeless romantic love letters will even make the most stubborn Grinch swoon. The characters are well developed through a drawn out storyline and I only wished that they had an ending that would do them justice. Florentinoʼs affairs became painfully constant and ritual, but successfully portray a dragged out existence waiting for real, life long love. There was such an incredible build up to Florentino and Ferminaʼs reunion and I felt that Márquez did not bring the big finale that the story so desperately needed. Despite the rather disappointing ending, it was an enjoyable read that was not only entertaining, but was educational. It gave an impressive insight into what life was like in the late nineteenth century in the Caribbean. It depicted the different lifestyles of the people of that culture and era beautifully and that was something that I personally was able to gain from reading the novel. Márquez wrote this story as if it were one of his own love letters, pouring his heart into every sentence and detailing every part of the storyline.
Love in the Time of Cholera is a complex story that taught a lesson in love through bold characters, a detailed plot, and a romantic setting. The novelʼs theme of strong emotion and suffering for love was honored, suggesting that love can genuinely conquer all in the end. This was shown through Florentinoʼs persistence and true to the title itself, love was able to flourish in a time of cholera.
Themes• A Fear To Move On
Florentino is unable to move on with his love life because of his strong feelings towards Fermina clouds his perception and dampers his ability to have a deep and true relationship.
“Fermina,” he said, “I have waited for this opportunity for more than half a century, to repeat to you once again my vow of eternal fidelity and everlasting love.”
Fermina has trouble accepting Florentino back into her life after her husband dies and fears of having a relationship with him again.
“Get out of here,” she said. “And don’t show your face again for the years of life that are left to you.”
• Suffering for Love
Florentino wants to save his virginity for Fermina and goes through a long stretch of time for this.
“Fermina,” he said, “I have waited for this opportunity for more than half a century, to repeat to you once again my vow of eternal fidelity and everlasting love.”
Fermina is banished from the town they live in by her father and she lives a loveless life for a period in order to completely rid herself of all feelings of Florentino.
“That same week he took his daughter away on the journey that would make her forget.”
• Fear of Aging
Florentino waits until Fermina’s husband Juvenal Urbino dies until he courts her once again. He fears that he will be too old of a man and is always conscious of this time restraint.
“Florentino Ariza felt that his old age was not a rushing torrent but a bottomless cistern where his memory drained away.”
Fermina’s daughter Ophelia makes ignorant remarks about her mother falling back in love at her age.
“Love is ridiculous at our age,” she [Ophelia] shouted, “but at theirs it is revolting.”
Elements
• Setting
The Caribbean in the 1900’s provides an exhilarating and timeless back drop to the fashioned and aged love story.
• Characterization
The third person storytelling gives a unique perception to the characters and reveals interesting details and a unique insight into their thoughts and their world.
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Before I watched Love in the Time of Cholera I was hesitant
to how it would be portrayed on the screen because of what the
novel offers. This book is so emotionally intense that if the actors
and storyline did not meet that, it would do the novel no justice and
ultimately disappoint Gabriel García Márquez fans. Even though I
wasnʼt a huge admirer of the overall story, there were many reasons
to dislike how the film was translated by the way it was made. In
the book there is clearly a beginning, middle and end. The meat of
the movie shows how Florentinoʼs character suffers because of his
loss of love but then finds peace in his many healing sexual affairs.
Although, it is a drawn out process, Gabriel García Márquez presents
the situation so that you can feel his characterʼs hunger for love and
MovieLove in the Time of Cholera
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his inner passion though Márquezʼs beautiful way of words. In the film adaptation, the audience gets
a sense of his constant waiting for Fermina, but this wait becomes so painful that it drives you to
wanting the whole film to come to an end. The filmʼs actors did not accurately portray the passion
that Márquezʼs characters embody and that is what gives the novel its finesse and charm. The casting
was also a strange component to the overall breath taking shoots in the Caribbean. The old person
makeup became a distraction rather than a believable transition.
The film, Love in the Time of Cholera translates well on the big screen in the literal sense
because the storyline encapsulates interesting characters, a beautiful setting and a unique love story
that has never been heard before. Despite these qualities, a true aficionado of the emotional portrayal
of love would agree that the film suffers from a case of cholera.
Love in the Time of Cholera
Florentino loves Fermina and expresses his feelings by writing intimate letters to her. Fermina swoons over the letters and Florentino, but being only a young girl her father knows best and sends her away. Fermina comes back tells Florentino to “forget it”, breaks his heart, has a cholera scare and is healed by the prestigious Dr. Juvenal Urbino. Fermina marries the doctor and has a family and the doctor be-comes aware of Florentino and Fermina s̓ history. A half a century later Dr. Urbino dies and Fermina and Florentino are able to rekindle their relationship and sail away in cholera epidemic bliss.
The Love Triangle
10 Raya Reviews
BookOF MICE AND MEN
John Steinbeckʼs “Of Mice and Men” is a timeless
story that preaches the values of friendship, a hard work
ethic, and a desire to reach all ambitions. George and
Lennie are two ranch workers trying to make a living
to afford a miniature ranch of their dreams in 1930ʼs
California.
George is a short and witty fellow that uses
his brains to care for himself and the mentally slow
but brawny Lennie. Lennieʼs inability to control his
strength inevitably gets the pair into trouble, but his
good intentions and kind heart drives George to forgive,
forget, and move on. After Lennie has another one of
his mishaps, the two go in search for work and end up
on a ranch ran by “The Boss” and his heard of rustic
mannish bubs including his violent son Curly, the old
ranch handler Candy, Slim the ranch leader and Crooks
the black stable-hand. Curlyʼs wife, often referred
to as “tramp” or “tart” or any other type of degrading
nickname apart from her actual name is the only female
character that lives on the ranch with all the men and
presents a problem for Lennie and George with her
constant presence and Curlyʼs short, jealous fuse.
After an adjustment period that allows the ranch
workers to become accustomed to Georgeʼs work habits
and Lennieʼs disabilities, the brawny fellow
unintentionally messes up again in a way that
costs him his life. While petting Carlsonʼs dogʼs
puppy that will be given to Lennie once it is old
enough to leave his mother, the mischievous
Curleyʼs wife wonders over to Lennie looking for
a fix to her relentless boredom. She strikes up a
conversation with the big man and discovers his
infinity for touching soft things. She offers up
her thick, luscious hair for Lennie to feel and his
over powering strength and strong hold on her
hair causes her to yell in fear. Lennie knows that
if George catches him messing up, he will lose
his chance of being able to tend to the rabbits he
looks so forward to managing once they buy their
property. In trying to mute the wailing woman he
accidentally breaks her neck. George, unable to
deal with Lennieʼs constant mistakes, shoots him
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OF MICE AND MENin the back of the head, ultimately securing his
own survival amongst the ranch worker men.
Steinbeck has an incredible writing
style that transports the reader into his desired
time period. He is accurately able to portray his
characters ̓ personality through genius dialogue
that only enhances the storyline. Each character
has a particular role within the novel that ties
the whole storyline together to create a timeless
work of a fiction that will translate with every
generation. Steinbeck is able to create a sense of
masculine bonding with his characters that gives
readers a pleasant notion and contrasts beautifully
against the rough and unforgiving environment.
The relationship between George and Lennie is
also inspiring and the ending breaks hearts because
you understand why George had to go to that last
resort but then you feel for Lennie because he never
means any harm, he is just too strong for his own
good. Steinbeck is one of the few authors that can
create such an easy to understand and relatively
short story, but put so much deeper meaning into
these simple characters and their actions. Of Mice
and Men is truly a classic piece that resonates with
the heart and makes you want to go and tend some
rabbits of your own.
ThemesStrength vs. Weakness
Lennie is physically strong and this quality secures his job.
“No, he ain’t, but he’s sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull.”
Curly’s family owns the ranch and even though he is a shorter guy, his temper, angry disposition, and actions reiterates his leader position.
“Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys. He’s alla time picking scraps with big guys.”
Candy’s dog is old and useful according to the ranch workers and is killed because of his worthlessness.
“Got no teeth,” he said. “He’s all stiff with rheumatism. He ain’t no good to you Candy. An’ he ain’t no good to himself.”
Companionship
George and Lennie travel together and have each others best interests in mind.
“We kind of look after each other.”
Lennie finds companionship in soft animals like the mice he keeps in his pocket in the beginning of the story, his puppy from Slim, and the rabbits he looks forward to tending.
George and Slim have a trusting relationship and when George kills Lennie, Slim is the only one that knows it was not a suicide like it looked, but understands why George had to result to this.
Elements
Dialogue
The dialogue gives the characters their personality and perfectly embodies the class American working man of the 1930s.
Characterization
The characters are portrayed very simply, but in a way that deeply shows each character’s inner turmoil.
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OMovie
OF MICE AND MEN
f Mice and Men
directed by Gary Sinise
is a true dedication
to the classic novel.
Steinbeckʼs story is so simple, yet so
resonating that it is easily translated for
the screen and Sinise who also plays the
role of George, follows the sequence of
the novel to a tee. The script is on point
and just by bringing the beloved novel
to the big screen makes for a great
film.
Still, there are some minor key parts that did
not translate as easily. The first being the casting of
John Malkovich as the lovable dope Lennie. Overall
he does a decent job as the character but his profound
dumbness irked me. In the novel, I imagined
Lennie to be smarter than how he is portrayed
in film, but looking back I realized that
Lennie being as stupid as Malkovich depicts
him makes sense for the overall story. Also,
none of the actors especially Gary Siniseʼs
George, have the accents that I so desperately
loved in the novel that gave the characters
their personality. He does however; stress the
complexity of his love hate relationship with
Lennie brilliantly and that confliction is vital
to the overall storyline. As a film watcher, it
is easy to understand what George is going
through and your heart goes out to him because
of the situation he is in.
Of Mice and Men is a great film that
can charm an entire audience for years to
come. When watching the movie, it became
apparent to me that the killing of Candyʼs dog
was foreshadowing Lennieʼs own tragic death
and that is something I missed entirely when
reading the novel. This film was a pure delight
and is refreshing that such a simple story can
resonate so well on the big screen and can
preach such great values. Gary Sinise has a
love for Steinbeckʼs work and his film honored
that devotion marvelously.
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OF MICE AND MEN
George and Lennie have been played by:
Why did you choose film critic as your profession?
James Rocchi: Being a film critic is the best job a writer could have in many ways because, during any given week, you get to write about everything: Real wars, human drama, zombie attack, the nature of love, the physics of superpowers, the culture of capital, manʼs inhumanity to man, sports, crime ... everything. And the fact that the movie youʼre writing about on Wednesday comes out on Friday has shattered many a writerʼs block.
Gerald Peary: I always was a film watcher, from early childhood, and from my early teenage years, an avid reader of film criticism. I started writing film reviews for the University of Wisconsin Daily Cardinal as a grad student, procrastinating writing my Ph.D. thesis.
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/07/16/1145032.php
http://www.newenglandfilm.com/news/archives/2007/01/peary.htm
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/news/1711320/meet_a_critic_cinematical_and_huffington_post_writer_james_rocchi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_adaptation