Scandalous, disturbing, and immoral are not the adjectives that come to mind when illustrating a priest. Men who are directly connected with God must-in theory- be close to perfect. In reality, hundreds of revolting scandals performed by these priests have been enshrouded by the power of the Roman Catholic Church. Innocent victims have been stripped of their dignity from these acts due to the Church’s fear of ruining its public image. Spotlight, directed by Tom McCarthy and released in 2015, reawakens the true story of journalists exposing the hundreds of sexual predators within the Roman Catholic Church. It won two Oscars- Best Motion Picture of the Year and Best Writing/Original Screenplay- and was nominated for four others. Its well-known …show more content…
The excessive amounts of grey and neutral colors leave a dreary tone with an underlying feeling of suspicion. This is shown through the harsh office lighting and the constant overcast weather. This sets a grim mood for the movie, but because of the nature of the content it is acceptable. The simple piano music fills in scene transitions and time lapses, making otherwise boring scenes at least somewhat engaging. It also builds up tension when reporters are finding evidence. For example, when Rezendes finds the case files of reported scandals lying empty, a low, single, bass note is playing. The lack of music, found during interviews and dialogue, lures the viewers into the movie. In addition to the colors and music, the small details in acting give insight to the emotions displayed during the film. For example, when the lawyer covering the church’s cases is caught withholding evidence, he purses his lips and then presses them together into a line. Swallowing, jaw clenching, and the furrowing of eyebrows portray the underlying emotions of the characters. Some may not notice these small details, but it is features like these that make Spotlight such a phenomenal film.
Spotlight’s well perceptive plot and script, character development, and small details that set the mood for the movie all contribute to the prestige of the film. Spotlight shows the magnitude of corrupt religious institutions that rely on lies to maintain their public images. This movie made thousands of people aware of the dark reality lying beneath the godly image the church portrayed in the past; and possibly still portrays
Coming from a devout Catholic family, Gary Soto encountered the ultimate sin as a six-year-old when he was tempted by a delicious apple pie. But his guilt is expressed in more than just a frown; through his tremendous writing, Soto practically transforms his guilt into its own being. His attention to detail in each description demonstrates his ability to carry the reader through his writing, from the imagery behind his guilt sweat to the repetition of hearing the plumbing “howl”. In some ways, the readers themselves begin to feel guilty right alongside Soto. Written from the perspective of Soto’s childhood self, the story vividly details the sickening guilt that follows him after he steals an apple pie.
These literary works portray how differences in societal circumstances, expression, and other people can change the way a person interprets the paper. The authors offer different perspectives in order to get their points across. In “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” the audience of the sermon is being persuaded to follow God because He is the only one who can keep a person from spending an eternity in hell. The story “Young Goodman Brown” proves how easily people are influenced by the decision of others and also includes how witchcraft was changing the faithful of that time. In comparing the two stories the reader will come to know the influence of the time era, the differences in which the characters are being approached, and the impact the clergy has on people.
The music correlates to the images because the slow-playing violin and soft-playing woodwinds complement the nefarious activities shown; therefore, molding a creepy and ominous tone in order to demonstrate the credulous attitudes of the audience. When thinking of demonic activities, the soul of an individual is automatically frightened, which is what the composer manipulates in the opening scene. Fenton takes advantage of this and incorporates melodic dark music to further intensify the fear of the “so-called” villain, Abigail Williams, in the
After first viewing of the film, one might be quick to say that the film is completely devoid of music. It is used so scarcely that it appears to make no impact. Yet, it is that scarcity and exclusion that creates the sullen tone of the film. Bresson relies heavily on ambient, diegetic sound that, in this case, is going to be the silence or the rustling of prisoners’ or guards’ feet within the walls of the prison. Careful scraping of the spoon handle on the floor, the creaking of the wooden door as it is pried open, and the light tapping on the cement walls all lend to the solitude and determination of the prisoner. Sound very much plays a role as a symbol; the clinking of the keys against the railing represents not only authority but raises the tension of the film, the viewer knowing that Fontaine’s exposure as an attempted escapee would lead to sudden death. In combination with the random firings from the death squad, Bresson leads the viewer to really feel the hopelessness and disparity of the situation.
In Conclusion, Elia Kazan’s portrayal of a young savior attempting to bring justice to those that oppress and give a better life to those around him was done superbly. From a series of complex conflicts that broadened to much more than a mere death, to the sheer feelings he evokes through the use of characters and plot; Kazan created a critically acclaimed piece of art that tells a dark tale of one rising against a monopoly for the sake of those around him. This film shows his artistic prowess, and helps inspire new film makers daily: creating storytellers that can spin tales that hypnotize audiences for generations to come.
Klein, Franz. "John Paul II Priests." Commonweal 132.14 (2005): 23-25. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 May 2014.
confession without implicating himself. We get a glimpse into the true character of the Friar,
During the Great Jubilee year, John Paul II gave a relevant speech of apology on behalf of the entire Catholic Church for the serious sins committed by its members for over 2,000 years. Since John Paul II did that, he wished the Church to enter the new millennium with a clean slate, allowing it to speak to and discuss freely with the other religions of the world, including the cultures and nations from a place not only of permanency but also of moral and religious power, having acknowledged in specific ways the crimes, from time to time unbearable, committed by its human origins throughout history. These apologies were hardly accepted, and common apologies for sins committed against the Church and its members have not been imminent. “Catholics distinguish between the holiness of the inevitable sinful nature of men, including the men who serve the Church stated by Thomas E. Woods Jr.”
First and foremost, the Archdiocese and the Catholic Church spawned a culture of secrecy whe...
Since the genesis of the Catholic Church it has been arguably the most powerful and feared organization in human history, withstanding any that opposed it. After 2,000 years of history it has become one of the most dominant religions on Earth, leading the western world. After the time of Martin Luther, the Catholic Church never thought that it would see another era of opposition until the Boston Globe’s investigative Spotlight Team uncovered one of the churches greatest scandals, bringing it into the light of the world. The uncovering of this scandal will become one the landmarks of modern journalism, after a group of reporters took on one of the strongest organizations known to man without fear of reprisal from this great titan.
Being the pastor of the town Dimmesdale was a revered man. He held the responsibility to lead the town’s people spiritually. Although he tried to live a double life of being a pastor and a man who is trying to keep his greatest sin a secret. He cannot come to terms to confessing his sin even if his guilt i...
There is a guilty pleasure one gets from watching characters we identify with struggle on screen, and we begin to think to ourselves that maybe our lives aren’t so bad after all. Such is the case in Bruce Almighty, a new release from Universal Pictures directed by Tom Shadyac. The movie is by no means sensational or groundbreaking, but it has an irresistible charm that draws in viewers in desperate need of a break from reality. The unfortunate protagonist (Jim Carrey) becomes convinced that God has abandoned him after he loses a coveted news anchor position to a slimy coworker. God (Morgan Freeman) grants Bruce his heavenly powers and challenges him to do a better job, pointing out that “…Gandhi only lasted a week!”
Initially the audience is witness to how particular sound techniques shape this film. For instance, one of the main details that the audience hears is the song that the murderer whistles. Due to the marvel of sound the audience can pick out that the whistling is related to the murderer. Along with the blind man who figured this mystery out, the audience could only put these two together with this sound technique. The director shows the audience how such a simple part of every day sound can be so important to solving such a terrible crime.
Lyden, J. (2003). Film as religion: myths, morals, and rituals. New York, USA: NYU Press.
Koesler is a chain smoking personable sleuth that helps the police solve a variety of mysterious murders that occur in his parish. Given Kienzle’s background as a parish priest, many of the novels are written from the perspectives of a priest, especially his experiences with the church. As such, most of the novels are a critique of the canonical rules of the Catholic Church in narratives that may be deemed to be half-amateur sleuth, and half police procedurals. Even as the novels are first of all thrillers, there is a deeper meaning to William Kienzle’s whodunits, which make them more of moral plays rather than your classic mystery. For instance, Father Koesler is a heavy drinker and smoker and is the perfect example of the wide gulf not only between the ordinary people and the priests but also between priest and the nuns. The novels offer some great insights into the daily routines of nuns and priests, including a peek into the sacred rituals of the church, particularly the concept of confession. What is even more interesting is the authors take on differences in opinion among parishioners, nuns, and priest on issues of canon such as the rules of Vatican Two. All of these take place alongside thrilling narratives of journalists, cops, and Detroit clergymen having to deal with abortion, black magic, drug peddling prostitution, extortion, and