MarlyK's Ramblings – Page 2 – The little voices in my head

Happy Birthday, Thelma Ritter!

Perpetually middle-aged, tart-tongued, and pragmatic, New York-born character actress, Thelma Ritter was the voice of reason in many movies of the 40s and 50s. Whatever the genre, be it comedy, film noir or melodrama, Ritter was always a breath of fresh air and enjoyable to watch. I’m sharing a few clips of her work in honor of her birthday on Valentine’s Day.

In Memoriam – Kirk Douglas (1916 – 2020)

Kirk Douglas, one of the last Hollywood stars from the Golden Age of the studio system, died this week at the age of 103. Kirk Douglas often played a particular kind of mid-century American man: unsentimental, fiery, hyper-masculine, street-smart and cynical. The kind of man with the soul of a scrapper, who knew how to throw a punch, fix a martini, and the value of a good suit. Like the actors of that long-gone era, he was recognizably Kirk in every role, yet his persona was malleable enough to handle a multitude of characters: shysters; men of integrity; mobsters; and weasels. Regardless of the role, he was always fun to watch. In his honor, I’ve compiled some clips of favorite scenes of his.

“Colossal” and Subverting RomCom Tropes

My boyfriend and I have a Saturday night tradition. We have a nice, home-cooked meal and afterward we watch a movie. Whether it’s a classic or a new one doesn’t matter — the only requirement is that it provide a satisfying cinematic experience. When the lights come on, you’re more than amused or distracted, you’re a little dazed, a little wobbly, and still immersed in that alternate reality the story created. One such movie was the Anne Hathaway-Jason Sudeikis vehicle “Colossal” from 2016, written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo. Every plot twist defied my expectations. What at first seemed like a sci-fi version of a rom com subverted genre conventions and turned out to be a deep exploration into this often-problematic genre. If you haven’t watched it yet, there are plot spoilers ahead, so you might want to read this after screening it.

Masters of Screenwriting – Preston Sturges

Happy Thanksgiving! Today let’s appreciate the masters of the silver screen… The makers of our celluloid dreams… The magi of imagination… Their storytelling sorcery continues to entrance, delight and sustain new generations of film lovers. Here’s Peter Bogdanovich’s on one of them, Preston Sturges.

In addition to the old Thanksgiving movie classics, I recommend Preston Sturges’ Sullivan’s Travels. Even if it doesn’t take place on Thanksgiving, it’s about being grateful for the escape movies provide us.

And Introducing…

It is only at the first encounter that a face makes its full impression on us.
— Arthur Schopenhauer

We all know the lasting impact a first impression has and it’s never truer than when we first meet a character. But as a filmmaker or screenwriter it can be challenging to come up with fresh ways for a character to make an entrance. At its best, the first glimpse should have 4 elements: be visual, engaging, revealing, and memorable. Memorable doesn’t always have to be high-drama either. Sure, you can make your character do something dramatic — light a bomb, for instance. But what if action’s not your script’s genre? It’s a lot harder to have your character do something more low-key, yet still unusual. Below are four different character introductions that hit the four criteria above.