Swingers: One Word, MONEY

“Swingers” is one of those rare movies that come along that catches your attention, which is really difficult to do nowadays when “blockbuster” movies reign at the box office. “Swingers” has become a cult classic movie because of the extremely loyal following that it has gained since its release. When “Swingers” was released it starred two relatively unknown actors, Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau (you may have heard of them since then). The movie was not released heavily nationwide, and there are still many people to this day who have not heard of this film. “Swingers” helped generate lines like “You’re so money” and developed characters which anyone can relate to. The beauty of this film is that everyone knows someone who is like one of the characters in the movie. The entire theme of the movie centers around, having fun with friends while you can and going out with girls(name one guy who can’t relate to that). The bottom line is “Swingers”, as a well-known philanthropist once said, IS SO MONEY!!!

What Vince has been up to lately:



It's okay Jon..I'd be mad too if I had your career:

Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory: A Movie For All Ages

“Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory” is one of the best cult classic movies ever made, due to wide spectrum of people that it has attracted throughout the years. I remember seeing this movie for the first time when I was a little girl, and I am still just as much in love it now as I was then. The movie stars Gene Wilder, as Willy Wonka, an eccentric man who runs a chocolate factory (what are the odds?). Things starts to get interesting when a young, poor boy named Charlie finds a golden ticket in a chocolate bar and wins the opportunity of visiting Willy Wonka’s, you guessed it, chocolate factory. The heart of this film lies in being able to witness the friendship that Charlie is able to form with Willy Wonka. There are numerous parts to this film that have made it such a legendary movie. One of the most important aspects of the film was the music. The songs in this film are recognizable throughout the world, and the dancing sequences that accompany the songs in the film add to the imaginative aspect of the movie. This movie can make anyone feel like they are a kid, no matter what their age.

Mr. Wonka sipping tea:



Mr. Wonka with his closest friends:


You Don't Anger an Oompa Loompa and live to tell about it:

"It's A Wonderful Life": It's A Wonderful Movie

“It’s A Wonderful Life” is one of the most memorable movies of all time. But the odd thing about this film that most people do not know is that it is a cult classic movie. When “It’s A Wonderful Life” was originally released in 1946 it did not do very well at the box office. Throughout the years though, this film gained a strong following, and that has led it to have its acclaimed status in film history. The movie, directed superbly by Frank Capra, details the life of George Bailey, played by James Stewart, in one of his most notable performances. “It’s A Wonderful Life” has been able to gain such a loyal following throughout the years, because at the core this movie reminds the audience that the most important things in life aren’t money or status, it is family and love. One of the most poignant parts of the film is when George Bailey gets a glimpse of what the world would have been like if he had never been born. Through this George is able to realize the real impact he has had on everyone’s life, and come to see how valuable his life really is. There have been many movies and many television that have copied entire scenes from “It’s A Wonderful Life”, which really helps prove that the strong impact this movie has had on society. There is not a Christmas that goes by, where you will not be able to find “It’s A Wonderful Life” playing on television. This movie has become as much of a staple of Christmas, as eggnog and Christmas cookies. “It’s A Wonderful Life” is not just a great cult movie, it’s also a wonderful film that helps the audience see that life is not just about gaining riches, it’s really about seeing that life truly can surprise you sometimes in how “wonderful” it really can be.

Memorable Scenes:

Shawshank Redemption: A Heartfelt Story

The movie, Shawshank Redemption, presents the story of Andy Dufresne, a man wrongfully sent to prison for the crime of murdering his wife and her lover. Throughout the movie we see Andy, portrayed by Tim Robbins, adjust to his prison life and even come to make friends within the prison. One of the movie’s most heartfelt parts is the friendship that we see develop between Andy and Red, a veteran prisoner played by Morgan Freeman.
When Shawshank Redemption was originally released at the movie theatres it was a complete flop. This movie’s ability to reach “cult status” stems from the fact that, years after its release it has gained a huge following through video rentals. This movie has come to be revered in society because of its story. In a time when most movies rely on flashy special effects for their success, Shawshank Redemption is a movie where the story moves the audience. The idea of hope was present throughout the movie because even though Andy and his fellow prisoners were put in situations that seemed dire, there was always still the dream that one day they would be able overcome their circumstances and live in some type of normalcy. I believe that Shawshank Redemption has rightfully claimed its place as one of the best movies of our time.

Fight Club: A Roller-Coaster Ride Through Reality

The movie "Fight Club", which is based on the book of the same name, is one of the most original movies that has been made, not only in recent history but of all time. The anti-corporate message of the movie opened up people´s eyes to the materialistic society that we are living in. This message is portrayed through the vast differences of Edward Norton and Brad Pitt´s characters. Edward Norton is the Narrator of the movie and he starts out as an "average joe" type of guy who is stuck in his dead-end corporate job and looking for meaning in his life.
Brad Pitt plays Tyler Durdan who represents all the anarchist ideals that are against the type of life that Edward Norton´s character has been living. One of the reasons why this movie is so unique is because of the way the story is told. The sequence of events that occur in the movie are not straightforward and at times you may be confused as to what is going on, unless you are paying close attention to the story. Even though the events may not be sequential, the narration by Edward Norton provides enough information for the viewer to understand the events. The surprising twist at the end of the movie is unexpected and further supports the theme throughout the movie of the concept of reality. Although some people may have been turned off by the violence in the movie, “Fight Club” was able to attain cult status because of its original message and visually impressive scenes.

My FAVORITE SCENE:

Office Space: A True Movie Gem

The movie Office Space is one of those rare cinematic experiences that not only leaves a smile on your face after viewing it, but also relates to people’s lives. The film stars Ron Livingston as Peter Gibbons, a regular guy who works in an office. He is not only frustrated with his menial job, but he feels that he should do as little as possible with his job. The movie not only discusses the everyday frustrations of employees who work in an office, such as having a boss who never listens to you, but it also points fun at American society. The movie’s highlights are evident when Peter plans to embezzle money from his office with the help of his two friends Michael and Samir, portrayed brilliantly by David Herman and Ajay Naidu. The interactions of these three friends provide the true comedic backbone of the movie, because of the reactions of each of these three friends when everything does not go according to the plan.

Jennifer Aniston also has a small role in this movie as Peter’s girlfriend, who is a waitress frustrated with her job. Even though Office Space never achieved “typical” box-office success, it was successful in providing the viewer with an enjoyable cinematic experience and established a strong cult following.

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Laurie

I am a student at the University of Michigan.The OC

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Laurie, mailto:lsagheri@umich.edu

Who am I?

Hi,

My name is Laurie, and I am a student in the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. I am really enjoying my experience here and learning a lot of new skills and making many new friends. I look forward to what the next two years will bring to my life.