honors project magazine

Pages to Big Screen

Raya Reviews

#17 • DECEMBER 15, 2008

Of Mice and Men

Lovein the Time of Cholera

Interview with Top Five In Film Industry

2 Raya Reviews

Tableof12.15 Contents08

Pages to Big Screen

ON THE COVER: Illustration by Raya

Departments

4 Editor’s Note

5 Interview Hollywoodʼs elite at a round

table interview

14 The Must List Rayaʼs Top 10 film adaptations

Reviews

6 Love in the Time of Cholera

10 Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck’s George & Lennie are back on the silver screen.Page 10

Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s love triangle gets complicated.Page 6

Pages to Big Screen 3

EDITORʼS NOTE

CT

4 Raya Reviews

inematography and the idea of “movie magic” have fascinated

me ever since I was a little kid. My dad is a big movie lover and he so generously passed that gene down to me. I think it started with Disney movies, and then as I became older I found that watching and enjoying movies could be more then just a hobby, but potentially a career. There is just something magical about creating fascinating characters, and putting them in an interesting storyline, and then sharing it with the rest of the world. I use to think that only scientist thought that anything was possible, but in film everything is possible and to be able to give anyone an insight to all the possibilities that a good movie can bring is the type of impact that I would want to contribute to this world.

his year for honors when I discovered that we could research and complete a project on what ever we are interested on, it was a no brainer that mine would be film related. I wanted to read substantial novels that are either literary classics or have outstanding reputations. The first novel I chose was Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I have never read a book by a Hispanic author and have heard such good things about it that I would give it a shot. I also was interested in the film adaptation to see how a complicated love triangle could be portrayed on screen, especially one that involves Oscar winner Javier Bardem. The second novel I read, Nobel Prize champ John Steinbeckʼs Of Mice and Men has been a story that I have wanted to jump into for a long time. I have a weak spot for classic authors and Steinbeck perfectly meets my all American, working man, class-act expectations. I have been recommended Of Mice and Men many times and I could easily relate to its message of friendship and loyalty. Unfortunately, when it was time to watch the film, I only could get access to the 1992 version directed by and starring Gary Sinise as George and my fatherʼs favorite actor John Malkovich as the lovable yet dim witted Lennie.

oth of these novels are timeless literature and it was extremely satisfying to finally buckle down and enjoy these works. I really enjoyed being able to use my recently obtained literary analysis skills to find deeper meaning in the content of both the novels and the films. Aside from being able to design and create a digital magazine, complete the artwork, do the crazy little magazine excerpts and write analysis on the novel and the film, it was also utterly fascinating to truly explore what make s a good film adaptation from a novel?

B


Are film adaptations becoming the new norm at our local megaplexs? We sat with the film industries most influential individuals to pick their brains for an insight into how they see the novel and film relationship in past, present and future cinema?

When a book is adapted for the screen do you try to read the book prior to seeing the movie? What about reading screenplays?

Roger Ebert: I donʼt make a point of reading books before their movies because my question should be, how good a movie is it, not how good an adaptation? If I have read the book, that inevitably enters somewhere into the review.

What is the biggest difference between writing reviews, screenplays, books, and directing a film?

Gerald Peary: I think being a writer helps. After all these interviews,

INTERVIEWSTARRI

NGRoger EbertFilm critic, screen writer & authorBest Known For: Co-starred on “Siskel & Ebert at the Movies” & his weekly review column for the Chicago Sun-Times

Gerald PearyFilm critic, writer, director

Best Known For: Film critic for the Boston Phoenix and director of “For the Love of Movies”

Steven SpielbergFilm Director

Best Know For: Directing films like, E.T., Schindler’s List, & Saving Private Ryan

James RocchiFilm Critic

Sergei EisensteinFilm director & film theorist

Best Known For: Russian silent films- Strike, Battleship

Potemkin, & October

Best Know For: His Reviews for the San Francisco Chronicle, Cinematical.com, Rotten Tomatoes, & American Movie Classics

I still have no idea where to put the camera, but I think Iʼm really good in the editing room. Iʼm good at structure. I understand rhythm and the sound of words. From the millions of movies Iʼve watched, my understanding of the language of cinema makes the editing room a comfortable place. I like shooting too. Somebody else operates the camera, but I look at the framing of the shot. I donʼt know any of the technical stuff but itʼs definitely fun shooting movies.

As a director, do you prefer to write your own script or adapt a storyline from a novel?

Steven Spielberg: When a director sits down to decide the script of a movie he realizes that there are two ways of doing it. One is to make his own script. The other is to borrow one from a book. Most of the original ideas that can be used to make movies have already been used. So, I have decided to stick to the latter!

What types of novels are generally adapted by films?

Sergei Eisenstein: Films most readily adapt novels with externalities and physical description: they fare poorly when they attempt the Modern novel and any fiction that has internal monologue or, worse, stream of consciousness. (continue pg 14)

6 Raya Reviews

BOOK AND

MOVIEReviewsa heartfelt novel by Gabriel García Márquez, follows the complicated lives of two lost souls confined in their own love story. A series of ordinary events and a difference in destinies lead the two characters into the beginning of their own lives after engaging in a two-year love letter exchange. The story concludes only after a half of century has passed and the two soul mates are able to rekindle the passion that has been suppressed for all those years.

In the Caribbean during the late nineteenth century, Florentino Ariza, a devoted man, found the love of his life, Fermina Daza, after delivering a telegram to her father as an adolescent. The moment her saw her, he realized that this was the woman that he was to marry and spend the rest of his life with. After multiple love letter swaps with the help of Ferminaʼs Aunt Escolástica, a young love affair develops between the two. A misfortunate discovery of the love letters by Ferminaʼs father results in a banished journey for Fermina that will only end after her memory of Florentino is erased. When she finally returns home, she crushes the heart of the one who loves her most by denying him and telling him to “forget it”.

Shortly after, Fermina faces a personal cholera scare and her father enlists the help of the prestigious Dr. Juvenal Urbino. The doctor becomes immediately attracted to the uninterested Fermina and after a persistent courtship he gains her hand in marriage. As the two newly weds start their life with an addition of two children, Florentino climbs the career ladder and becomes President in his deceased and estranged fatherʼs family operated River Company of the Caribbean business with the assistance of his uncle Don Leo XII Loayza. His heart aches with the sickness from a loss sweetheart, but is mended by love affairs with perceivably unusual women, widowers, and a fourteen-year-old girl of the community. After fifty-one years of their continuous life styles, Dr. Urbino succumbs to a fatal fall, causing Fermina to become known as Widow Urbino. Florentino Ariza takes advantage of the

situation that Dr. Urbinoʼs death provides and renews his friendship with Fermina. After months of catching up, she realizes that her heart belongs to Florentino despite the warnings of her concerned grown children. Florentino invites Fermina on a river voyage where they finally make love and with the help of his authority as President of the River Company, a hopeless romantic of a captain, and a yellow flag of cholera, the lovebirds are able to sail down the river together “forever”.

The story was told in a very unusual, yet stylistic way that captured the relentlessness of the characters. The most riveting concept that the novel presented was the power of human emotion. Love is such a significant and beautiful intensity that it can drive individuals to make rash and unexpected life decisions that can only be justified as being in love. Florentino Ariza, a warm and adoring man was so love inflicted that it acted as a

Love in the Time of Cholera,


Reviews driving force and paved the way he conducted his own life. Unlike Fermina, Florentino did not progress emotionally throughout the story. He was lovesick and heart broken from beginning to end and only received complete happiness towards his later years. Fermina on the other hand, faced a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the story. She was a more complex character in the sense that she had a family and a social life that she had to take care of and maintain in a time period where image and social class was of the most importance. The progress of the characters was the most vital part of the story line because it showed how the one who refused to completely move on was able to win over a love that never thought she could go back.

Overall, this book was written extremely well, but lacked the ultimate finale passion that love stories are notorious for. Márquez has a wonderful way of words and his hopeless romantic love letters will even make the most stubborn Grinch swoon. The characters are well developed through a drawn out storyline and I only wished that they had an ending that would do them justice. Florentinoʼs affairs became painfully constant and ritual, but successfully portray a dragged out existence waiting for real, life long love. There was such an incredible build up to Florentino and Ferminaʼs reunion and I felt that Márquez did not bring the big finale that the story so desperately needed. Despite the rather disappointing ending, it was an enjoyable read that was not only entertaining, but was educational. It gave an impressive insight into what life was like in the late nineteenth century in the Caribbean. It depicted the different lifestyles of the people of that culture and era beautifully and that was something that I personally was able to gain from reading the novel. Márquez wrote this story as if it were one of his own love letters, pouring his heart into every sentence and detailing every part of the storyline.

Love in the Time of Cholera is a complex story that taught a lesson in love through bold characters, a detailed plot, and a romantic setting. The novelʼs theme of strong emotion and suffering for love was honored, suggesting that love can genuinely conquer all in the end. This was shown through Florentinoʼs persistence and true to the title itself, love was able to flourish in a time of cholera.

Themes• A Fear To Move On

Florentino is unable to move on with his love life because of his strong feelings towards Fermina clouds his perception and dampers his ability to have a deep and true relationship.

“Fermina,” he said, “I have waited for this opportunity for more than half a century, to repeat to you once again my vow of eternal fidelity and everlasting love.”

Fermina has trouble accepting Florentino back into her life after her husband dies and fears of having a relationship with him again.

“Get out of here,” she said. “And don’t show your face again for the years of life that are left to you.”

• Suffering for Love

Florentino wants to save his virginity for Fermina and goes through a long stretch of time for this.

“Fermina,” he said, “I have waited for this opportunity for more than half a century, to repeat to you once again my vow of eternal fidelity and everlasting love.”

Fermina is banished from the town they live in by her father and she lives a loveless life for a period in order to completely rid herself of all feelings of Florentino.

“That same week he took his daughter away on the journey that would make her forget.”

• Fear of Aging

Florentino waits until Fermina’s husband Juvenal Urbino dies until he courts her once again. He fears that he will be too old of a man and is always conscious of this time restraint.

“Florentino Ariza felt that his old age was not a rushing torrent but a bottomless cistern where his memory drained away.”

Fermina’s daughter Ophelia makes ignorant remarks about her mother falling back in love at her age.

“Love is ridiculous at our age,” she [Ophelia] shouted, “but at theirs it is revolting.”

Elements

• Setting

The Caribbean in the 1900’s provides an exhilarating and timeless back drop to the fashioned and aged love story.

• Characterization

The third person storytelling gives a unique perception to the characters and reveals interesting details and a unique insight into their thoughts and their world.

8 Raya Reviews

Before I watched Love in the Time of Cholera I was hesitant

to how it would be portrayed on the screen because of what the

novel offers. This book is so emotionally intense that if the actors

and storyline did not meet that, it would do the novel no justice and

ultimately disappoint Gabriel García Márquez fans. Even though I

wasnʼt a huge admirer of the overall story, there were many reasons

to dislike how the film was translated by the way it was made. In

the book there is clearly a beginning, middle and end. The meat of

the movie shows how Florentinoʼs character suffers because of his

loss of love but then finds peace in his many healing sexual affairs.

Although, it is a drawn out process, Gabriel García Márquez presents

the situation so that you can feel his characterʼs hunger for love and

MovieLove in the Time of Cholera


his inner passion though Márquezʼs beautiful way of words. In the film adaptation, the audience gets

a sense of his constant waiting for Fermina, but this wait becomes so painful that it drives you to

wanting the whole film to come to an end. The filmʼs actors did not accurately portray the passion

that Márquezʼs characters embody and that is what gives the novel its finesse and charm. The casting

was also a strange component to the overall breath taking shoots in the Caribbean. The old person

makeup became a distraction rather than a believable transition.

The film, Love in the Time of Cholera translates well on the big screen in the literal sense

because the storyline encapsulates interesting characters, a beautiful setting and a unique love story

that has never been heard before. Despite these qualities, a true aficionado of the emotional portrayal

of love would agree that the film suffers from a case of cholera.

Love in the Time of Cholera

Florentino loves Fermina and expresses his feelings by writing intimate letters to her. Fermina swoons over the letters and Florentino, but being only a young girl her father knows best and sends her away. Fermina comes back tells Florentino to “forget it”, breaks his heart, has a cholera scare and is healed by the prestigious Dr. Juvenal Urbino. Fermina marries the doctor and has a family and the doctor be-comes aware of Florentino and Fermina s̓ history. A half a century later Dr. Urbino dies and Fermina and Florentino are able to rekindle their relationship and sail away in cholera epidemic bliss.

The Love Triangle

10 Raya Reviews

BookOF MICE AND MEN

John Steinbeckʼs “Of Mice and Men” is a timeless

story that preaches the values of friendship, a hard work

ethic, and a desire to reach all ambitions. George and

Lennie are two ranch workers trying to make a living

to afford a miniature ranch of their dreams in 1930ʼs

California.

George is a short and witty fellow that uses

his brains to care for himself and the mentally slow

but brawny Lennie. Lennieʼs inability to control his

strength inevitably gets the pair into trouble, but his

good intentions and kind heart drives George to forgive,

forget, and move on. After Lennie has another one of

his mishaps, the two go in search for work and end up

on a ranch ran by “The Boss” and his heard of rustic

mannish bubs including his violent son Curly, the old

ranch handler Candy, Slim the ranch leader and Crooks

the black stable-hand. Curlyʼs wife, often referred

to as “tramp” or “tart” or any other type of degrading

nickname apart from her actual name is the only female

character that lives on the ranch with all the men and

presents a problem for Lennie and George with her

constant presence and Curlyʼs short, jealous fuse.

After an adjustment period that allows the ranch

workers to become accustomed to Georgeʼs work habits

and Lennieʼs disabilities, the brawny fellow

unintentionally messes up again in a way that

costs him his life. While petting Carlsonʼs dogʼs

puppy that will be given to Lennie once it is old

enough to leave his mother, the mischievous

Curleyʼs wife wonders over to Lennie looking for

a fix to her relentless boredom. She strikes up a

conversation with the big man and discovers his

infinity for touching soft things. She offers up

her thick, luscious hair for Lennie to feel and his

over powering strength and strong hold on her

hair causes her to yell in fear. Lennie knows that

if George catches him messing up, he will lose

his chance of being able to tend to the rabbits he

looks so forward to managing once they buy their

property. In trying to mute the wailing woman he

accidentally breaks her neck. George, unable to

deal with Lennieʼs constant mistakes, shoots him


OF MICE AND MENin the back of the head, ultimately securing his

own survival amongst the ranch worker men.

Steinbeck has an incredible writing

style that transports the reader into his desired

time period. He is accurately able to portray his

characters ̓ personality through genius dialogue

that only enhances the storyline. Each character

has a particular role within the novel that ties

the whole storyline together to create a timeless

work of a fiction that will translate with every

generation. Steinbeck is able to create a sense of

masculine bonding with his characters that gives

readers a pleasant notion and contrasts beautifully

against the rough and unforgiving environment.

The relationship between George and Lennie is

also inspiring and the ending breaks hearts because

you understand why George had to go to that last

resort but then you feel for Lennie because he never

means any harm, he is just too strong for his own

good. Steinbeck is one of the few authors that can

create such an easy to understand and relatively

short story, but put so much deeper meaning into

these simple characters and their actions. Of Mice

and Men is truly a classic piece that resonates with

the heart and makes you want to go and tend some

rabbits of your own.

ThemesStrength vs. Weakness

Lennie is physically strong and this quality secures his job.

“No, he ain’t, but he’s sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull.”

Curly’s family owns the ranch and even though he is a shorter guy, his temper, angry disposition, and actions reiterates his leader position.

“Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys. He’s alla time picking scraps with big guys.”

Candy’s dog is old and useful according to the ranch workers and is killed because of his worthlessness.

“Got no teeth,” he said. “He’s all stiff with rheumatism. He ain’t no good to you Candy. An’ he ain’t no good to himself.”

Companionship

George and Lennie travel together and have each others best interests in mind.

“We kind of look after each other.”

Lennie finds companionship in soft animals like the mice he keeps in his pocket in the beginning of the story, his puppy from Slim, and the rabbits he looks forward to tending.

George and Slim have a trusting relationship and when George kills Lennie, Slim is the only one that knows it was not a suicide like it looked, but understands why George had to result to this.

Elements

Dialogue

The dialogue gives the characters their personality and perfectly embodies the class American working man of the 1930s.

Characterization

The characters are portrayed very simply, but in a way that deeply shows each character’s inner turmoil.

12 Raya Reviews

OMovie

OF MICE AND MEN

f Mice and Men

directed by Gary Sinise

is a true dedication

to the classic novel.

Steinbeckʼs story is so simple, yet so

resonating that it is easily translated for

the screen and Sinise who also plays the

role of George, follows the sequence of

the novel to a tee. The script is on point

and just by bringing the beloved novel

to the big screen makes for a great

film.

Still, there are some minor key parts that did

not translate as easily. The first being the casting of

John Malkovich as the lovable dope Lennie. Overall

he does a decent job as the character but his profound

dumbness irked me. In the novel, I imagined

Lennie to be smarter than how he is portrayed

in film, but looking back I realized that

Lennie being as stupid as Malkovich depicts

him makes sense for the overall story. Also,

none of the actors especially Gary Siniseʼs

George, have the accents that I so desperately

loved in the novel that gave the characters

their personality. He does however; stress the

complexity of his love hate relationship with

Lennie brilliantly and that confliction is vital

to the overall storyline. As a film watcher, it

is easy to understand what George is going

through and your heart goes out to him because

of the situation he is in.

Of Mice and Men is a great film that

can charm an entire audience for years to

come. When watching the movie, it became

apparent to me that the killing of Candyʼs dog

was foreshadowing Lennieʼs own tragic death

and that is something I missed entirely when

reading the novel. This film was a pure delight

and is refreshing that such a simple story can

resonate so well on the big screen and can

preach such great values. Gary Sinise has a

love for Steinbeckʼs work and his film honored

that devotion marvelously.


OF MICE AND MEN

George and Lennie have been played by:

Why did you choose film critic as your profession?

James Rocchi: Being a film critic is the best job a writer could have in many ways because, during any given week, you get to write about everything: Real wars, human drama, zombie attack, the nature of love, the physics of superpowers, the culture of capital, manʼs inhumanity to man, sports, crime ... everything. And the fact that the movie youʼre writing about on Wednesday comes out on Friday has shattered many a writerʼs block.

Gerald Peary: I always was a film watcher, from early childhood, and from my early teenage years, an avid reader of film criticism. I started writing film reviews for the University of Wisconsin Daily Cardinal as a grad student, procrastinating writing my Ph.D. thesis.

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/07/16/1145032.php

http://www.newenglandfilm.com/news/archives/2007/01/peary.htm

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/news/1711320/meet_a_critic_cinematical_and_huffington_post_writer_james_rocchi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_adaptation

http://www.newenglandfilm.com/news/archives/2007/01/peary.htm



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_adaptation

honors project magazine

Documents