Probably killed by life's adversities, everybody has at least once dreamed about how it would be nice if Paradise and prosperity reigned on the Earth. Only a few of us thought about the fact than it can be troublesome. Paradise is not a panacea and living in it would be boringWhy? Everything is simple: constant satisfaction and the quiet tends to simply annoy the man so that he wants adventure and adrenaline. There is no good without evil and evil without good. If everything is so good, how do people distinguish good from evil, if the second simply will not exist?! The movie "Pleasantville" in brilliant and chic way, shows us what would such a world be like, what laws would exist, proves how miserable, grey and artificial it would be, and how wonderful it would be if there were those who would change it, turning it into a real and lively, having a true revival.
For residents of Pleasantville, everything is in measured pace of events, respect for traditions and family values, peace of mind and confidence in the future. The man is in a pleasant environment: everybody is polite and friendly. Yes, and the town is not large but very comfortable with clean streets and a beautiful park. All residents live happily and safely every day. And nothing changes. Nothing at all! Life goes on with a specific scenario. That does not seem very nice, does it? And if you live a little in this city, it turns out that every day each citizen represents an episode from a familiar series. Residents are acting as if programmed in advance and know what needs to happen next. And the slightest failure in the software can lead to disaster.
So everybody lives in their own little world, not realizing that there is something else besides their Pleasantville. Libraries are full of books, but the pages of books are empty. The city is closed: all the streets go in circles, and every schoolboy knows that at the end of main street is its beginning. All colors of the world are black, white and all shades of greyThe movie does not provide any hint of hope, people react only to the shades of feelings. If we think about it, it might seem not only depressing, but also hopeless.
"Pleasantville" is a popular black and white series showing the life of the 50-ies. One of the main characters of the film – a child of the nineties – David Wagner (Tobey Maguire) is obsessed with it. He would like to be in this utopian world. Of course, it can be understood. He's not popular at school, has constant quarrels with her sister Jennifer (Reece Witherspoon) at home, who is just obsessed with guys. In general, his life is monotonous and boring.
Once upon a time David get a chance to come to his favorite TV series. One TV set repairman gives David a remote control for the TV, which he, with his sister, is transferred to Pleasantville. Now their name is Budd and Mary sue Parker. It changes not only their names but also life, together with lives of the inhabitants of this town. They bring into the town the extraordinary with them. Therefore, life of the whole town is changed.
The failure in the system occurs and there is no turning back. People turn colors when they are experiencing deep emotions, previously unknown to them. All this happens in different ways: the majority of teenagers are "painted" from sex; the pastry chef from the ability to see paint and draw.
Mary-Sue is switched from the lads on the books, which gives her and her life color. Budd, a former loser who backs the bully. The main character is a reassessment of values. They are trying to reach people, to open them ALL the colors of life. Of course not everybody is happy about it. Of course, it undermined such a revered tradition! Is it possible to return home and find dinner on the table? It's news to the front pages of Newspapers! And so it is that firefighters need to put out the fire, not only to remove stuck on trees kittens; that pouring water from the sky is rain and it is not fatal, etc.
This film reveals different faces, sometimes even unexpected. Comparison of 50-ies from the 90s. Comparing first love, public opinion, the position of man in society, its role in family and society. Affected the privacy of the family: loyalty, betrayal, and stereotypes. Problems of expression and related persecution, the desire to be free no matter what. Revealed a kind of racial problems. For example, the reluctance to serve in stores people who have color. Of course it could not have been avoided because of the urgency of the problem. It is still the issue nowadays. There are still people oppressing others because of the color of their skin. How can a color change not only the lives of the people but also the feelings expressed towards them.
In general, it is worth noting that in "Pleasantville" raised a lot of interesting and relevant topics, but primarily the point is that the picture is brilliant and ruthlessly demolishes the myth called "utopian, perfectly arranged society." But with all this, however, is a spectacle quite "peace-loving" and just feeling emotional and life — the film follows — in no small part because of the charming Toby Maguire and Reese Witherspoon so eloquently and ably fulfilled its main and, of course, very colorful images celebrates the immense beauty, power and wealth of the human soul, the inner world of man; shows which, at first glance, invisible opportunity hidden in almost every person - give them only to open up; proves the great value of spirituality, which is, incidentally, the main and especially distinguish man from animal and the machine. In short, he sings of a life as it should be — colorful, vibrant, diverse, spiritual and, of course, somewhat risky. Because the price of inner freedom of a person is the risk of being "misunderstood" and thus attacked by a man spiritless and immoral — but, believe me, it's worth it. People should realize how important it is to express themselves because of the oppression of others. And the most horrendous thing is that the oppression comes from the people as well.
The movie is pleasant, funny and very beautiful. He was nominated for an Oscar for artistic expression, music and costumes, though a reward was not received (in my opinion - unfairly, because from this point of view the picture is done just brilliantly). The script is good and quite versatile. Everyone in this film sees her. Someone is just a Comedy of situations. Someone-a social satire (the youth rebellion of the 60s, the collision of two worlds - progressive and retrograde), someone will think about what would happen if two modern teenagers to throw in 50-e years of the Soviet
The film teaches a simple, but important things: love, goodness, sincerity. What barriers did not come up in my life, hands down it is impossible. And, of course, that change is not bad. We can say that the film is about the eternal struggle between "fathers and children", old and new. You can respect and appreciate tradition, but it does not stand still, develop. In "Pleasantville" two worlds meet, and each brings something valuable.
The Truman Show
Truman (Jim Carrey) is 29 years old, and throughout his life he spent in a small but nice town. And you can say that life has been this: he has a good job, good wife, loyal friend. All you need for happiness. That's just from childhood, Truman wanted to be a pioneer, an Explorer, a Pathfinder. Yes that there - simply to travel somewhere outside their hometown, to see the world! And the decision is eventually taken. That's just some invisible, magical force holding it in place, does not break free. Truman does not know that is unable to leave his hometown simply because he is a star, the only "not an actor" giant, persistent series, which should go 24 hours a day. And the whole world around him is one big decoration, and people (including his wife and best friend) - just the actors. But the time to disclose the secrets of it, and fallen from the sky the lighting device is only the beginning.
So, the radio in the car, Trueman catches the frequencies that are frequencies of the radios with employees of the show, he discovers spaces in buildings where the equipment for the show. But the actors, time and time again manages to disguise the truth with new excuses and excuses. But soon Truman notices anomalies in the behavior of others. The same people appear in the same places at the same time, and his wife seemed to constantly advertise products that she buys.
The creators of the show start to panic. They create new stories to distract Truman from taking place. They kill his father and create public service announcements about how to stay well at home. But Truman, it does not stop. He makes an attempt to flee the city, but he is stopped under the pretext of quarantine. At this time one of the Actresses Sylvia who got fired, when Truman fell in love with it, launches the campaign "Free Truman". At this time, Meryl, unable to withstand fallen on her tension, tells him the truth about his life. After that, she quickly removed from the show, but return Truman's father, hoping that will keep the son from stupid things. But it didn't help, and Truman soon makes another attempt to escape. Millions of viewers around the world, including Silvia, happy successful attempt of the hero. After that, the show is interrupted for the first time of its existence.
What is this film interesting? First, it is quite an extraordinary story. Imagine a huge Studio that can accommodate a small town, a river, an island, a piece of the sea. The Studio, where the sunset is simulated by a computer program, the weather is governed by the movement of the breakers, and the sun rises at the click of a toggle switch. And all of this is REAL. And everyone, EVERYONE knows about the existence of this Studio. Except for one person. The man who had locked forever in her, making from birth, T. J. hooker, obliged to be present on TV screens 24 hours a day. The whole uniqueness of this show is that you watch the REAL, genuine life of one person. There are no scripts, memorized texts, etc. But there is a sea of technology to support this show. Five thousands of TV cameras, placed, screwed and stapled all over the city.
The show goes on without interruption advertising, but the popularity of Truman must make money, so the screen are often mounted spontaneous promotional clips: wife advertises household appliances, coffees, a friend of his, sipping from cans of beer, says: "this is BEER", etc. are Not in these moments of essence, but filmed with all good satire on the American way of life with a stubborn, almost in all advertisements.
Film about the fate, the tragedy of one man. The man who has everything seems to be good, but not free of his own life, in the same way as any creature in the zoo. After all, why they are being held so people could gawk. For the same hold and Truman, only cage he's a bit roomier. And viewer involuntarily starts to feel sorry, genuinely experiencing all the failed attempts to get out of this impasse. And the output is, and it is found somewhere at the intersection of personal fears and the fears generated. The rare case when a happy ending is complete without a suitcase full of cash, and the main character loses everything, receiving in return only the freedom. And you really, childishly glad for him.
The main value of this picture in that it reflects actual problems of modern society. Today many are accustomed to live the life of heroes book of novels, television shows, video games, and meanwhile, their own life is like already someone has written the script. Even knowing all this, many perceive such as the norm.
In the film, the Director says that Truman – certainly is not the prisoner if he wished he could "find the exit" from this life. That is, show the liberal and humane. But actually, obviously, constantly are all sorts of limits and obstacles to limit the actions of our hero.
In the name of the main character of the movie — Truman - also there is a certain hint. The word "True men" in tune with "Real people" and helps the viewer to understand the intent of the author of the picture — the film gives everyone an opportunity to look at yourself exactly as you really are.
Before us is a gorgeous, touching, smart, and elegant in presenting the film. And each will see in "the Truman Show" only what you want to see, and will be in its own right. Other will be easy enough melodramatic story in which the main character runs from a fictional reality in his heart in search of his love. Others will find in the picture Weir powerful social message about the "sick society" engaged in perverted, in fact, entertainment, peep show for someone else's life. Still others will speak in favor of the fantastic parable of the cynical Creator who decided to play God and to do global mind control. That's the beauty of history, that it is multifaceted and at the same time not trying to suck the brain of the viewer.
Jim Carrey, without doubt, proved to many naysayers that he can not only make faces (and he, incidentally, is also head and shoulders above many of his peers), but also to pour out on the soul screen. He later confirmed his right to the status of dramatic actor in the brilliant film "the man in the moon" and "Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind". In "the Truman Show" Kerry still occasionally breaks out on the jokes and grimacing, but here it is justified and, in General, does not spoil the experience.
As always great ed Harris, who got even more contradictory and complex role. His character Christoph is actually celestial, producer and television Director and global level, a snob and a sensitive soul at the same time. One only has to look at his eyes during the final monologue from Truman to understand how much he is going through a breakup with his hero. With his adopted son, if you will.
The main paradox of the picture lies in the fact that the makers of happy ending actually raises more questions than puts a fat point in the history of Truman Burbank. Unfortunately, we'll never know how our hero survived the fact that all his relatives, friends and acquaintances – the vile hirelings of Big brother. Like not given to us to figure out what Truman would face in the real world outside the magic word Exit. These significant nuances of the film-makers deliberately overlooked, losing the possibility to capture not just a good movie, but a masterpiece.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, two of the above films, for nearly two decades excite the minds of the audience. The films are true masterpieces, which was repeatedly marked by the number of praise reviews and all sorts of nominations in cinematography.
But if you think about it, there's something that unites these films is imaginary. In Pleasantville David is living in a fictional world first serial of the town in the Truman Show the main character lives in a fictional specially for him "almost" the real world, and the rest of the world is David from Pleasantville – can not break away from the screen of the TV, watching and living with him.
Imagination allows David to disengage from the surrounding world of the 90s, in which he does not particularly like and which he does not particularly like. Much better to live in imagination in the ideal, the fictional town where everyone is so nice and perfect.
Truman is a little different situation, he was involved in an imaginary world not by his desire, he didn't even have a choice. He decided from birth. But unlike David, he seeks to avoid in a better world and to get out of it.
The reality show has positioned itself as an observation of life, of course, alien. It is based on a magnet, attracting people since immemorial time, and its name is curiosity, but curiosity is very unhealthy, which is manifested in a kind of "spying" for the lives of others. While watching reality shows, people invariably wonder: "Can he/she get over it, right?", "Lucky for him/her?", "Will they be together?" and so on. They not only watch, but participate directly emotionally, can compare themself with these people and put themself in their place, imitate and copy them. For some, reality shows can even be the meaning of life (like David), for others - its a kind of benchmark. And then two negative effects are seen - suggestion false and false values and education of people, and able only to watch the other, forgetting about their own interesting lives. Some would say that this is nothing terrible, after all, a similar situation occurs with film, but in movies there are no living people, only the characters, telling a story of life. In most movies shown these feelings unreal, fictional people. In my opinion, reality shows things are moving exactly the opposite - supposedly showing "real" emotions, real people become "workers" in the factory of fake life. The reason for this lies on the surface and known all over the world - materialism.
In reality TV there is nothing that could benefit the people, but their popularity from year to year is steadily increasing. The only thing they can "boast" is the ability to attract attention, to literally hypnotize the audience, giving them the opportunity to have fun and relax from everyday life, "disconnect your head". But is it worth the time spent, valuable time that can be spent on reading interesting books or watching a deep movie that compels us to discover something new for yourself and feel the joy of knowledge, contemplation of works of art or simple human interaction - this is the main question.
These films can be discussed for a long time, because they really are brilliant masterpieces.
Works Cited
Ross, Gary, dir, Pleasantville. New line cinema, 1998. Film
Weir, Peter, dir, The Truman Show. Paramount pictures, 1997. Film
