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Warning: These pages may contain movie spoilers. Proceed at your own risk.
The Truman Show
Starring Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Ed Harris, and Noah Emmerich. Directed by Peter Weir.
Brief Summary:
Jim Carrey stars in this drama as Truman Burbank, a man who is unaware that he has been living in a fictional city with scripted actors since birth and that his every movement has been recorded by hidden cameras and broastcast live as an uneditted, 24-hour TV program called "The Truman Show."
Questions To Consider While Watching This Movie:
1. Analyze the similiarities and differences between The Matrix world and the world of The Truman Show. How are both settings like prisons?
2. Compare and contrast the characters Neo and Truman. How do they react to their surroundings as well as the truth regarding them?
3. How do the plots of "The Truman Show" and "The Matrix" relate to Plato's Allegory of The Cave? Name some of the similarities between Plato's Freed Prisoner, Neo, and Truman. How is the Matrix world and Seahaven like Plato's cave?
4. In "The Truman Show," Cristoff states that we all "accept the world in which we are presented." How does this also apply to the Matrix world?
5. Like The Matrix," "The Truman Show" story also has some references or parallels to Christianity. Name some ways in which Cristoff is compared to God or acts like he is God.
6. In "The Matrix," we see that Agent Smith has become psychologically affected by the false reality he helped to create/monitor. With this in mind, how has Cristoff and the Seahaven characters been changed or influenced by The Truman Show?
7. In the beginning of the movie, what type of things tip you off --forshadowing-- that Seahaven is not like a normal, present-day town? What about the matrix world?
8. What would you say is the splinter in Truman's mind? Explain your choice.
9. Name some of the clues (mistakes made by the show's crew) that help Truman come to realize the truth--that there is something wrong in Seahaven and that he must find Sylvia.
10. What was Cristoff's reason for discouraging contact between Truman and Lauren (Sylvia's character) even though they had chemistry? Compare the Sylvia/Cristoff relationship to the one between Morpheus and Agent Smith.
11. Name some of the ways in which Truman is discouraged or prevented from leaving Seahaven. Why are the crew's manipulations (such as his mother's illness) so successful?
12. Do you think that any of the things that happen to Truman have anything to do with destiny?
Only You (1994)
Starring Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr., and Bonnie Hunt.
Brief Summary:
Since the age of 11, Faith (Marisa Tomei) has been on the lookout for her soul mate, Damon Bradley. She knows his name, thanks to an Ouija board and a fortune teller. Now an adult, Faith has taken fate in her hands by accepting Dwyane's marriage proposal. Days before the cermony though, Faith receives a call from a friend of Dwayne's, a Damon Bradley, and soon she and her sister-in-law are on their way to Italy in search of him.
Questions/Thoughts To Consider While Watching This Movie:
1. Do you believe in fate? Why or why not? What about the characters in both movies--how do their opinions regarding fate change by the end of the movie?
2. Look at the Oracle statement, "Oh, what's really going to bake your noodle later on is, would you have broken the vase if I hadn't said anything?" in regards to the movie "Only You." If it hadn't been for the board and the gypsy would have Faith eventually met Peter Wright? Is there really "a difference between knowing the path and walking the path"?
3. Compare and contrast the gypsy woman and the Oracle, paying close attention to their motives. Look at the pieces of advise that the Oracle gives Neo and compare them with the statement made by the gypsy woman to Faith regarding her destiny. How do these guides and their words of wisdom help Neo and Faith on their paths to true love? How are both the gypsy and the Oracle being manipulative or unclear?
4. Compare and contrast the personalities, situations, and actions of Trinity ("The Matrix") and Faith ("Only You"). Be sure to discuss the symbolic nature of their names (as well as Peter's last name) and how they both choose to handle someone fortelling the identity of their future loves.
5. While the plot of "The Matrix" is based upon Plato's "Allegory of The Cave," how is the writing of Plato also introduced in the story of "Only You"? How does Faith feel about Plato's concept of destiny or destino?
6. While "The Matrix" makes a small homage to the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty, can you spot the fairy tale theme *running* through "Only You" by naming the fairy tale and listing some of the subtle and not-so-subtle references to it?
7. In "The Matrix," there are many objects or places that take on a symbolic nature. Do you see any in "Only You"?
8. In "The Matrix," the beginning of the movie takes place in room 303 and this same room plays a big role during the end of the movie. Why was this done and how is this same plot device used in "Only You"?
Still Breathing (1997)
Starring Brendan Fraser and Joanna Going
Brief Summary: :
Fletcher McBracken (Brandon Fraser) has a vision of the woman he's destined to marry. Now he just has to find her and convince her that she is the one.
Questions/Thoughts To Consider While Watching This Movie:
1. Compare and contrast Neo's thoughts on faith/destiny with that of Roz's.
2. Issues surrounding the concept of belief/believing are prevailent throughout the movie "The Matrix" as well as "Still Breathing." Explore the different reasons why it is so hard for Neo and Roz to believe that they are "The One" although their identities have been fortelled. How do they both come to accept their labels and do you think that this acceptance limits them or frees them?
3. Think about the repeative theme of dreams/sleeping and its importance in "Still Breathing" and "The Matrix." How does both movies tackle it from different ways or perspectives?
4. Breathing is mentioned or referred to several times in both "The Matrix" and "Still Breathing." What are the moments and why? What symbolic significance do you attach to this word being used in both movies?
5. In "Still Breathing," Roz says "Believing in me doesn't make me worth believing in." Do you think Cypher feels this way about Neo? Why or why not. And what about Neo--do you think he feels this way about himself at least in one point of the film?
6. In "The Matrix" Trinity tells Neo that "The Matrix can not tell you who you are" but that the Oracle's words are "different." What about Fletcher--how can he "see" who Roz really is? Why does Roz have such a difficult time accepting this?
7. Compare and contrast Fletcher and Roz--their lives, artistic paths, their temperaments, and their ideas about themselves and love.
8. In "The Matrix" there were a lot of incidents of forshadowing. Name at least two cases of forshadowing or deja vu moments in "Still Breathing."
9. Compare and contrast Cypher ("The Matrix") and Roz ("Still Breathing"), looking at the reasons behind their cynicism as well their responses to others who are full of faith and belief.
10. How is Roz's talk with Fletcher's grandmother a turning point for Roz? Do you feel that there is a scene in the Matrix that holds the same impact for Neo in his search for the truth?
11. In many ways, the real world and the matrix world are pitted against each other in "The Matrix." Do you think the same holds true for "Still Breathing" and its two locations--Texas and California?
**Tip: If you have access to the DVD version of "Still Breathing" I strongly suggest you watch the movie first and then watch it again with the audio commentary. BTW, the audio commentary of this movie is one of the best I have come across.
American Beauty
Starring Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari, Web Bentley, and Chris Cooper
Brief Summary From Barnes & Noble.com:
Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) is a middle-aged man who is stuck in a loveless marriage, barely functions in a boring job, and has relationship difficulties with his teenage daughter. Suddenly Lester finds his world turned upside down when he meets his daughter's sexy friend, Angela. Funny, honest, and tragic, American Beauty won five Academy Awards in 2000, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay.
Questions To Consider:
1. Although on a much lesser scale than Neo, in what ways are the most of the characters in the movie, "American Beauty" trapped in some sort of a prison or cage? Compare the American Beauty prisons to the matrix prison. How are the American Beauty characters and Neo freed from their prisons--if they are at all? Did the characters place themselves in these prisons or did society/other people? What things rattle the cages of all the characters in American Beauty as well as those trapped in the Matrix?
2. Look for the specific visual techniques that the director uses to put the characters "behind bars." How many did you find? Were they effective in conveying the underlying theme that Mendes intended?
3. Compare Lester Burbank's job situation to Neo's. How are they similar? In what ways are both Lester and Neo looking for meaning in their lives? Do they find it?
4. Look at society's role in their lives and how the characters of Neo and American Beauty's Lester and Carolyn (as well as others) are influenced and shaped by outside pressures. How do Neo and Lester deal with the pressure to conform and how do they respond when others tell them what to do?
5. In what ways does the concept of beauty mean something different for each of the "American Beauty" characters? What objects in the movie are symbolic of the beauty?
6. Do you think that beauty is found in ordinary things or the extraordinary? What would be Lester's, Angela's, and Ricky's takes on this? Why does Ricky view death as beautiful?
7. Do you think Ricky's mom is "unpluggable"? What about Ricky?
8. Mirrors and doors were shown over and over again in "American Beauty." (This was also true of "The Matrix.) Create a list of moments when these symbolic images appear in "American Beauty" and then ask yourself why these visual elements were repeatedly used in the film.
9. In "The Matrix" the use of color was used as an important storytelling tool. In "American Beauty," why was the color red or dark red intentionally used to highlight people and objects? What was the symbolic importance of using red roses and red rose petals? What about the color white?
10. Many "American Beauty" scenes or portions of scenes take place in cars or through the len of Ricky's camera. Why do you think that this was done? Also, look at the settings used in the film, particularly the bathroom, kitchen, dining room, garage, and bedrooms. How are these settings used to establish a mood or underlying tone to the scene?
11. In "The Matrix," rain was symbolic of the fact that the matrix world was a false reality based upon computer code. In "American Beauty," rain was used to convey what underlying message(s)?
12. The poster tagline for "American Beauty" is "....look closer." (BTW, on Lester's work message board there is a small paper which also says "Look Closer.") What is the meaning behind this statement? In what ways is this theme carried throughout the movie? Do you think that this theme can also be applied to "The Matrix?" If so, how?
Groundhog Day
Starring Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliott
Brief Summary:
Phil Conners (Bill Murray) is wisecracking, cynical tv weatherman is who sent to Punxsatawney, Pennsylvania to cover the town's famous Groundhog Day festival. When an unexpected snow storm forces him and his collegues to spend another night in town, Phil wakes up in his hotel bed only to discover that he has to relive the previous day over and over again.
Questions To Consider:
1. What similar experiences do Neo and Phil share?
2. In what ways does Phil try to escape from his reality? What about Neo?
3. Look at Phil's reality and the matrix world--how can they both be compared to a prison cell?
4. How do Phil and Neo ultimately use the fact that they are living in an alternate reality to their advantage?
5. Explore the fact that both movies incorporate the idea of "deju vu."
6. In "The Matrix," Trinity tells Neo that "The Matrix can not tell you who you are." Does this same philosophy hold true for Phil's alternate reality?
7. Do you think that the fates of Neo and Phil were predetermined?
8. Compare and contrast the romance of Phil and Rita with the one between Neo and Trinity.
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