Showing posts with label Michael Douglas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Douglas. Show all posts

Monday, September 16, 2013

In hoc signo vinces


Innocenzio approaches Crocifisso…
Innocenzio: I got this invitation to join the fraternity. I was told it was secret. But I heard you were in it.
Crocifisso: So you want to know what it is? What it’s all about? “In hoc signo vinces.”
Innocenzio: My Latin’s a little rusty.
Crocifisso: “In this sign you will conquer.” Good night Innocenzio. Best of luck.

_______________
Voice-over
A suspenseful three part request, answer and exit.
A three part request: invitation > secret > you
A three part answer: You want to know? > What it is? > Latin
A three part exit: Translation > Leavetaking > Well-wishing

Compare this scene with Michael Douglas in The Game (Minute 21).
 Similar pattern.
...

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

A win-win retribution: Wall Street II


Narrative Profile: Wall Street I (blue) & Wall Street II (red)
Wall II follows Wall I’s narrative… with a twist…
Saturday night was a good night to stay in and watch a movie. Except I watched two.
Two?
Two the same. Well a prequel  followed by a sequel. Wall Street the original and…
Money Never Sleeps?
The very pair. And they are so similar.
Because of Michael Douglas?
That but more than that. It’s the narratives. They have an identical narrative profile. But with a twist in II.
Ah. Bad old guy vs innocent newbie?
Bad old guy corrupts innocent idealistic newbie who then outwits bad old guy. Bud in Wall I gets a confession on tape of Gordon Gekko and Jake in Wall II derails Gordon with a movie of his grandson on CD. Media denouement, both times.
You’d think Gordo would have learned not to trust media.

___________
Voice-over
Media. You can imagine Oliver Stone thinking, “Bud wore a wire and taped Gordon to get him put away for twenty years. But in Wall II, I’ll have Jake give Gordon a film of his grandson’s ultrasonic scan (a representation of a representation) to reel him back into the family and give back the 100 million.

Wall I: Young idealistic newbie (Bud) uses medium of sound recording tape to attack Gordon. Destructive retribution.
Wall II: Young idealistic newbie (Jake) uses meta-media to subdue Gordon, defeat him, win the money back, and bring him into the family. A win-win retribution.