Jordan wrote:
"First of all, let me say I'm not trying to make a debate. Feel free to
disagree with my opinions."
Oh, I understand and appreciate that. While I may be attempting to
debate, I don't think we'll end up changing each other's minds, I'm just
interested in your thought process, interested in whether or not our
differences are a matter of degree or completely different thinking.
And your opinions make me examine the basis for mine. For example:
"I do feel that Pesci's character in Good Fellas reveled in his sadism."
I agree that the character revelled in his sadism. However, does that
mean Scorsese (and Pileggi) is also revelling in it, by presenting it to
the audience? Or is it offered as evidence of the character's, well,
character? It's been a while since I've seen Good Fellas, but as I
recall, Pesci's character was growing pretty likeable by that point in
the film. That scene very effectively shakes the audience out of its
growing tolerance, even affection for the character and reminds us who
and what he really is. The Way of the Gun was particularly effective at
this. Every time Longbaugh and Parker start to become sympathetic,
McQuarrie (writer/director) shows them doing something despicable to
remind us that they will do ANYTHING it takes to finish what they've
started.
And is the audience revelling in the sadism? Are they complicitous int
he glorification?
"However, I do realize the real mobster actually did those things.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_DeSimone"
The factual basis doesn't much matter to me. For instance, while it may
have really happened, Scorsese had a choice in what would be depicted
and how. It could have happened outside of the frame or offscreen,
could have just been referenced by one of the other characters. But
Scorsese chose to show it graphically, and I think it needed to be seen
for the character's nature to be understood.
"With Tarantino, it's all fiction. I do feel there is a difference
between the violence level in his movies as opposed to most
Blaxploitation movies."
We'll have to agree to disagree here. I think the difference is more a
matter of budget than intent. The blaxploitation violence is so
obviously faked that it is easier to laugh off.
Mark
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 22 Jul 2008 EDT