视听说材料背景篇

视听说材料背景篇：The Graduate is a 1967 American comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols.1 It is based on the 1963 novel The Graduate by Charles Webb, who wrote it shortly after graduating from Williams College. The screenplay was by Buck Henry, who makes a cameo appearance as a hotel clerk, and Calder Willingham. The film tells the story of Benjamin Braddock (played by Dustin Hoffman), a recent university graduate with no well-defined aim in life, who is seduced by an older woman, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), and then proceeds to fall in love with her daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross).In 1996, The Graduate was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant“. IThe theme of an innocent and confused youth who is exploited, mis-directed, seduced (literally and figuratively) and betrayed by a corrupt, decadent, and discredited older generation (that finds its stability in “plastics“) was well understood by film audiences and captured the spirit of the times. One of the films posters proclaimed the difficult coming-of-age for the recent, aimless college graduate:This is Benjamin. Hes a little worried about his future.The two different generations are also reflected in other dualities: the two rival women (young innocent doe-eyed daughter Elaine and the older seductress Mrs. Robinson), the two California settings (Los Angeles and Berkeley) and S. and N. California cultures (materialistic vs. intellectual), and the division in Benjamins character (morally drifting and indecisive vs. committed).There was already a growing dissatisfaction with the status quo and middle-class values, and the breakthrough film mirrored that anarchic mood perfectly for Americas youth of the 60s during the escalation of the Vietnam War. However, in the final analysis, director Nichols actually subversively portrayed how aimless and unalive the disaffected young generation was (in the character of Benjamin) - and would become as they approached middle-age and worked in sterile corporate settings. In the same year, it joined Bonnie and Clyde (1967) as one of the most popular films for the college-aged generation. It was complemented by the music of the popular singing duo Simon and Garfunkel from their Grammy-winning The Sounds of Silence album (with songs composed earlier and previously-released except for “Mrs. Robinson“), with meaningful, haunting lyrics amidst koo-koo-kachoo sounds to enhance the films moods and themes.Unit 2 The review of Kramer vs. KramerKramer vs. Kramer is a Manhattan movie, yet it seems to speak for an entire generation of middle-class Americans who came to maturity in the late 60s and early 70s, sophisticated in superficial ways but still expecting the fulfillment of promises made in the more pious Eisenhower era.Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) is a self-described take-over guy who left Brooklyn for Manhattans East Side and is speeding to the top at his advertising agency. Everything in his life is working out as planned. When Kramer vs. Kramer opens, the elated Ted has just been handed his agencys most valued new account. As he says a few minutes later, this has been one of the five best days of his life.It is with some surprise, then, that he returns home to find his wife, Joanna (Meryl Streep), jaw-set and teary-eyed, determined to depart forever, leaving Ted not only with an entire ad presentation to prepare for the next day but also with their six-year-old son, Billy (Justin Henry), to take care of. Ted is not someone who always gets his priorities straight.Kramer vs. Kramer is one of those rare American movies that never have to talk importantly and self-consciously to let you know that it has to do with many more things than are explicitly stated. Its about fathers and sons, husbands and wives, and most particularly, perhaps, about the failed expectations of a certain breed of woman in this day and age.Though much of Kramer vs. Kramer is occupied with the growing relationship between the abandoned father and son, through tantrums and reconciliations and playground accidents, the central figure is that of the movingly, almost dangerously muddled mother, played by Miss Streep in what is one of the major performances of the year. Joanna is not an easily appealing character, especially when she returns after eighteen months of therapy in California and seeks legal custody of the child she walked out on.Though beautiful, intelligent, well-educated and no more than casually self-assertive at the start, she grows into one of those fiercely determined people who talks about “finding“ herself even as weand shesuspect there may be nothing to find except another series of compromises. She seems to be a woman in transit to disappointment. Maybe not. Shes not a character who can be conveniently categorized, and she is fascinating.Mr. Hoffman is splendid in one of the two or three best roles of his career. Its a delicately witty performance, funny and full of feeling that never slops over into the banal, which is the greatest danger faced by an actor who must play most of his scenes with a small boy who is as down-to-earth and pragmatic as Justin Henry. There is no way that Mr. Hoffman can avoid being upstaged when Billy, watching his father make a mess of French toast, says carefully, “I dont like it folded.“Kramer vs. Kramer is densely packed with such beautifully observed detail. It is also superbly acted by its supporting cast, including Jane Alexander, Howard Duff, and George Coe.The man responsible for the photography is the gifted Nestor Almendros, whose earlier credits include Terrence Malicks Days of Heaven, Franois Truffauts The Story of Adele H., and Eric Rohmers Clairs Knee, among other things. The Manhattan he shows us is familiar enough but we see a lot more than a series of pretty surfaces.Unit 5Background:Set at conservative and aristocratic boys prep school, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students to change their lives of conformity through his teaching of poetry and literature. themes and conflicts：Boys striving for self-realization (identity)Authority versus non-conformityPower of charismatic leaders (charming leader)Realism versus idealismEffect of family pressureAnd the most important one: REBELLION“Carpe Diem, lads! Seize the day! Make your lives extraordinary!“Unit Six:Background:Set at conservative and aristocratic boys prep school, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students to change their lives of conformity through his teaching of poetry and literature. themes and conflicts：Boys striving for self-realization (identity)Authority versus non-conformityPower of charismatic leaders (charming leader)Realism versus idealismEffect of family pressureAnd the most important one: REBELLION“Carpe Diem, lads! Seize the day! Make your lives extraordinary!“Unit Seven:Unit 7 the Shawshank redemptionConsecutivebackground：The story was about the caring and smart banker Andy Dufresne, who is falsely accused and convicted of the murder of his wife. He is sent to Shawshank prison in the 1940s, he meets many fellow prisoners, including Red, who becomes his important friend. During his time at Shawshank, Andys way of life is changed, but he never loses his hope. theme： 希 望 、 自 由 、 友 谊关 键 词 ： institutionalization; hope; freedom; friendship;Its a powerful story of hope, friendship and freedom, made remarkable by the interaction between the two lead characters. Hope is the major force behind the lead character Andy, and Andy uses hope to change the other lead character Red.Conflicts: internal: Dufresnes imprisonment VS. his free mind external: Justice VS. corruptionPerformances: Morgan Freeman as Ellis Boyd “Red“ Redding: Andys best friend and the films narrator. for his authoritative presence and demeanorUnit 8 American BeautySocial backgroundMid-life crisis A midlife crisis could be caused by aging itself, or aging in combination with changes, problems. When we reach the decade of life between the mid-30s and the mid-40s, many of us find that our well-ordered and apparently unassailable lives begin to change in ways we could not have anticipated, while previously cherished plans and commitments go into free-fall. The protagonist Lesters life conveys a true mid-life crisis which is a true portrayal of modern American life. American culture and identityAmerican Beauty explores different aspects of American culture and American identity. It forces the viewer to consider whether there is anything worth saving at the root of this culture. ThemesThe meaning of life: at the end of the film, when Lester is shot, Lester finally discovers all the beauty once in his life. May be the simplest meaning of life is alive. To live is the most meaningful thing. Happiness: Happiness exists in American Beauty as a myth, as a goal, and as a disguise. All of the characters are engaged in the pursuit of happiness, although they have very different ideas about what happiness is and how to find it. Freedom: Freedom, of course, is another fundamental American ideal. The theme of freedom is significant precisely because free will is so rare and difficult to locate. One of the unifying characteristics in the film is that so many of the characters seem trapped: trapped by their lives, their jobs, themselves, their parents, and their fears. Sexuality: the film depicts a stunning variety of problematic sexual relationships. Angela lies about terrible sexual experiences in order to make people believe that she is much more sophisticated than she really is. Jane exposes herself through a bedroom window as a sign of trust, and is almost caught by Rickys father. Carolyn has a torrid affair with Buddy Kane, yet both participants seem more aroused by Buddys status than by anything else. Lesters newfound freedom is perfectly symbolized by his decision to masturbate in bed, next to his wife, rather than in his usual locale: the shower, where any “dirty“ associations are literally washed away. In the contemporary age, sex serves as a unique expression of freedom and individuality, and is thus an ideal lens through which to view each characters progression.Beauty: in the film, Ricky sees beauty in the minutiae of everyday life, videoing as much as he can for fear of missing it. He shows Jane what he considers the most beautiful thing he has filmed: a plastic bag, tossing in the wind in front of a wall. He says capturing the moment was when he realized that there was “an entire life behind things“ The family: the film takes a unique view of family in that he seems to question the idea that one must simply accept the members of ones family and love them unconditionally. Janes desire to get away from her parents, though unrealistic, is certainly understandable. Rickys desire to stick by his broken mother and angry father is touching in its impossibility.Unit 9Unit TenCasablanca is perennially at the top of every all-time greats list, and indisputably one of the landmarks of the American cinema, although an accidental Hollywood masterpiece. Critically-acclaimed, bittersweet, popular, much-loved, WWII-flavored, nostalgic story of intrigue and love that teamed Bogart and Bergman as ill-fated lovers.Background The classic and much-loved romantic melodrama Casablanca (1942), always found on top-ten lists of films, is a masterful tale of two men vying for the same womans love in a love triangle. The story of political and romantic espionage is set against the backdrop of the wartime conflict between democracy and totalitarianism.With rich and smoky atmosphere, anti-Nazi propaganda, Max Steiners superb musical score, suspense, unforgettable characters and memorable lines of dialogue, it is one of the most popular, magical films of all time.Theme The theme is of lost love, honor and duty, self-sacrifice and romance within a chaotic world.Conflicts: 1、between Rick and Victor, They loved the same women2、between the Nazi countries and anti-Nazi countrieScent of a WomanPosted on November 23, 2010 by Steven Scent of a Woman: Friends for LifeDirected By: Martin BrestScent of a Woman is a 1992 film which tells the story of a preparatory school student who takes a job as an assistant to an irascible, blind, medically retired Army officer.Actor Let us consider the greatest actor in the history of motion pictures, a man by the name of Cary Grant. Now, Grant made his share of great pictures, some very good ones and some middling material as well. Now, opinions may vary on this. Therefore, I am going to impart my impressions of certain films and performances. Delmer Daves “Destination Tokyo” (1944) seems to me to be one of Grants more average efforts on paper. Now, throw him into the mix as the central role in the picture. Any other actor would have kept that film decidedly mediocre. Grant makes the movie one of the most memorable war pictures of the forties. Why? The performance he gives elevates every single aspect of that film. On a similar note, Spencer Tracy has always been another personal favorite of mine. Now, “The Devil at 4 OClock” (1961) is certainly not considered to be one of his better efforts. In theory, I would agree that on paper, it is OK at best. And yet, Tracy transcends the average premise and creates a portrait of a man trying to preserve his integrity and faith in the face of eminent catastrophe. The end result is a thoroughly captivating adventure film. Now, I have to be fairly clear about how I feel about all of this in general. I dont normally cater to the whole idea that actors make films, and they are the reason certain films are great. As Ive stated on several occasions, the greatest actors are but another one of the many creative collaborators there to help the director realize his or her vision on film. But every so often, there are exceptions that truly blow my mind. Such was the case when I first went to see Martin Brests “Scent of a Woman” (1992).Al Pacino has proven to us throughout the years that there is a reason why he is one of the most worshipped American actors in the history of cinema. One only needs to study his work as Michael Corleone in “The Godfather” (1972) or as Sonny in Lumets “Dog Day Afternoon” (1975) and certainly as Tony Montana in De Palmas “Scarface” (1983) to instantly notice and embrace the raw power of his singular talent. They say that no one explodes on screen better than Pacino. Sometimes I feel that his detractors say that mockingly or disparagingly. They can laugh and make that claim all they want. But he is a hero of mine, and he always will be. My father has always reminded me that even as a child Pacino was the one actor who I would want to go see in pictures only because he was in the films. The only one. To this day, that fact still remains true. I would pay to go to a public event of Pacino reading the Yellow Pages if it was ever announced. Why? Because here is the simple fact. No American actor alive does talk and savors words better than Pacino. No one. Witness his Oscar winning work as Colonel Frank Slade here in “Scent of a Woman,” and you will see why. There is a tendency to dismiss Chris O Donnells work in this movie as being bland and uninvolving. I disagree. His performance is beautifully observed and understated. It isnt that hes playing Pacinos straight man. There simply has to be an emotional dissection between the two mens personas, and O Donnell realizes that division in demeanor and attitude superbly. Supporting work by an impressive group of actors including Philip Seymour Hoffman, James Rebhorn, Bradley Whitford and the lovely Gabrielle Anwar, who is absolutely enchanting in the films Tango sequence, are genuinely outstanding.影评There is no doubt that Slade is a bully, there is no doubt that he is rich and has seen the world even though he is blind. He shows Charlie how to see the world. He shows Charlie how to live.However, behind all the arrogance and camouflage, Slade is a very lonely man. “Scent of a woman“ refers to the fact that Slade can identity every scent that a woman wears, but there is one flaw: he has that intimate ability to identify the perfume a woman wears, but he doesnt have an intimate relationship or even know how to have one. Is it fear of getting close to a woman or fear in himself for being a failure and totally useless to a woman? We are not really sure what it is that stops him from connecting with the world on a social level, or connecting to a woman on an intimate level.My take is, it is a bit of both and we have a parody here of a young man who has never had a chance to love, and old man who has forgotten how.The culmination of this failure is brought to a head at a family Thanksgiving dinner where Frank and Charlie show up both unexpectedly and unwanted. Frank makes a complete ass of himself disrupting the family dinner. He is brought down to size when his nephew reminds him just how much of coward he really is by bringing up the real military service record - not the one that Slade perpetuates to the world. Slade presents himself as a hero; the nephew set the record straight.We see a genuine love and respect develop between the colonel and student. Slade goes to bat for Charlie when he gets in trouble at the university, and brings the whole house down in an unforgettable performance defending Charlies rights. In turn, Charlie learns to be a man and teaches Slade to remember that he is still a man and has a life still worth living. I love the symmetry in each man showing the other how to live and love.“Scent of a Woman“ is truly a tender, dramatic, and at times comical story that is worth having in your film library.Why call scent of a woman?Can you imagine a movie called “Scent of a Woman“ with no women? Indeed, there is a pivotal sequence in the movie in which Al Pacino takes beautiful Gabrielle Anwar to the d