Monday, June 26, 2006

Film Architects and Designers

Too similar to this song, too much like that movie, this dress looks like that one-- these are common "poser" and "slacker" accusations depending on whether the situation is one of imitation or duplication.

I went to see Nacho Libre this past weekend after having been warned by my number two son that it was "entirely too much like Napoleon Dynomite".

Different story. Different cast. Different location. Same feel.

Michael Graves is one of the most influencing voices in American architecture. His work usually has a retro minimalist "feel" whether he's designing a clock for Target or the Denver Central Library. Does anyone look at the Humana Building in Louisville, Kentucky and say, "hmm, so yeah it's one of the ten best buildings of the decade, but it's basically crap because it's entirely too similar to Disney's corporate building in Burbank"? Graves has an affinity for certain creative design elements.

Michael Graves is an architect and a designer.

Vera Wang's clothing designs share similarities. I can spot a Vera Wang dress in a window from across the street. She likes clean lines, crisp colors, and what are ruffles? She constructs garments with a definitive style.

Vera Wang is an architect and a designer.

James Horner's movie scores can be counted on for a haunting oboe solo and Hans Zimmer likes us to feel the score pounding in our chests or leaking from our tear ducts. They have certain music elements they like to incorporate in what they compose.

James Horner and Hans Zimmer are architects and designers.

Nacho Libre is similar to Napoleon Dynomite? Yeah, well the score to Troy is similar to the score to Enemy at the Gates and didn't I hear brass patterns from Gladiator in the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack?

Filmmakers are creating and constructing too. Doesn't it make sense that writers, directors, producers, and production people have certain similarities that underscore our work?

We, too, are architects and designers.

2 comments:

E.C. Henry said...

Marry Ann,

I saw "Nacho Libre" last weekend, and its ONLY ATTRACTION is Jack Black. Who cares who wrote it, produced it, or anything like that. "Nacho Libre" is a one horse movie. Its testing waters for Jack Black's comedic genius: can he carry a carry a comedy by himself or not?

After seeing "Nacho Libre" I was ho-hum, yeah I laughed, Jack Black IS FUNNY, but "Nacho Libre" isn't a profound movie experience that merrits any deep introspection. Personally, I'm much more interested what you have to say about the new Adam Sandler movie, "Click."

- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA (who is still biggest fan in the state of Washington)

MaryAn Batchellor said...

Haven't seen Click yet, but planning to.

As for Nacho -- yawn -- but I didn't like Napolean either. I'm the wrong demographic. My 22 year old and his girlfriend laughed hysterically though.