The Old Man and the Sea/Jaws

The original post for these two films was both well written and insightful. However, my computer did not save it, and so, I am obligated to attempt to re-write it. It will lack the appeal and magic of the original article*, but should have some of the same details. I will be writing about two films, one of which I have seen multiple times (Jaws), the other, the first time for this blog (The Old Man and the Sea).

The Old Man and the Sea by Aleksandr Petrov was a delicate and beautifully crafted piece of cinema. It was created on glass using paints and the directors own hands. The sheer scope of the short, coupled with the medium shows bravery and sheer lunacy. How could the Petrov have decided on this way of retelling Hemingway's story, and who would've funded such a unique and audacious film? Whoever greenlit and funded the piece should be patting themselves on the back, because it's clear we are watching a piece of art. The colors used are light and airy. The action on screen comes alive, and we almost forget we are watching animation. It tells a simple story, but a relatable one, as each one of use struggle to do what we were born to do.

****1/2

I'd first like to say that growing up my older brother was obsessed with Jaws. He had all the posters, some memorabilia. He loved them. I saw Jaws for the first time in my adolescence, and it's hard not to like it. It was one of the films that created what we call a 'blockbuster' Watching Jaws, I am reminded of summer. The sun through the hair, the gritty sand between the toes, the ocean breeze with its salty taste. I see why Spielberg is so revered as he is as I watch this film. It must have been a disaster filming. And he encountered problems after problems. He would come home, I'm sure, exhausted, terrified, worried, and struggling to understand how he could make this picture work. How he could overcome the obstacles, and put his vision on the celluloid despite the constant problems with the production. The actors, not arriving literally and creatively. Sometimes drunk. Sometimes being forced to leave set. Animatronic malfunctions, and weather mishaps. It must have been a nightmare. But Spielberg rose above it all. He overcame the obstacles and used his creative mind to think of better ways to get the shot, to improve the actors' acting, to develop a more compelling and complex story. Jaws was one of the highest grossing films of the 70's and with good reason. Loosely based on Peter Benchley's best-selling novels, it captivated an entire nation. They were afraid to go into the water. This was the summer hit that took a page from Friedkin's The Exorcist. The build-up of suspense, and the eventual release is a rarity these days, and Spielberg uses it to good effect, accompanied brilliantly by the simple, yet haunting score from frequent collaborator John Williams. The highlight of the entire film is the calm before the storm where three known actors are letting loose and talking like chums amongst the chummed waters. They tell their sea-tales, share their scars, and sing a diddy. A downside to the film is the overuse of dialogue overlap, especially when the townspeople talk at the same time the main actors talk. It's talking for the sake of talking, and doesn't flow as it would in an Altman film. The special effects are wonderful, a page Spielberg would bookmark and come back to with Jurassic Park. Though, sometimes impractical, sometimes contrived, the story lends itself to going all in and enjoying the ride (sidenote: Universal Studios closed down the Jaws ride, a ride in which I have fond memories). I enjoy just about everything about this movie. It's a revenge film in its most unexpected form. Like the townspeople, torches/pitchforks in hand to kill Frankenstein's monster, it is a simple retribution for the panic stricken people of Amity, and the grief and bereavement that they have suffered. The viewer doesn't suffer, but one thing: enjoyment overload.

****



*Boy, ain't that the truth.