!!Spoiler Alert!!

"Double Indemnity has been called “a film without a single trace of pity or love.” Do you agree with this statement? Think about the motivations that lie behind the actions of Walter Neff and Phyllis Dietrichson when you consider your response." 



While an incredibly old movie, Double Indemnity still captivates its audience to this day. An outstanding example of cinematography and directing, it is a perfect example of what may be called film noir. Film noir most prevalently portrays a seductive and somewhat psychotic woman as a main character. The other main character is almost guaranteed to be a male with little to no success with women. The psychotic woman then uses her seductive abilities to make like a praying mantis. Aka she gets the man to do the dirty work then bites off his head (not literally of course, I can hardly imagine that would be allowed in theatres). 

With a basic understanding of film noir, it is now possible to analyse the original question stated at the top of the page. Walter Neff appears to show a certain amount of affection for Phyllis Dietrichson (The psychotic woman) and finds himself willing to kill her husband. However, later on we find that he has her all figured out which culminates in Phyllis attempting to kill him. Walter (now Holy Walter [he got shot in the arm]) tells her to try again, but she can't bring herself to shoot him again. She then claims to love Walter because she couldn't shoot him again, the motivation behind this action is almost certainly an attempt to save herself. Walter, who doesn't want her telling the court what really happened, promptly took her gun and shot her twice in the torso. Hardly what I would call love, but to each their own I guess. 

While no love or pity is shown between the two main characters, I cannot fully agree that there is no love or pity in the movie. While it is true that none is shown between Phyllis and Walter, the same cannot be said about Walter and his boss, Barton Keyes. Keyes professed his trust and friendship for Walter at various points in the movie. He defended Walter when he was a main suspect in the death of Phyllis's husband. And when he finally finds out Walter is the murderer, all he talks about is calling an ambulance to take care of Walter's arm (remember my earlier joke?). When Walter tried leaving, Keyes didn't stop him, and when Walter collapsed on the floor from blood loss, Keyes calls an ambulance and stays by Walter's side, even lighting his cigarette for him. The lighting of the cigarette is ultimately what convinced me that there is love in the movie Double Indemnity. This si so because during most of the movie, Keyes can never find his matches and Walter always lit his cigarette for him. The end of the movie when Keyes lit Walter's cigarette was a powerful message showing a very close friendship and love between the two. 

So, as a final message no, I do not believe Double Indemnity is a film with "no traces of pity or love," because a loving relationship between Walter Neff and Barton Keyes is portrayed throughout the entire movie.

Thou Art the One: Macbeth's FAVORITE SHOWS

I AM MACBETH!! (Well actually I'm a ghost, but you get the point)

Many people ask my body-less head why I became such an evilly devious person. Me, I blame television. I mean come-on!! Some of the stuff on TV now is so evil and perverted any audience individual would be driven to a life of insanity and murder (cough..cough..me). So, What shows did I love to watch premortem? Well, I've compiled a quick list of the most awesome manly shows that I felt inclined to watch due to social pressure (I sound like a teenager don't I?).

Anyway, here goes:


Number 1: TopGear UK
Category: TV

First-off, in the title it says UK...well I'm from there so that should be justification enough. No? Well fine then, more depth I shall give. Cars weren't around in my time, but if they were...well let's just say I would have many of them. I love all the manly stuff you guys are lucky enough to have nowadays, ya know: Guns, fighter jets, cars, trucks, kittens...wait forget about the kittens, but seriously my love affair of cars would have proved to Lady Macbeth that I did have a pair!! (Maybe then I wouldn't have had to kill Duncan). Going back to the point TopGear UK shows some SERIOUSLY MANLY STUFF: Cars, and explosions, and fighter jets, and...


Number 2: House
Category: TV

The television show House is certainly my favorite show pertaining to that gigantic genre of "Fictionally Accurate, yet Funny Medical Shows." This may seem like a very broad genre (of 3 shows I can think of...), but House sets itself apart from the others because of the character traits of Doctor House himself. I feel rather similar to him. He is far superior to those around him, is about as lonely as that star in Texas, and is criticized for being uhh...let's say eccentric. The main reason I feel connected to him is because of how all his colleagues/people around him react to him. Like me, whenever he gives orders they react only because they have no other choice. It reminds me of my final days holed up in Dunsinane. I don't remember much about my last days (besides a forest attacking me...which still confuses me), but I do remember everyone listening to my orders very reluctantly, just like how other doctors treat House.


Number 3: The Hunger Games Series
Category: Movie Trilogy

Before you all start whistling that annoying tune, let me explain. Pan-Am reminds me of a lot of Scotland...MY Scotland. Just like my Scotland everything is going well, people are dying from orders of the leader (ahem...Me!!), children are killing each other for entertainment of the ruling class (Didn't have a chance to do that, but I like the idea), and there is just general well being. Then, all of a sudden all the citizens revolt against the ruling class (Remind you of anything, cough cough...Malcolm) and kill the leader!! This movie series reminded me so much of my own personal story that I wept a little in the movies theater...not gonna lie.

Number 4: Die Hard Series
Category: Movie Series

As stated in my opening suggestion in this list, I love manly stuff!! Guns, fighter jets, cars, trucks, kittens...dammit, I said kittens again didn't I? Well, besides those wonderfully fluffy creatures of uber-manliness, the Die Hard series has just about everything: from planes exploding in slow motion as the protagonist shoots at it, to big car chases through heavily populated areas (sounds dangerous right?!). It has it all. So, again to prove my manhood to my terr- uhh... I mean lovely wife, this movie series is a must watch. It's so manly you'll probably grow a beard just from watching it. It's so manly, there should be a warning label on the disc telling about the manliness of it. It so manly...

Annnddddd... We're done!! Join in next week to see what absolutely not-crazy things I have to say.


Macbeth