The Tin Drum (1979)

I'm really not quite sure what to make of the Tin Drum. It's a very complex film in a lot of ways. It inspires conflicting emotions in the viewer. At some points, it tells a story that is very fantastic, a boy who refuses to grow and can shatter glass with his shrill scream. Yet, at the same time, the story has many elements of reality, such as the backdrop of Nazi Germany, and touches the viewer because it's a very human tale.

In keeping line with the conflicts thrust upon the viewer is one of the most notable aspects of the film, the whole 'is it really pornographic?' argument. As an avid film buff and a believer in the filmmaker's vision, I'd argue that it isn't. But even for me, that line between art and pornography is toed very closely in the Tin Drum. On one hand, the main character is 20 years old, and thus it's perfectly natural for him to be with a woman of equal age. But, he looks 11, and is played by an actor of 11, so it really makes the viewer feel uncomfortable. I guess, though, that was the idea that the writer had in mind.

I kind of didn't buy the whole idea of Oskar's surroundings driving him to decide not to grow. Yeah, the adults were pretty buffoonish, but I can't see that being the driving force behind it. Then again, all children are impulsive and often times whiny about getting their own way, so I suppose it's understandable.

One neat little thing I noticed is when they go to Church and the Mother goes to confession, is the camera movement following Oskar's thought patterns. As he gets reprimanded for playing his drum, his Mother breaks down due to the important decision she'll have to make. Yet, the camera pans up, showing her, while still keeping the drum itself in frame. Yes, Oskar cares about his Mother, but not to the point where he doesn't worry about the fate of his precious drum.

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Rebel Without a Cause is one of those movies that I have no memory of moving towards the top of my Netflix queue. Not that I didn't want to see it, but it just didn't seem to interest me much. So, I approached it with trepidation, expecting some leather jacket, motorcycle gang kind of movie (not to knock The Wild One, a great movie). Just goes to show how much a title and image of the lead actor can affect one's notions about a film beforehand.

I really liked Rebel. I've never seen anything with James Dean before, so I was really impressed with his performance. Maybe not so much his performance, but maybe his charisma. The story of the film struck me on an emotional level, as well. I remember vividly experiences with bullies and peer pressure, being torn between maintaining your pride and doing the 'right thing'. I dug the character of Plato quite a bit, being the outcast and such.

It did feel pretty corny in spots, mostly due to the fact that it pretty much encapsulates a generation. Everything felt a little too stereotypical and glossy, like Jim's parents, and Judy just really wanting somebody sweet and honest. That's just my own jaded view, colored by many years of Hollywood tripe. However, in some ways, the message of the film (if it even has one) is still fairly relevant, as a lot of youngsters these days feel the need to rebel, even without a cause. zomfg.