Films are the way we interact with our culture, at least traditionally. Students today watch less and less long form entertainment, but they chose these films to find themes in. Let’s see what they find.
Office Space by Elise Umuhire
Office Space is a movie focused around the fictional Peter Gibbons who works at a soul-crushing corporate job, the software company Initech. He hates his job and his life seems useless so he feels like he is going nowhere doing the same humdrum schedule everyday. While trying to patch up his relationship with his girlfriend Anne, who he thinks is cheating on him, they go to a hypnotherapist and he asks him to basically fix his mindset. Peter is left in a blissful state when the hypnotherapist has a heart attack in the middle of his hypnosis and that leaves him in a completely relaxed state of mind without a care in the world for his consequences, the ones he used stress about so much like not working on the weekend. With this newfound sense of freedom he refuses to work overtime, he stops caring, he comes into work when he feels like it, and he accidentally charms two consultants into promoting him. When Peter and his two friends find out they’re going to be fired, they make a plan to steal money from the company, the idea coming from the movie Superman III.
Office Space gives a more often than not truth to the life that awaits us when we become adults but this next generation has been on a more of an unorthodox path in their livelihood. Generation Zoomers, the ages of ten through twenty-five, have opened the door to unlimited ways of getting money. Ways of getting money that would have been impossible without the dynamic technology we have today. Instead of getting a mundane desk job, Gen-Z is on a more entrepreneurial and impractical track. It is incredible how all people have the freedom to create any business they want when they please. Anyone can make an invention or business that goes in demand especially now with all these different social media platforms. If a product or person becomes trending then people will go wild over it simply because it is popular and people want to follow the trend. Influencers are people with large platforms and they make money off of their social media platforms based on how many likes they receive. With this new generation and the following along with ever-changing technology, we will never have to settle for a boring desk job again.
All the President’s Men by Nicholas Woodward
Released in 1976, All the President’s Men is a film about the Watergate scandal from 1972 to 1974. The film follows two Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, as they piece together the story of how a corrupt political party infiltrated another party in order to sabotage them. Woodward and Bernstein soon realize that they have started a full investigation, rather than just writing a story for the paper. The duo are in part responsible for the resignation of president Richard Nixon in August of 1974. This film portrays American freedom of speech and could serve as inspiration for oppressed people all over the world.
The Watergate scandal began on 17 June 1972 with a breakin of the Democratic National Committee headquarters Washington D.C. The burglars, working for the Committee for the Re-Election of the President, wiretapped phones in the headquarters in order to listen in on conversations. Woodward and Bernstein, the reporters, hear about the break in and start their investigation. They use certain contacts and informants to piece together ex-government and government employees involved in the scandal. They follow clues that are related to a large sum of twenty-five thousand dollars which ended up in the bank account of one of the burglars. Woodward and Bernstein finally piece together the story of the break in and exposed the “Committee for the Re-Election of the President” for the crimes.
The incredible story of how two Washington Post reporters took down a president is an inspiring one to oppressed people all over the world. It can inspire people to speak out against their government when they are corrupt and it encourages people to speak up when something doesn’t seem right. The film also shows how free speech and freedom of the press in the United States are truly valuable rights that many Americans take for granted. Freedom of speech is one of the most important rights in America because it places the power to change the government and to invoke needed change in the hands of the people.
All in all, All the President’s Men is an inspiring story about speaking out against a corrupt government. It also shines light on the importance of freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
All the President’s Men by Maggie Foster
All the President’s Men was a political biographical drama that was directed by Alan J. Pakula, and the movie was released in 1976. The plot of the movie was about two journalists at the Washington Post who help fully cover the story behind the Watergate scandal. Watergate was a building in the Democratic National Committee that was broken into, and the story follows Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the two reporters, and how they tirelessly work to uncover the truth. Along with finding witnesses they have help from a guy who uses the alias “Deep Throat”, and he is the one who helps point them in the right direction. Overall, the movie showcases a major theme in American film: rebels fighting for a cause. The two rebels being Woodward and Berstein and they are fighting, using the Post, for justice.
The whole “rebel with a cause”, a very common American movie trope, is very evident in this film. The two journalists, throughout the film, search for witnesses who can corroborate the story and use their experiences to help take down and serve justice. They drive for almost days straight at a time to find these people. Even though most of them will not talk, out of fear, this did not stop them from achieving their goal. With the help of some people who came through regardless of fear, they ended up writing a fantastic story and it helps take down the corrupt people in charge. In summary, the very American movie trope of rebels fighting for a cause comes out in the plot line of this movie because it’s all about two journalists, using the freedom of the press, in order to help bring light to the corrupt government and all other issues.
Finally, the plot of All the President’s Men showcases the major theme of American movies: rebels fighting for a cause. With the help of the press, an anonymous informant, and fantastic detective skills they are able to bring light to the corrupt people in office.
An American Tail Analysis by Mary Catherine Stanley.
An American Tail tells the story of the mouse, Fievel, and his family’s journey from Russia to America. The movie shows the immigrant struggle, but through the perspective of a mouse making it more child friendly. It shows how Americans coming together is truly something in America to be proud of.
The beginning of the movie shows Fievel and his family celebrating Hanukkah, exemplifying anyone could come to America for greater opportunities. By showing how wonderful Hanukkah is, it proves why a mix of cultures can be a great thing. Fievel and his family leave Russia for America, but the trip is not easy. This is similar to real immigrants who also experienced close quarters and sea-sickness creating a grueling trip. Another scene that stuck out to me as the real immigrant journey is when Fievel is entering America, and they are changing names at Ellis Island making them easier to say in English. For immigrants this too was real.
The community of immigrants Fievel and his family join are still being terrorized by the cats. These cats are used to represent the Mafia at the time. However, in true American fashion, they come together to form a plan and take care of the cats. In the end, the cats were scared off. Representing not only Americans’ freedoms to speak out, but it shows the ability of many different cultures coming together under the name “American” for a common goal.
An American Tail does a wonderful job of showing us some of America’s best principals even though the movie is catered for children. With lovable characters, the movie exemplifies America’s title as a “melting pot”. Even with a large, diverse community, the mouse unite under the name “American” to defeat the cats. Also, it shows how all Americans through their freedoms have the right to make change. Even from the perspective of a mouse, An American Tail showcases what it means to be American.
On the Waterfront by Judson DiVenere
On the Waterfront, a movie starring Marlon Brando and released in 1954, is about an up-and-coming boxer who throws a fight after being coerced into it by a mob boss, Johnny Friendly. Friendly then kills a longshoreman before Terry Malloy, played by Marlon Brando, can testify that Friendly is involved with the union.
Friendly owned the local port and union. He exploited them and profited off of them, making them work long hours with little pay. Malloy is then assisted by the longshoreman’s sister and a priest, Father Barry, in order to testify against Friendly. Malloy then testifies and the union walks out on Friendly at the waterfront.
On the Waterfront represents America through unions. It teaches that people are better as many than as one. At the end of On the Waterfront, Malloy is beaten up by Friendly and his goons. As Malloy lays there, half-unconscious next to the longshoreman’s sister, Edie Doyle. Doyle and Father Barry encourage Malloy to stand up, as it would be a sign of strength and perseverance. Malloy stands up and walks past the union workers. They all are mesmerized at him standing up with the amount of blood on his face and daze in his eye. As Malloy, Father Barry, and Doyle walk away past Friendly, the longshormen follow and leave the waterfront. Friendly screams at them and has no power over the power of many versus one. Unions are an important strategy starting in the late 18th century America through now. Unions fight for better working conditions, wages, and hours for a group of people at a company or organization.
