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Movie Analysis Paper When Larry Met Sally

Movie Analysis Paper

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Institution

Question #4

Introduction

Issues pertaining to love, friendships and romance have always made popular and controversial topics in the contemporary human society. Indeed, these issues have been considerably explored both in literature and in film. It goes without saying that these films and literary works often have varying themes and messages that they want to pass across, often guided by the experiences of the authors or film directors. Indeed, these works are aimed at sending a particular message about the society of the authors or the story directors, as well as shape certain ideas or influence some social changes in the thinking and the way of doing things in the societies within which they live. This is the case for the movie “When Larry Met Sally”.

Written in 1989, “When Larry Met Sally” is a romantic comedy that follows the romantic journey of Harry Burns and Sally Albright. They have just cleared school and are sharing a drive to New York City. Sally is just about to start studies at a journalism school, while Harry will be kicking of a career. Of particular note is that Harry, at the time is dating Amanda, a friend of Sally’s. In the course of the drive, the two have a discussion pertaining to their different ideas pertaining to friendship between males and females, with Harry holding the opinion that men and women can never be just friends as sex will always come in (Pasupathi, 2006). They part ways in unfriendly terms with Sally becoming angry with Harry for telling her that she is attractive. Their meeting, five years later, involves Harry trying to mend fences with Sally and trying to clear the air on his opinions as to men and women not being friends as the sex part will always come in. After another five years, they meet again and, this time round, have the capacity to be friends to the extent of spending quite a lot of time together. Eventually, the two have sex after Harry goes to comfort Sally, who is devastated about her ex-lover getting married to his assistant. While their love meets varied hiccups, they eventually make up and proclaim their love for each other.

While love, friendship and romance feature prominently in the movie, “When Harry Met Sally” is really about the differing ideas that men and women have pertaining to friendships between the sexes. In essence, the central theme is the differing ideas that men and women have regarding relationships and love. Indeed, it is evident that the two genders have different aspirations or ideas as to what constitutes friendships, or rather what purpose friendship serves. Sally thinks that friendship is merely for emotional support and social purposes, a notion that Harry seems to agree to but cannot see how that would fail to invite the prospects of sex (Pasupathi, 2006).

The differing ideas that women and women have pertaining to friendships and relationships are what keep Harry and Sally from having a romantic relationship. The recurring theme of the movie is essentially the place of sex in friendships, and especially with regard to whether men and women can be just friends without having sex. As much as Sally would disagree on Harry on the possibility of being just friends, Harry is eventually proved right when they have sex. Friendship, evidently, is a precursor for romantic relationships, which may never survive without sex.

This is, essentially, the message that the filmmakers are attempting to pass. They are insinuating that men and women have a considerably different view of friendship and what they entail, to even the purpose that sex serves in relationships. For Sally, it is evident that sex is not merely for recreational purposes rather it is bound to enhance the bond between two people. Harry, while not disagreeing per se with this notion, also underlines its recreational purposes component. Indeed, the importance of sex is underlined by the older couples’ interviews in the movie. For instance, when Harry and Sally are out at a restaurant and Sally begins faking an orgasm, an old woman asks the waiter to bring Sally is having, not in reference to the food, but rather to what would give her such pleasure (Pasupathi, 2006).

References

Pasupathi, V. C (2006). The Rhetoric of Love and Seduction. University of Texas at Austin

Actors Performance in the play Macbeth (2)

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Professor

Course

Date

Actors Performance in the play Macbeth

Introduction

Macbeth is a tragic story written by Shakespeare in the seventeenth century. It is a story about a soldier, Macbeth, who is in search of power. In his quest, he goes ahead to commit murder. Shakespeare used the play to show how poor ambitions and the will to get power in the wrong way can lead to severe consequences. All the bad choices made by the soldier Macbeth in pursuit of power caught up with him in the end. This paper discusses the performances of the actors Ian McKellen, Judi Dench and John Woodvine in the play as Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Banquo respectively. It describes the choices the actors made in the play both physical and verbal. It goes ahead to illustrate their choices in terms of clarity, logic and satisfaction.

Ian McKellen as Macbeth

Ian McKellen is a renowned actor and the part of Macbeth was one of his best performances. Macbeth is a trusted soldier in Scotland who emerges successful in the war. The other soldiers and King Duncun give him the name brave Macbeth. The King also awards him with the title Thane of Cawdor (Shakespeare, 00:04:20- 00:07:08). However he meets three witches who prophesy that he will be king in the near future. At first he doesn’t believe them. The character of Macbeth is expected to be ambitious and craving for power. Ian McKellen brings out this character well. When he hears the prophesy from the three witches, Macbeth is shown to want to kill the king but tells Banquo that he will leave it to fate. Macbeth also wants to know more about the prophesy but the witches, disappear before he could ask questions (Shakespeare, 00:09:14- 00:11:40). The fact that he thought about killing the king shows that Macbeth’s character is morally corrupt. He goes ahead to write to his wife . Macbeth had thought of killing the king but was against it when his wife suggested it. She has to insult him and bring up their dead child so that he can comply (Shakespeare, 00:28:30- 00:33:00). As the play continues, Macbeth has to kill Banquo so as to cover his bad deeds. The death of Banquo is followed by Banquo’s ghost appearing during banquets in the castle. The ghost traumatizes Macbeth and he starts to behave in a beastly manner (Shakespeare, 01:17:55- 01:20:10). This scene clearly illustrates Macbeth’s humanity and how he has been reduced to someone who needs sympathy and pity.

Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth

The character of Lady Macbeth, played by Judi Dench, depicts a different motivation for her actions than the painful loss of a child; instead, her readiness to commit regicide is motivated by her love for her husband. In a tender speech, Judi Dench’s Lady Macbeth explains how she would assist Ian McKellen’s Macbeth in assassinating the monarch (Shakespeare, 00:28:30- 00:33:00). Later, when she is successful in summoning the spirits, she starts to feel afraid. Dench’s Lady, notwithstanding her fear, resumes the incantation because she is determined to fulfill her husband’s dream (Shakespeare, 00:28:30- 00:33:00). Her affection is also seen when she reads Macbeth’s long affectionate letter to her telling her of his endeavors and the witches’ prophesy.

Judi Dench acting as Lady Macbeth is very passionate to her husband because after Banqou’s death, she gets worried when her husband goes mad. This is unlike her husband’s behavior when she dies. Macbeth reacts and comments that her death was inevitable (Shakespeare, 02:13:30- 02:13:40). Dench was also very good in illustrating how Lady Macbeth was affected by all the occurrences. As much as she was the mastermind behind the murder of King Duncun, she was tormented and ended up sleepwalking (Shakespeare, 02:01:50- 02:02:11). She also calls out to hell in the midst of her torment, showing fear on her face as she looks at her hands covered with imaginary blood (Shakespeare, 02:01:50- 02:02:11). The imagery used to portray the character by Dench leaves the viewers feeling like she is beyond redemption. I however don’t think Lady Macbeth was a villain as the play illustrated. Her main goal was to support her ambitious husband which led to her death.

John Woodvine as Banquo

The character Banquo is Macbeth’s best friend. The three witches appear to both Macbeth and Banquo and prophesy that Macbeth is destined to be king of Scotland while Banquo’s sons will be kings of Scotland (Shakespeare, 00:09:14- 00:11:40). John Woodvine brought out Banquos character as observant, less spoken, furtive and shrewd. Both characters are seen to be ambitious. After the death of King Duncan, Macbeth takes over the throne (Shakespeare, 00:57:20- 01:00:05). Banquo swears loyalty to the new king. However, Macbeth sees him as a threat since he is the only person other than his wife who knows about the meeting with the witches. He sends assassins to kill Banquo but Banquo’s son ends up escaping (Shakespeare, 00:13:50- 00:14:35). Banquo’s character as a ghost brings out the fear in Macbeth almost turning him mad. The ghost brings mental imbalance to Macbeth making him move around the stage like a mad man. Nobody else in the feast appears to see what Macbeth is seeing so they all react in confusion (Shakespeare, 01:17:55- 01:20:10). The viewers are left to conclude for themselves that Macbeth’s sins have started to catch up with him. Maybe Woodvine would have appeared on the scene but dressed in white clothes to illustrate that he is a ghost would have been more direct to the viewers.

Conclusion

The actors in the play use their performances to make the viewers understand the characters better. Their personalities are well brought out in the choices that they make and the changes that occur as the play continues. The viewers observe different characters, each of whom has a unique motivation for carrying out the deed and is personally impacted by its results. This essay has demonstrated not only how content analysis can support and advance performance and performance theory but also how the understanding of each actor can broaden and contribute to our understanding of the play and its character types. Eventually, the play gives and receives critical elaboration.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7skhaOegpLA

Case Study 4 A South African Investment

Case Study #4: A South African Investment

Author’s name

Institutional Affiliation

Case Study #4: A South African Investment

Question 1

Depending on how one may look at it, it might be factual that the feasible utilitarian benefits of the 1977 construction of the Caltex plant in South Africa may have been more essential than amending the immoral features of Apartheid. However, that does not imply that Apartheid in any form or structure is right, justified or tolerable. However, there is legitimacy to the actuality that the employment opportunities granted in the plant might have been among the most appropriate means accessible for the minorities as well as the blacks in South Africa obtain means of income. While comprehensive civil rights as well as freedom are critically imperative to all people in order that they can realize their full potential and assert their appropriate place in humanity, there are other, supplementary fundamental needs that ought to be satisfied prior to a person worries about spiritual, intellectual and related individual freedoms and rights. It may not be reasonable to offer an individual full government, social, as well as legal rights if they are deprived any reasonable sources of livelihood.

Caltex had the power to influence political policies on the South African government in order that the government may revive its laws. This has happened in other parts of the world, whereby conglomerates influence government policies in order to create a conducive environment for business. Foreign financial investments mean a great deal in any country since it revitalizes the social-economic status of the population and the national economy as well. It is an ignominy that Caltex had no problem investing in a country whose laws were exceedingly abhorrent to humanity. On the other hand, it is factual that in that era the living standards of the South African minorities as well as the Blacks were in a deplorable state. They vast majority of these populations lived in pitiable homes, had poor access to high quality educational programs, were deprived of the right to practice certain jobs or careers, and were granted wages that were exceedingly less than that of the white population in South Africa.

For numerous South African Blacks at the time, for whom so several outside the nation had the courage to confront the repressive regime may have chosen to take up jobs at the Caltex plant which granted them better living wages and better workplace environment than in the civil service. It is justifiable to imply that absolute freedom may not have been the priority for all Black South Africans who needed better living standards. Therefore the Caltex plant may have been the kind of investments that were actually required in the country at the time. The only provision Caltex ought to have added would have been the maintenance of reasonable wages and reasonable housing for its black and colored human resources.

Question 2.

As a stockholder in Standard Oil or Texaco, it would have been appropriate to vote in agreement with the three stockholder declarations. While it is factual that under the utilitarian philosophies it might not of necessity have been the most appropriate option for Caltex, Standard Oil or Texaco to desist from investing in South Africa, as a stockholder, it would have been appropriate to vote according to individual conscience. Any type of financial recompense, such as facilitating the generation of national income from the mining of natural resources or construction of national industries such as in petroleum, appears as unconscionable in regard to the fundamental premise on which the South African government operated and survived.

The first resolution demanded that Caltex terminates all its operations in South Africa unless and until the government ceased to enforce its Apartheid laws. It would have been suitable to vote in favor of that resolution. The failure to take a position and speak out against apartheid would have implied as consent and participation in its continuation. Failing to oppose a regime so wrong, in effect, it would mean that one supports repression as exhibited by the South African regime of the time.

The second resolution explicitly required Caltex to desist from trading its operations to the military. It would have been appropriate to vote in support of this resolution. The corporation, operated within its right to decline putting up for a vote in several areas since it asked the company to infringe on the laws of the country in which it functioned. It is factual that by trading its operations to the military the corporation failed to act or speak out in opposition to Apartheid. In sanctioning trading to the government and the military the corporation in effect became an accomplice in Apartheid by providing the Apartheid regime with an essential commodity.

It would as well have been appropriate to vote in support of the final resolution that required sustaining the Tutu principles. Desmond Tutu requested the company to assume an active role in operating toward the eradication of Apartheid as well as the establishment of fundamental rights to the blacks in South Africa. If Caltex, Standard Oil, and Texaco had no problem in sustaining the Apartheid government by trading its resources to sustain the military forces, it ought to have had no problem in supporting the divergent opinions of the majority populace of South Africa. In the two ways it impedes in the politics of South Africa at the time, although by supporting Tutu’s principles it would have acted in the way that the majority of the populace desired.

Question 3.

It may not be the prerogative of corporations to take on legislative policies or viewpoints in foreign nations that they operate in. However, corporation and its senior management bear the right to formulate decisions which, in their opinion, may bring competitive advantage and profitability to the business. It may not be the responsibility of a corporation to establish how a foreign government should operate. Corporations’ principal ethical obligation is to its shareholders as well as their investments. If a corporation’s management considers that a resolution, which is lawful, will realize prosperity to its shareholders then, except advised otherwise by its shareholders, the corporation ought to pursue its resolution. All three resolutions endeavored to substitute the ethics, values, as well as beliefs of a diminutive number of stockholders on the managers. These managers could have had to consent to the proposals made, although they were not obliged to sustain them. Providing that management did not take action to unethically thwart or defeat the resolutions from being proposed to the stockholders, the management acted appropriately in regard.

Question 4.

At the very fundamental plane, corporate management hold no greater liability than to guarantee the business’s financial success and prosperity. Corporate management is not recruited to perform as the conscience of a company. On the contrary, it is recruited to be the company’s investment, operational, as well as management leadership. Corporations are not in normal circumstances in business to operate for the general good of the public. It would be prudent if all people would assume responsibility for the mutual good, but that responsibility cannot be obligatory on individuals.

It is the prerogative of the shareholders as the bona fide owners of a corporation to elect board members, and it is consequently up to the board members to manage the corporation. If sufficient stockholders feel that the management ought to assume a social or political stand on given issue, then they hold the power, by means of their vote, to advise the management to act as required. However, devoid of that indication, it is neither feasible nor acceptable for the managers to take action based on their personal conscience if that act would be counter productive in regard to the interests of the company.

Business managers ought to restrict their actions to the decisions that relate to investment principles and the law. Only in the event that two potential options are equal in regard to the law and returns on investment, should a manager reflect on ethical concerns.