Comments by Errol Lewis Most recent public comments by Errol Lewis https://nowcomment.com/users/18825 It's handled by informing readers that there's nothing really new being discussed by Kaplan. There's no shocking or recently uncovered detail that they may not have already known that's come to light. It's the same story, just told by someone else. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56355?scroll_to=562876 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56355?scroll_to=562876 Fri, 02 Sep 2016 06:57:10 -0400 The first two sentences accomplishes in providing readers with an idea of who/what the review is about (Frank Sinatra), and that there were others who've written one before James Kaplan took to writing his own. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56355?scroll_to=562875 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56355?scroll_to=562875 Fri, 02 Sep 2016 06:55:16 -0400 It's crazy to imagine what a country/countries would do in order to remain in good standing even with the most vile of people. This continues even today, especially as the political season begins to wind down. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525659 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525659 Fri, 20 May 2016 19:55:07 -0400 Hitler wanted to pretend that he isn't the person he's been made out to be. To do that, he had to be "willing" to allow diversity into his country only on the pretense that they aren't his people so he doesn't have a problem with them. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525658 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525658 If any stayed beyond the period in which they were expected, I'm sure he would have persecuted them to the fullest extent of his power, which was great. Fri, 20 May 2016 19:53:51 -0400 Depends on who you talk to and at what time. The face of any country can often vary, but in this case the face is that of danger, torture, lies and deception. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525657 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525657 Fri, 20 May 2016 19:52:00 -0400 Art is in the eye of the beholder. It's what you make of it that makes it what (you) it becomes. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525656 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525656 Olympia is a piece of art in the sense that it uses the art form of film and documentary to display a sense of perseverance of the athletes. Some could even argue the perseverance of the German people, leadership wise, to put on such a game during a controversial period. Fri, 20 May 2016 19:50:29 -0400 Resilience, Desire and Strength https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525647 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525647 In order to be effective in what one came to do during this event, you had to be resilient. You also had to have the desire to achieve what you set out to do and you had to have the strength to overcome any obstacles, physically and emotionally. Having strength doesn't only have to relate to the body itself, but also the mind. Fri, 20 May 2016 19:23:57 -0400 Didn't think about that, but you are right. There had to be more to the story though. We just didn't get to see it. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525644 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525644 Fri, 20 May 2016 19:16:28 -0400 True. Although, I do think the reality is subjective. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525632 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525632 Fri, 20 May 2016 19:15:50 -0400 That's exactly what I took out of it as well. Despite the clearly different time period, and especially with the use of black and white (only possibility during the time), you kind of wonder if this took place in recent times. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525620 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525620 There is clear excitement throughout the film that feels very current and enthralling at the same time. Fri, 20 May 2016 18:41:11 -0400 It deals with Hitler by showing his enthusiasm for the games and how much power and control he has over his people and those in attendance, regardless of their personal viewpoint on the man. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525618 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525618 It's ever clear when (some) attendees present the "hail Hitler" symbol during their entrance into the Olympic stadium as they address the nation. Fri, 20 May 2016 18:38:11 -0400 They are different, yes, but in a certain way the same as they both tackle displaying the leader - Hitler in this case - as a better person than we know him to be. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525614 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525614 While in Olympia the games itself and the athletes are the stars of the film, the idea that Germany is in great hands shows that the film is almost an extension of "Triumph of the Will," which was seemingly made just to show Hitler as an individual with a desire to help the people of his country in mind. Fri, 20 May 2016 18:35:22 -0400 Yes, it's clear this isn't about covering the Olympics. It's about making a film that uses the Olympics as a backdrop in order to convey a message that shows the country at the time, particularly its leadership, in a more positive light. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525612 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525612 Fri, 20 May 2016 18:32:08 -0400 The closest word would probably be dishonest. Being that she hasn't said much about anything when it comes to her involvement outside of her direction, she withholds just enough that she can get away with not admitting her true intent. Maybe that does https://nowcomment.com/documents/43790?scroll_to=525610 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43790?scroll_to=525610 make her a liar, but she's definitely being dishonest. Fri, 20 May 2016 18:29:21 -0400 Without reading about her, outside of watching her film, there is just no way for anyone to think she is naive or innocent in what she presented throughout the period in which she documented her experience. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43790?scroll_to=525604 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43790?scroll_to=525604 She dabble with the devil, the devil will take you down to his cell. The devil in this case was Hitler and her willingness to present him as a hero, even if she didn't have a say in the final cut/release of the film. Fri, 20 May 2016 18:26:48 -0400 It's clear she used them, but it's an unstated truth. There was no way for her to get as close to those people without using them for her own needs, or desire in this case, to get her film made. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43790?scroll_to=525602 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43790?scroll_to=525602 Fri, 20 May 2016 18:25:03 -0400 While the film presented an Olympics that took place in Germany in 1936, it's clearly a film showing "life" in Germany in 1936 with the Olympics as a backdrop. The German life, however, isn't the evil kind as we have become accustomed. There are https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525599 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525599 those that are happy with the way things are and are happy with their leader. Of course, that's all a facade and things greatly changed soon after. Fri, 20 May 2016 18:14:01 -0400 Wide angles, lavious scenery and modern (for the time) technology help present an Olympics like never before scene from the eyes of a filmmaker and not a traditional television director using collaboration for the presentation. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525597 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43785?scroll_to=525597 The aesthetics showed things must be grand, sound must have a big effect on the minds of its audience. Those in attendance were happy to be there and everything is grand in the world of Germany, even by its enemies. This is what they wanted you to believe when watching the film. The rhythm is of an Olympic game full of excitement and equality among the contenders, even if that wasn't really true. Fri, 20 May 2016 18:11:17 -0400 Correct. In order for the film to be presented in the way it was, specifically the positive aspects of Hitler himself, the direction had to be in line with his own. No one without power would (should) willingly have taken part in his inner circle https://nowcomment.com/documents/43790?scroll_to=525591 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43790?scroll_to=525591 if they didn't in some way agree with his thinking. Fri, 20 May 2016 18:03:11 -0400 I don't think it did. Since it was from a specific viewpoint, there wasn't a desire to show her involvement. Not truly. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43790?scroll_to=525590 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43790?scroll_to=525590 Fri, 20 May 2016 18:01:40 -0400 I don't think it does. It just needs to present itself in a manner that its objective is understood, regardless of whether it is "scripted" or not by the direction it follows. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43762?scroll_to=525571 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43762?scroll_to=525571 Fri, 20 May 2016 17:24:15 -0400 Exactly. The film only showed what it wanted to display. The fun part, if any existed, may have changed the dynamics of the tale being presented. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43762?scroll_to=525567 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43762?scroll_to=525567 Fri, 20 May 2016 17:22:44 -0400 It does. It shows how her methods help develop her project into what she intended it to be. At least based on the reality she wanted presented. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43790?scroll_to=525482 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43790?scroll_to=525482 Fri, 20 May 2016 16:29:06 -0400 The whole thing was "conducted" in a way to present Hitler in a different light from what we know him as. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43763?scroll_to=525477 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43763?scroll_to=525477 The film made it seem like Hitler was the father the citizens didn't realize they had or wanted. That he had their wellbeing in mind when he made his decisions. That he was there for them even when he wasn't physically present. Fri, 20 May 2016 16:07:27 -0400 I think it shows that in spite of everything, Hitler was always bound to lose out in the end. He tried to present a solid front, or a united front with his people, but despite all that he was always destined to lose. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43763?scroll_to=525474 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43763?scroll_to=525474 Aesthetically things seem to be fine, but in the end the devastation will always occur and the bad will always lose. Fri, 20 May 2016 15:56:17 -0400 Content plays a key role in a story. You need to formulate what that content is in order to better understand what the film/documentary is about. This is important both from a filmmaker perspective and from its intended audience. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43763?scroll_to=525473 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43763?scroll_to=525473 Fri, 20 May 2016 15:53:43 -0400 The difference between the words and the words in quotation marks is to show that there is reality and then there is "reality" in that one is the truth as most know it, while the other is an edited version of events perpetuated by those with an agenda. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43763?scroll_to=525472 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43763?scroll_to=525472 The 1936 Olympic Games took place during a controversial period of time that went on to become one of the greatest tragedies/travesties ever to occur in the world. This was not presented in the film. It wasn't even acknowledged. Clever editing would make one believe that the time period smelled like roses. This is why real vs "real" is important when it comes to distinguishing the two. Fri, 20 May 2016 15:52:12 -0400 Action and music work hand in hand in one fully grasping a scene. Usage in a documentary is no different as the tone is set for what's about to happen. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43761?scroll_to=525467 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43761?scroll_to=525467 Fri, 20 May 2016 15:39:25 -0400 I found scenes like that to be pleasing as it helped put me more into the actions of the film than merely watching what happened happen. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43761?scroll_to=525466 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43761?scroll_to=525466 Fri, 20 May 2016 15:38:16 -0400 A documentary about documentaries is a behind the scenes look at how this type of project is made from the perspective of a documentarian. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43761?scroll_to=525465 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43761?scroll_to=525465 It's a rare form of viewing a documentary, but an interesting and aesthetically pleasing one none the less. "The Man With a Movie Camera" answers questions its audience might ponder about the filmmaking process before they even know what question(s) to ask. Fri, 20 May 2016 15:37:05 -0400 "Surreality" to me means that at times you feel like the reality we're being shown isn't real. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43761?scroll_to=525463 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43761?scroll_to=525463 That's not to say they are trying to say none of it happened, but that the stories also have different perspectives than we've become aware. Fri, 20 May 2016 15:34:09 -0400 But isn't that always the case? Shouldn't the filmmaker be in control of what they are trying to convey? https://nowcomment.com/documents/43761?scroll_to=525462 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43761?scroll_to=525462 I would hope any good director gives their intended audience the picture they sought to make. Fri, 20 May 2016 15:32:26 -0400 It matters, but then it doesn't https://nowcomment.com/documents/43758?scroll_to=525460 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43758?scroll_to=525460 Clearly he wanted his own perspective of the people rather than the perspective of the people themselves, but the project he sought to present was definitely already set up in his head before he began filming. Otherwise, he would have likely included the perspective of the people. Manipulation of scenes and of people has become the norm in today's modern documentaries and "unscripted" series, but it proves that what we find normal wasn't so then, at least we didn't think it was. Fri, 20 May 2016 15:28:03 -0400 The lesson is that you must work together to accomplish an overall goal. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43758?scroll_to=525458 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43758?scroll_to=525458 The subtle message is that you can accomplish something with more at your fingertips, but the question is should you? Fri, 20 May 2016 15:24:53 -0400 It's hard to say what is scripted and what is reality because the lines have been crossed several times throughout the years https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525455 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525455 But in this film, scripted is the visualisation of events and the message the documentary tries to portray. At the same time, we come to realize the reality of the situation by taking our own step back and viewing the documentary from a different perspective than the one we're expected. Fri, 20 May 2016 15:23:13 -0400 The British forged ahead despite attacks against their livelihood and all that they stood for. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525428 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525428 The "British Spirit" is all about togetherness, patriotism and unity. During the time of war they came together and took care of their own. They did this not because they were told to, but because they had to. It's not in them not to help others. Fri, 20 May 2016 15:21:25 -0400 Exactly. It's all about teamwork. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525426 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525426 You can't win a war by yourself, you need all the help you can get and you need to work together in accomplishing the collective goal. By the firefighters and the office workers working together, they helped put out the fires that resulted in oppositions bombing attacks. By their actions they helped save lives while their side helped fight against the Germans. Fri, 20 May 2016 14:59:35 -0400 I can't agree with this enough. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525422 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525422 Fri, 20 May 2016 14:57:54 -0400 I agree with this. It's an action regardless of how little it appears that makes one as important people fighting on the front line, if not more. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525418 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525418 This is an example of continuation. In spite of the war, life moves on even during the worst of times. Fri, 20 May 2016 14:56:25 -0400 Agree with this. But not everyone will see it this way. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525413 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525413 Being a hero could also be a shoulder to cry on for those in need, regardless of whether or not the person is actively assisting in other ways. Fri, 20 May 2016 14:54:36 -0400 I don't think living through something better equips you with what happened. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525412 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43792?scroll_to=525412 There are many situations that occur around us and we have no clue what's really going on. With documentaries, they present to us what we are to believe are the facts and we ourselves then determine whether it happened this way or not. Fri, 20 May 2016 14:52:47 -0400 I can't say they are. Narration is ultimately a script. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43791?scroll_to=525406 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43791?scroll_to=525406 And that script is subject to editing in itself. The type of film presented doesn't really open itself to being totally objective. Fri, 20 May 2016 14:48:48 -0400 I don't think any film can truly show or tell the whole truth. The closest way to find out what is true or not is to watch an edited version of events as they happen. That's nearly impossible. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43791?scroll_to=525404 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43791?scroll_to=525404 Fri, 20 May 2016 14:44:05 -0400 Which is something you could see from how the film turned out. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43791?scroll_to=525403 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43791?scroll_to=525403 Fri, 20 May 2016 14:42:42 -0400 What constitutes realism in this particular documentary is the reality that life goes on despite enormous tragedy. No matter which of us find ourselves going through something, our surroundings move on. https://nowcomment.com/documents/43791?scroll_to=520362 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43791?scroll_to=520362 In the film, you had people seeing war happen around them. But this is something they are used to now. They move forward, knowing what happened, but deciding it won't keep them from progressing. Fri, 13 May 2016 08:35:28 -0400 Native vs. Professional Actor https://nowcomment.com/documents/43742?scroll_to=466812 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43742?scroll_to=466812 When a native actor is used to provide information about a topic or subject, they give off an aura of authenticity because of their knowledge on said topic or subject. Whereas a professional actor answering questions from a script is clearly just an actor saying words. There's nothing compared to someone with firsthand knowledge vs one with secondary understanding. Wed, 10 Feb 2016 10:48:19 -0500 Not real because https://nowcomment.com/documents/43742?scroll_to=466808 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43742?scroll_to=466808 It's not real because the documentarian typically has an agenda and is looking to direct its audience towards their thinking of a subject or thing. Thu, 11 Feb 2016 19:22:16 -0500 Timing https://nowcomment.com/documents/43736?scroll_to=457268 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43736?scroll_to=457268 Timing is everything. When you are ahead of the curve you make breakthroughs. The Lumiere brothers being ahead of the game when it came to film allowed them to take credit long sought by others to make the moving image a reality. Thu, 04 Feb 2016 23:26:56 -0500 Boredom https://nowcomment.com/documents/43736?scroll_to=457264 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43736?scroll_to=457264 I was far from bored. It's interesting seeing how the moving image began as a simple concept that could only be dreamt and compare it to today's technology as we utilize video still not even imagined. Think of the evolution of television. Programming moved from audio only heard on radio and then with the advent of the moving image we were able to transition to TV. From TV, we now watch things on our computers, laptops, cell phones, etc. The respect given is how much we've come along since the Lumiere brothers first brought their idea to fruition before others could get theirs to work. Fri, 05 Feb 2016 08:34:29 -0500 Breakthrough means https://nowcomment.com/documents/43736?scroll_to=457262 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43736?scroll_to=457262 Breakthrough means something new or never been done before. The documentary film done by the Lumiere brothers showed a new concept of visualization. Previously it was unheard of to have moving photography. Fri, 05 Feb 2016 08:42:26 -0500 Facts or statements inadequate https://nowcomment.com/documents/43736?scroll_to=457246 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43736?scroll_to=457246 The idea that a documentary is factually based is a presumption on the part of people. When there is a person, subject or thing being covered by the director and presented in a format that isn't scripted, the presumption is that whatever is being said is based on factual information by the person(s) discussing it. The statements can be inadequate because they may not be telling the truth, and therefore the concept loses its relevance. Fri, 20 May 2016 10:10:55 -0400 It depends https://nowcomment.com/documents/43736?scroll_to=457234 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43736?scroll_to=457234 Honesty vs. Dishonesty depends on the outcome of the completed sentence and whether the individuals agreed with the end result. If one says something negative and another says something positive, but the overall result is collectively positive as presented, or negative, there is definitely dishonesty since the actual results were skewed. This is dishonest. If everyone said the same statement, but each line they said was pieced together as separate pieces, it's fine. The comment remains intact. Fri, 05 Feb 2016 08:08:48 -0500 Entertainment usage of montages... https://nowcomment.com/documents/43736?scroll_to=457226 https://nowcomment.com/documents/43736?scroll_to=457226 A montage is generally a series of clips showcasing a situation or event. Fans of characters on a television series or movie commonly create a short timeline of events covering a specific storyline or storylines over time with music attached to help tell the story. Another example of a montage includes a compilation of scenes from a movie that helps piece together a typical movie trailer. A montage can also be used to recap situations in a short time frame from a movie, tv show or even something shown in a music video, just to name a few. Fri, 05 Feb 2016 07:54:03 -0500