The Reel WRap
Thom’s take on the movies is both insightful and fun!
Experience movie-reviews in a completely new way as
this seasoned actor and coach introduces you to the
quirky characters of the dysfunctional Hollywood life!
Just like a movie, each installment of the Reel WRap™
will offer a problem and a solution. As Thom points out “Like life, the through-line of the movies is about conflict.
No conflict, no scene…no movie. By understanding the
Acting for Real Process, you will be able to identify the
behaviors of different characters in each film, see the
conflicts,and understand how you can apply the
principles to the characters you play in real life.”
Braveheart
Heaven Hi! Let’s have a cup of coffee make mine, Scottish Freedom, hold the politics. Thank you very much. If you haven’t already, you have got to check out the movie Braveheart.
Ever since Bill Henderson, the COO of Netflix, signed me up for the online movie rental service, you would think I have a DVD slot machine at my door instead of a mailbox. Out comes a new movie to watch every day, and some days the selection is a jackpot of Acting for Real themes. Like Braveheart. Humanity, Power and Desire, all wrapped up in blue war paint and plaid!
There’s one thing I have learned about watching movies: The films we love best transport us to and absorb us in the world where the screen takes us, and the film Braveheart does this admirably. William Wallace starts a heart-pounding campaign as a result of the persecution of medieval English rule to lead the Scots, and let’s not forget the IRISH, to freedom, rebelling against British tyranny to liberate his people. Lie on your back in bed, extend your arms, and yell FREEDOM! This might trigger the familiarity button.
William Wallace is played by no other than our good friend, and well-known show hound, Mel Gibson. Had almost forgotten he’s an actor, hadn’t you? Beautiful Catherine McCormack plays Gibson’s wife who is killed by the English in order to trap William Wallace for breaking the laws of the King. (I know us all as citizens fear the king.) But oh, wait, William’s romances do not end with her death. Who is this strikingly gorgeous French woman we see here? Hey, it’s Sophie Marceau!!! Through William Wallace’s escapades, he falls in love with the soon to be queen of England, the French princess Isabelle.
Sweeping, glorious battle scenes take the viewer for a moment to the time of the thirteenth century in all lucidity. This film is an axe-swinging, body throwing, glorious war-crying film with breathtaking romantic interludes which will satisfy you and your date’s craving for substance.
How does this break down as an Acting for Real showcase study? A quarter of this film is comprised of themes of sexuality and desire with the initial wedding of Wallace and Murran MacClannough, and then on to Princess Isabelle as a compliment to William’s sensitive side. Half of the film deals with the humanities of politics both in the English and Scottish arenas. Danger is laced all throughout the film. For the last part of our creative triangle we have power. Wallace’s charismatic character enlists the masses of Scottish citizens in his mission, while in reality he struggles with the power to persuade the Scottish politicians to aid him in his freedom quest.
This movie will make you want to raise your fist in the air and yell triumphantly something to the equivalent of YEAH! FREEDOM! OH MY GOSH I’M YELLING TO MYSELF!!!
Check out my book, “Acting For Real,” and learn how to break down any movie using the Creative Triangles within the Wheel of Human Behavior. It’ll cause lot of liberating discussion! FREEDOM!!!
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Little Miss Sunshine is a film that truly exemplifies the essence of excellence. It is a
dark comedy about an all American fractured family who travels to California in a
Volkswagon bus to compete in a pre-pubescent beauty pageant. No matter how
insurmountable the obstacles, the Hoover’s pull together as a family to confront and
overcome their problems one after another in a delightfully heartwarming fashion.
Now let’s break this movie down by using the six components of human behavior
in Acting for Real™ (Humanities, Sexuality, Humor, Power, Danger, Vulnerability) so we
may identify the characters within ourselves in order to better understand the roles
we play in our own lives. In my classes or seminars, the first thing we must identify
is the creative triangle of the piece, which is made up of three of the six components
of human behavior.
The heartbeat of the triangle makes up fifty percent of the given
circumstances, with two supporting behaviors representing the other fifty percent.
It’s not an exact science, but it will stimulate your creative imagination and give you
a better understanding of the process. Give it a shot! Your choices are…
Humanities, Sexuality, Humor, Power, Danger and Vulnerability.
300
Well, if you are looking for a profound and sophisticated historical dramatization of the battle of Thermopylae, then “300″ is probably not your cup of tea. I was dumbstruck by director Zack Snyder’s faithfulness to the images seen in the original graphic novel by Frank Miller. This film reads like a moving comic book, aimed to satisfy the 18-30 year old video game, bloodlust demographic. The heartbeat of 300 is humanities, 50% of the given circumstances revolve around the theme of good fighting to overcome evil.
King Leonidas, played with memorable conviction by actor Gerard Butler, inspires his men
to never retreat or surrender and die a glorious death in battle. 25% of the film is
comprised of sexuality, flesh galore and tons of homo-erotic tendencies.
WARNING: right wing republicans and evangelicals beware.The last 25% of the creative triangle is power, as seen in the political power struggles and hardcore battle scenes set to crunching guitar riffs.
If it’s a spear chucking, body piling, hyper erotic visual smorgasbord you’re after, then throw on a pair of speedo’s and a red cape and go see this video game…I mean movie.
If you would like to learn how to breakdown a movie with the creative triangle of human behavior then check out my book “Acting For Real” (PLUG).
