Shaft

Shaft may not have been the first blaxploitation film, but it stands out for its hero. A hero previous to Shaft's release was notably missing. Even people not able to relate to the main character found the film as a way to escape the reality of racism. Finally seeing high levels of success being accomplished by a black person acknowledged on screen helped boost morale.

I don't agree with Quentin Tarantino about the misuse of the theme. Director Gordon Parks, opens by establishing the main character, as he walks through the city the audience gets a feel for him as a normal guy based on his interactions. A dramatic opening would be too cliche for Shaft. The lyrics back his entrance with describing John Shaft's smoothness, courage, and sex appeal

Trivia

• Was rumored to be written as just another detective movie, with a white detective in the lead, but, after the success of Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971), the film was rewritten and recast as a blaxploitation movie. This story has been told several times by director 'Melvin van Peebles'. The Ernest Tidyman novel which was the basis for the film is about a black detective and not a white one.

Taxi Driver

At the beginning we see signs of Travis Bickle's mental instability when he takes a job as a taxi driver at night, spends mornings in porn theaters, and in between drinks heavily and pops pills. It isn't until he is rejected by Betsey how socially inept Travis is. Loneliness and alienation causes him to become increasingly disturbed, eventually driving him to become violent. In a heroic effort he intends to shoot the presidential candidate and himself. After his efforts fail he instead plans to save Iris from her atypical lifestyle. We know Travis took part in the Vietnam War, but never find out what happened to him which may explain his flaws.

Martin Scorsese forces the viewer to gather an opinion on whether or not Travis was a hero by the end of the film. Sport is perceived as a bad person by society's standards for what he does, but we see he treats Iris with care in the scene where they dance together. Iris tells Travis briefly in the scene at the diner there is nothing for her at home, and shows no interest in leaving New York. After Travis murders Sport and his gang, we don't hear from Iris. She goes back home to Pittsburgh, and the only remaining sign of her is a letter her father wrote to Travis


Viewers debate over interpretation of the end of the film. Did Travis die at the end and fantasize his heroism? Is society so disgusted by Sport's 'job' they praised Travis as being a hero instead of a criminal?

Trivia

• Robert De Niro worked twelve hour days for a month driving cabs as preparation for this role. He also studied mental illness.
• Director Martin Scorsese claims that the most important shot in the movie is when Bickle is on the phone trying to get another date with Betsy. The camera moves to the side slowly and pans down the long, empty hallway next to Bickle, as if to suggest that the phone conversation is too painful and pathetic to bear.

Sources:

IMDB

Jaws

Jaws is to swimming what later film Friday the 13th is to camping. Hearing the first two notes of Jaws' theme starts a frenzy as it is synonymous with impending doom. Accompanying John William's score is the shark's perspective as it seeks out its prey making the scene much more intense.

Fear of the shark always lingers with low angled camera shots of feet scurrying across the shore.

Spielberg executes fear well without being overtly gory. He builds suspense by only giving hints as to how massive the shark is. The big pay off doesn't come until the end of the film, but not before a tease of its head popping out the water shocking the main character and the viewer.

The shot below foreshadows the boats demise in a subtle way.
As Hooper and Chief Brody swam back to shore I was left thinking Jaws isn't the only shark in the water. Who is to say they get there safely?

Trivia

• The color red is never used in any clothes or any backgrounds as Spielberg wanted it to be only seen as blood.
• After the shark was built, it was never tested in the water, and when it was put in the water at Martha's Vineyard, it sank straight to the ocean floor. It took a team of divers to retrieve it.
• To create the sound of a drowning woman during post-production, Susan Backlinie was positioned, head upturned, in front of a microphone, while water from above was poured down into her throat
• SPOILER: Quint's name comes from the Latin word for "fifth". Quint is the fifth person killed by the shark (after Chrissie Watkins, Alex Kintner, disembodied head in boat, and Michael's sailing teacher).
  
  

Sources:
IMDB
Horror Stew

The Conversation

Nothing is as it seems in The Conversation, what seemingly is a general conversation between a couple is far more. Through Harry, a loner surveillance expert's planted microphone, and the camera's perspective we follow the couple as they stroll the crowded park only knowing what he knows.

It isn't until a meeting with the director goes awry Harry becomes concerned with his intentions once he has what he wants. Distracted by his concerns a normally reserved Harry opens up to an attractive woman only to have the tapes stolen from him.

The climax arises in a Hitchcock-esque build up as Harry searches a hotel room after suspecting a murder. All seems well, but that's just what you are meant to think.

Harry has listened to the tapes multiple times, it isn't until he knows the truth that the words "he would kill us if he had the chance" took on a new meaning with an emphasis on the word us. Paranoia sets in when he realizes he is being listened in on, causing a calm and collective man to turn into someone more crazed and agitated .

Trivia

• Originally envisioned as a horror movie with Marlon Brando.
• David Shire's original music was composed prior to production and played for the actors prior to their scenes to get them into the proper moods.

Sources:
IMDB
Reel To Reel