Scarlet Street (1945)

        2015 has arrived for quite some time and I've yet to post anything. Yes its sad to say I've been pretty neglectful to my blog. I know this is going to sound cliche when I say that I'm pretty bad with updating anything on social media, but actually its true. So, its time to make some changes, and be proactive. I was once told by an old college professor that updating your blog is pretty important, you shouldn't go months without posting, because you never really know who's viewing your blog, someone may want to get in contact with you or hire you. Inactivity says your unavailable, you're considered dead. A blog is a small representation of who you are, or what you do, so you should post accordingly. With that being said my blog is currently going through a metamorphosis, I used to only post my artwork scarcely, now there will be so much more brought to you frequently. You can expect movie reviews/analysis's. Which leads me to the picture above.
Scarlet Street (1945), its not my first written review, but my first written review seen on the internet. Scarlet Street in a nut shell is about an artist named Christopher Cross (Edward G. Robinson) who falls for an attractive woman that is conning him. Fritz Lang is the director. If you've seen any of his earlier works you know he's more than capable of getting the job done. Any young filmmakers or film enthusiasts out there should familiarize themselves with this guy if they haven't already done so. Scarlet street is a Film Noir. Noir consists of a few key elements, one is it contains a dark story, there won't be any Hollywood endings here. Two we have a femme fetale, which is our leading lady who is beautiful BUT deadly. Three, the fantastic lighting, or lack there of. Now Scarlet Street starts out with Christopher Cross looking for the subway so he can get home. He then sees a woman being hit by a man. Finding himself in that what would you do situation? While most people would watch, or record it today, he decides to intervene. This becomes his introduction with our leading lady named Kitty March (Joan Bennett) and her boyfriend Johnny (Dan Duryea). Christopher quickly becomes infatuated with her and mentions how he's an artist. Kitty then assumes he must be wealthy and sell a lot of paintings. After mentioning this to her boyfriend, Johnny gets the idea that she should continue talking to him like she's interested, and then mention her money troubles. Since he's so into her no way won't he give her money, and it will help the two of them come up in life. I wont mention much more in fear that, what is said will spoil it for my audience. But, there are a couple topics I want to discuss. Anytime I see a film about an artist I immediately gain interest, because I am an artist. I'm always curious to see if they will show the struggles an artist goes through, how your life is depended on what you create. The starving artist title is one hundred percent accurate because most people love art, but don't want to pay for it. Christopher in many ways went through what a lot of artists go through. He was constantly creating work which he felt wasn't good enough. See self criticism is a big thing for an artist, it is needed to better your work, but at the same time its your Achilles heel. It becomes hard to notice your improvement, at times you even forget that you're in a race with yourself, and when that happens you feel you're never good enough. Christopher's wife was his biggest critic, she never liked anything he did. This was due to the fact that she just couldn't understand. Since he wasn't creating "traditional" art, he was painting what he felt he saw. The hardest thing for an artist to do is create something and then have the courage to show it to someone, and then have them not understand it. When the negativity comes from someone you love it makes it worse. Which is why I am not surprised that he started to fall for Kitty. When someone likes your work they in a way earn a special place in your heart.
Kitty and Chris find themselves in relationships in which they are all about the relationship, and the other isn't. When you see the film you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. How many people have been in a relationship where someone is maybe abusive, or suggests you to do one thing because its for the better, so you do it. Or you'll do anything for that person? For example someone needs money, but you yourself barley have any. That doesn't matter though, you'll go get that money however you can. These are just a couple powerful elements in this movie, the most powerful one I can't mention because it'll spoil the whole movie, but I do recommend that this film should be watched. Edward G. Robinson handled business like he always does. Fritz Lang showed why he's a master at his craft by the way he handled scenes and developed the story, especially near the end. The final twenty or so minutes is captivating. The thing I loved most was the depiction of a man, in life you can have the highest highs and then in a matter of moments you're at your lowest. and then before you know it you're asking yourself"is life really worth living"?

Just look at this excellent composition! My favorite shot from the whole movie.