When Harry Met Sally:

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

There are quite a few elements in the film When Harry Met Sally that were discussed in the textbook and class notes. Something I noticed in particular was the color pallet, which I can only assume was the work of the film’s cinematographer, Barry Sonnenfeld. For example, Harry’s normal attire was usually cloaked from dark, cool colors such as navy and olive, to shades of dark grey and black. Sally, on the other hand, wore white a majority of the time. We usually associate dark, cool colors with depression, which sums up Harry’s character very well, especially after his divorce. White is associated with purity, which is a character trait that can absolutely be tied to Sally, as she was described in the beginning of the film as “a happy person.”

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.

In this interview conducted by The Nerdist, Barry Sonnenfeld discussed his directing experience on Men In Black 3. An accomplished cinematographer who has worked on films such as When Harry Met Sally, Raising Arizona, and Misery, the highlight of this interview was his stance on converting films from 2D to 3D. Claiming that he has always “seen in 3D,” Sonnenfeld explained that he has shot a film in both formats, and came to the conclusion that, when shooting something in 2D, the camera rig is much smaller, which allows quick movements with the camera and also allows him to use much wider lenses than if he were to shoot something in 3D. He also explained that, when shooting in 3D, it is necessary to pick the inter-ocular separation ahead of time, which is responsible for the 3D effect. It is much more freeing to convert 2D into 3D because you have the power to decide everything afterwards, instead of having it set in stone.

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class. 

In the article, Sonnenfeld stated that he would, “love to see Raising Arizona converted to 3D. I wanted to release this movie in 3D.” A majority of films to have been released (or rereleased) in 3D have been either science fiction and/or action films such as Jurassic Park, Transformers, The Avengers, etc. Films such as Raising Arizona or When Harry Met Sally, however, do not exactly have the action sequences like those aforementioned films do. The concept of wanting to rerelease a film like Raising Arizona or When Harry Met Sally in 3D is a fascinating one, however, as the use of 3D may add something more to a film than a mere “cool action scene,” but rather an interesting new perspective of a scene by giving it that extra depth. When James Cameron rereleased Titanic in 3D, there were multiple scenes that I personally overlooked when I watched it in 2D, but shined when the use of 3D was implemented. Perhaps if When Harry Met Sally were to be rereleased in 3D, the already beautiful-looking film would have even more depth than it already does.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.

From the dialogue to the editing, When Harry Met Sally is an incredibly fast-paced film. Written by Nora Eprhon, the dialogue realistically and effortlessly bounced back and forth between all the actors involved. The film also glosses over a huge gap of time, as the beginning focuses on the two main characters in college, with the end taking place as the characters are in their mid-30’s. On paper, it may sound off-putting, but this film pulled it off because when we are actually in the moment, the transitions from season to season feel just as natural as the dialogue. You are also tied to these characters for so long that by the film’s end, you only want to see more of them, which is due to a combination of Ephron’s writing, Rob Reiner’s direction, and the chemistry between Billy Chrystal and Meg Ryan. When Harry Met Sally is also a beautiful-looking film, as cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld made all of the colors and lighting stand out. This in turn made the seasons and the transitions in particular feel so realistic, which could only have been done so well with perfect editing.