Perfectly Phat Philm Phacts || The Epinions Film Dictionary W/O || The Letter PApr 06 '03 (Updated Apr 12 '03) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line ...Perfectly Phat Philm Phacts || The Epinions Film Dictionary W/O When you gotta P, you gotta P! Hey all! Welcome to The Epinions Film Dictionary, the letter P, brought to you by sleeper54. This pandemonious puzzlement is brought to you by the procreant phantasy of Simply_Crispy, Chris, to many of us. I searched his user-page, searched my e-mail in-boxes, searched the halls and basements of Epinions, seeking the seminal thought, idea, that drove him to undertake this prodigious effort. I have no idea what his point with this write-off is. Anyway. A brief explanation of the mechanics of this review followed by the entrée. I hope you enjoy this and all the entries in this Epinions Film Dictionary. Explanation of content: Most of the entries are indeed my original words. If I simply 'copied' an entry, I left the URL that leads to that quote. I believe the number of these is minimal. I also left one URL that leads to an explanation of that dictionary entry that is much better than I could hope to 'summarize'. $$-films refer to films that grossed over $100,000,000 at the USA/domestic box-office. At the end is a short quiz for those of you that make it that far. I also tried to list as many of the URLS as I could that I referenced in preparing this entry. If you have any corrections/typos/etc., please leave a comment. If you 'loved it'/'hated it' please leave a comment! On with the show! -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- pach1908 Epinions member Has written a movie review or two. "My reviews sometimes bleed all over the floor because I love so much the all the ideas music, film, poetry, literature, and love bring to the table of life." One reason I despair of ever being a Top Reviewer. If this guy can not, I never will . . .. (Well, actually, I never think of being a TR, but that's another essay...) Pacing The speed at which the action is presented and the story unfolds in a film. Al Pacino Burst onto the movie scene in 1971 starring in The Panic in Needle Park. $$-films include The Godfather and Dick Tracy. Other significant films include The Godfather, Part II, Scarface, The Godfather, Part III, Scent of a Woman and many more. Best Actor Oscar for Scent of a Woman. Born in East Harlem, Pacino flunked out of the High School of Performing Arts. Eventually attended the famed Actors Studio. His performance in The Godfather cemented his film career. Gwyneth Paltrow Only 'hit' at www.imdb.com for 'Gwyneth'. Well, other than Gwyneth of the Welsh Hills, 1921. I think I missed that one. Daughter of an actress and a television producer/director, born in Los Angeles, CA. $$-films include Se7en and Shakespeare in Love. The most significant in her mind is probably Se7en when she became romantically linked with Brad Pitt. Best Actress Oscar for Shakespeare in Love. Pan A movement of the camera which sweeps across the scene from left to right or right to left. 'Pan and scan' Generally thought of as a method of modifying a theatrical film to 'fit' onto a standard TV screen. It implies either loss of information or a corruption of the director's intent for the scene. A great discussion of the whole topic can be found here: http://www.twentysix.net/dvdreview/aspect.php Anna Paquin In here solely because of her performance as Amy in Fly Away Home. Who could not love this story of a young girl (who has recently lost her mother) and her newly-found father raising young geese from eggs, teaching them to fly, and leading them on their south-ward migration? Pass the tissues, please... Paramount Studios The only 'name' movie studio still operating in Hollywood, CA. Founded in 1915, it has given us stars and movies almost too numerous to mention. Actors and directors include: Valentino, West, DeMille, Fields, Dietrich, Crosby, Hitchcock, Martin and Lewis, Hope and Crosby, Presley, ad nauseam. Movies include the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, 1927's Wings, Going My Way, Psycho, Duck Soup, White Christmas, The Ten Commandments, The Godfather, Saturday Night Fever, Fatal Attraction, Forrest Gump, and the leading box-office movie ever...Titanic Pass Bypass Principle Any theater that accepts passes will invariably exclude their use for any movie worth seeing. http://www.sun.ac.za/forlang/bergman/tech/glossary/e.htm Paths of Glory || 1957 A French commander (Kirk Douglas) must choose a small number of his men to face trial for cowardice in the face of a senseless trench warfare attack. Apt anti-war drama directed by Stanley Kubrick. Patton || 1970 General George S. Patton, Jr. (George C Scott) is brought to life. Both as a personal figure and as a larger-than-life warrior. Captured eight Oscars, to include: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Production Design. Bill Paxton Active in the world of film since the early 1980s, Paxton made his biggest commercial impact in the film Titanic. Other $$-films include True Lies, Apollo 13 and Twister. A former altar boy, most of his film roles seem to reflect this angelic background. Gregory Peck Oh my, where to start. The Yearling, Gentleman's Agreement, Twelve O'Clock High, Roman Holiday, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, Moby Dick, and on and on until finally...To Kill a Mockingbird. And my favorite psycho-thriller Cape Fear. Elizabeth Perkins Born in Queens, New York, raised in Vermont and schooled in Chicago at the Goodman School of drama, Perkins seems to prefer a smaller presence in the world that is Hollywood. $$-films include Big and The Flintstones. Joe Pesci Former lounge singer and Italian restaurant owner, Pesci burst onto the movie scene through his performance in Raging Bull in 1980 (Nominated for Best Supporting Actor Oscar, 1981.) Often cast as a sinister criminal type, his body of work includes TV and music as well as film. $$-films include Lethal Weapon 2, Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Lethal Weapon 3 and Lethal Weapon 4. Best Supporting Actor Oscar: Goodfellas, 1990. Michelle Pfeiffer From imdb.com: ". . .while working as a supermarket checker at Vons, a large Southern California grocery chain, . . .she realized her true calling." Rigggghhhhhtttttt. $$-films include Batman Returns, The Prince of Egypt, and What Lies Beneath. The one she is most proud of? I am sure it is the 1987 hit Amazon Women on the Moon. Pffrdfdus7 Epinions movie Advisor Member since Jan 2000. 240 reviews as of this writing. Has never written a Member Advice or Writer's Corner Essay. Two in 'books', a few in 'games' and 'music'. You gotta get out more, Randall...:smilie moment:... Philadelphia || 1993 Homophobic lawyer (Denzel Washington) defends a gay lawyer (Tom Hanks) stricken with AIDS. Amazing Springsteen soundtrack. An early Hollywood effort to address the AIDS issue. Best Actor Oscar for Tom Hanks, Best Song for Streets of Philadelphia by Springsteen. The Philadelphia Story || 1940 Society woman (Katherine Hepburn) is pursued by her former husband (Cary Grant) assisted by a tabloid reporter (James Stewart) who attempt to de-rail her imminent wedding. A true upper-crust comedy that ages well over 60-plus years. Best Actor Oscar for James Stewart. The Pianist || 2002 Best Director Oscar: Roman Polanski. Best Actor Oscar: Adrien Brody. Brad Pitt First performance of note was as a hitchhiking thief in Thelma and Louise in 1991. $$-films: Interview with the Vampire, Se7en, and Ocean's Eleven. He and wife Jennifer Aniston spent $1 million on their wedding in 2000. Fame brings its fortunes. And foolishness. Plan Nine from Outer Space || 1959 An obscure film until resurrected by Michael and Harry Medved who declared it the winner of the Golden Turkey award for 'Worst Film Ever'. Truly so bad it is good. Platoon || 1986 One of a number of Vietnam War movies. Offers it's own unique 'in country' view of the conflict with the enemy and the conflict between allies. Best Director (Oliver Stone), Best Picture. The Player || 1992 Robert Altman's cameo-filled, satirical black comedy about the inner workings of Hollywood. A movie that requires thinking while watching. Plot Device A simple event used to advance the story of a film. Examples include an escaped T-Rex, an approaching storm, a misunderstanding, or the phone line going dead! A plot device can also come in the form of a prop, such as a treasure map, or an old pocket watch. http://www.onlinefmc.com/sc2002/termsmovie.html pmills1210 Epinions movie Advisor. Epinions movie Top Reviewer Member since Mar 2000. 318 reviews as of this writing. Has never written a 'books' review. (Calling you out Pat!) Has apparent ongoing commitment to writing 'music' reviews. Sidney Poitier Another old-timer that changed film as we know it. The Defiant Ones, Lilies of the Field for which he won the first Academy Award, Best Actor, awarded to a black performer, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, To Sir, with Love, In the Heat of the Night, and on and on. Honorary Academy Award in 2002. Pops Principle, The In movies with teenage characters, there is usually a character named Pops who runs the local hang-out or dance club. http://www.sun.ac.za/forlang/bergman/tech/glossary/e.htm Natalie Portman $$-films are two biggies: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace and Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. Can't ask for much more success than those two, ehh? Reported to be attending Harvard studying psychology. Post-Production After the shooting of a film is completed it is edited and sound and visual special effects are added. POV shot Point of view shot. A film technique where the viewer is seeing a scene through the eyes of a character. It is often preceded by a view of the character the viewer will 'see' through and followed by a reaction shot of the character to what she/he has just seen. This technique highlights the first person feel of a film. predaguyver Epinions member Hey, he's young, he's a Boy Scout, he's relatively new and active, writes mostly in 'Movies', and he keeps coming back despite getting, overall, mostly 'Helpfuls'. Gotta admire that! Pre-Production All the work related to the film that occurs before filming starts. Includes casting, script preparation, location scouting, etc.. Principle of Pedestrian Pathology Whenever a character on foot is being pursued by one in a car, the pedestrian inevitably makes the mistake of running down the middle of the street, instead of ducking down a narrow alley, into a building, behind a telephone pole, etc. All that saves such pedestrians is the fact that in such scenes the character on foot can always outrun the car. http://www.sun.ac.za/forlang/bergman/tech/glossary/e.htm Problem Child || 1990 and Problem Child 2 || 1991 John Ritter and Michael Oliver, . . .twice. Nuff said. Process Body A simulated car, train, etc. with removable sides and front to allow interior photography. Used with a 'process shot' to simulate a location shot. Process Shot A film scene shot against a moving or still background consisting of previously filmed footage projected through a transparent screen behind the current action being filmed, a technique known as back projection or "rear projection." Placing the needed characters in a 'process body' and filming the entire scene simulates a location shop. Producer The person exercising overall control over the production of a motion picture and ultimately responsible for its success or failure. In the past, they were often direct employees of the major studios. Independent producers are more common in recent times, acting as partners with movie studios. Product Placement The placement of commercial products within a film. The label is always visible and the product is always enjoyed. Products can range from airlines to automobiles to snack foods to colas to candies. A famous example is the use of Reese's Pieces in the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. (Actually, according to scopes.com, Mars Inc. said no to the use of M&Ms in the film. Hershey placed their product in the film by agreeing to feature the film in their Reece's Pieces commercials.) Production The physical process of shooting the film. Production occurs after script is written and the sets are built (pre-production), and before editing begins (post-production). http://www.onlinefmc.com/sc2002/termsmovie.html Prop Any physical object on a set or within a scene. http://www.onlinefmc.com/sc2002/termsmovie.html Property Master The property master's job is to get whatever props might be needed for the film. http://www.onlinefmc.com/sc2002/termsmovie.html Psycho || 1960 Perhaps Alfred Hitchcock's definitive work. OK, one of his definitive later works. Most unusual for the early demise of the apparent leading lady. Mold-breaking in cinema history. More mystery than horror. Bill Pullman Has to be included in my P-entry for his performance in Spaceballs. Had lost the girl in Sommersby, Sleepless in Seattle, and Malice before finally getting-the-girl in While You Were Sleeping. .$$-films include: A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, Casper, and Independence Day. Pulp Fiction || 1994 Love it or hate it, Vincent (John Travolta) has come a long way from his Vinnie Barbarino days. Best Writing, Screenplay directly to screen Oscar. Monty Python and the Holy Grail || 1975 (Hey, 'Python' begins with P and I can talk about it if I like!) Cleese, Chapman, Palin, Jones, Idle and Gilliam at their best. One of those experiences that is best the first time. But still enjoyable each time after that virginal experience. "Know whatahmean, know whatahmean, nudge nudge, know whatahmean, say no more?" .Ps. that missed the cut: Annie Potts || The Rat Pack || Vincent Price || William Powell || Dolly Parton || Teri Polo || Tyrone Power || Elvis Presley || and many more too numerous to mention... -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- A BONUS QUIZ for those who have read this far: Arrange these recent 'P' blockbusters (all had domestic/USA box-office gross receipts greater than $100,000,000) in chronological order by date of release: Patch Adams The Patriot Pearl Harbor The Pelican Brief The Perfect Storm Phenomenon Planet of the Apes Pocahontas Pretty Woman The Prince of Egypt The Princess Diaries Pulp Fiction I'll leave the answer as the first comment here... Should be easy for those of you paying attention to films recently... -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- Preceding P in this chain of madness is 'O' penned by d_fienberg. . . Following P in this chain of madness is 'Q' penned by millinocket. . . -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- Other participants and their 'letters'. Links available at Simply_Crispy's user-page Artbyjude - B || cripper - F || dedemw - Y d_fienberg - O || DrDevience - A || food_critic - M JackSommersby - T || lemon_lime - R || Lynus -K MACRESARF1 - I || mfunk75 - U || millinocket - C Pffrdfdus7 - J || Psychovant - D || Simply_Crispy – N and Q and X Skbreese – G || sleeper54 – P || SusiDee34 – Z Vormancian - L and V || weirdo_87 - W || Wokelstein - S Xxxxer -E || Youngchinq – H -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- Reference websites used in preparation of this volume, the letter P, of The Epinions Film Dictionary: http://www.imdb.com http://www.sun.ac.za/forlang/bergman/tech/glossary/e.htm http://www.the-movie-times.com/ http://www.boxofficeguru.com/ http://www.seeing-stars.com/Studios/ParamountStudios.shtml  |
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