Assignment/Activity Title2nd Quarter Cinematic Analysis YearFreshmanSkillWriting Portfolio CategoryMedia and Communications

For the 2nd quarter cinematic analysis, I chose to watch The Untouchables. Since this was the only the second one, I was still thinking why do we even have to do these? Whats the point, unless you plan on being a film critic? This movie seemed the most interesting, based on the description and I really needed to pick a movie to watch. I wasnt expecting to get as attached to the characters as I did, or finding myself being amazed at the award-winning cinematography in the film. There was one scene that was shot all in one take from the point-of-view of the audience, which not only heightened the suspense, but also made the viewers feel as if they themselves had entered into this world of gangsters, schemes, bribery, and the expanding underground illegal liquor trade that makes up the Prohibition era.

The message of the film is really one that I think about all the time: how far are you willing to go to achieve what you need to? As an athlete, I ask myself this question all the time. There are times when I really dont want to wake up at 5:15 in the morning to go to practice 45 minutes later, but I know that it has to be done. If I am being honest, there are also those nights where I fell very strongly against doing homework any earlier than 6:30pm, however, I recognize that it has to get done at some point and if I never start, then Ill never finish. The other message of how sometimes in order to defeat his enemy, a person has to think in just the same manner was quite interesting to me. This strategy has been shown over and over in films, books, and television shows, with results ranging from defeat to ultimate destruction. The part that is so fascinating is not the actual strategy itself, but the transformation of the character that decides he wants to go through with becoming often the complete opposite of who he is to achieve the goal of bringing down the villain.

My grade on this cinematic analysis was the highest one out of all four. I am honestly proud of this, but it also proves that procrastination does not get you anywhere. This one was the only one that I didnt stay up past 12:00am scrambling to complete. Im not very good with deadlines and doing assignments on time, so I am thankful for my mother constantly nagging me about my homework. The writing in this one was, for me, spectacular. After the final version was submitted, I went back, reread everything I had written, and said Did I really just write that? Wow. I never thought I would ever be able to write as profoundly as I did in this cinematic analysis. This was also when I was still getting used to the system and the largeness of everything. I honestly cannot remember how many times I rewrote this one, but all of it paid of in the end, because my grade on this analysis was a 20/20. Writing has always felt as if it is the only thing I am honestly good at, other than track. Having that shown on paper gave me a sense of accomplishment and Okay, so this isnt entirely a nightmare, maybe something good will come out of me going through this.

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