THE MAGIC OF BELLE ISLE
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Magic of Belle Isle Movie Response.
The Magic of Belle Isle, is a totally warm, human, feel good experience film that brings out the best in human beings. That narrative is evident as the movie brings out the best in the characters acting the movie. The lead character Morgan Freeman, is seen to perform really well as he plays as the grizzled old drunk known as Monte Wildhorn. CITATION Rex12 l 1033 (Reed, 2012). The movie has been seen as an element that triggers feelings of happiness and deep sentiments from the general theme of the movie, to the definite choice of characters and the overall morals and lessons from the movie. Critical analysis of the movie illustrates that the movie is based on friendships and inter-generational friendship between parents and their children as well as younger people. The Director Rob Reiner explores heavy and critical themes like alcoholism, grief, divorce and disability. It also illustrates that the older generation has lived for some time and they certainly have something to share with the younger generation. They can share wisdom coupled with the experiences they have gone through as they go through life. The looking out and looking in concepts that are evident in Magic of Belle Isle include the communication aspect in relations, the very definite is the aspect of self-concept as well as the socialization aspect. When considering the looking out looking in concepts evident in the film, then thinking about communication and important concept skills that individuals utilize and apply in their personal relationships as well as in the positions and the situations they find themselves in life to ensure they do well and perfectly communicate with the people around them in order to get the help they might be requiring. The movie depicts the importance of airing out what people are thinking about it also shows the importance of striving to have solid and intentional relationships with those that we live with and love. The following paper is a response to the film and how the concepts highlighted in the looking out looking in are portrayed in the movie.
The movie is set in a way that there is a great and appropriate transition and definite evolution. The evolution is characterized by the improvement and the formation of relationships that assist individuals become better at what they are doing. It is also clear from the movie that it is possible to feel rejuvenated once you meet with people who want the best for you. Monte Wildhorn is a character in the movie who is illustrated as an individual who had reached the epitome of a very successful life as an author, but went through a difficult and bitter phase after the death of his wife. The unfortunate turn of events not only ended with the death of his wife but he was also confined to a wheel chair as a result of a car accident involving drunk driving. Wildhorn is then determined to lead a miserable life, because nothing else makes sense. He is determined to spend his entire summer drinking instead of writing his books and doing what he loves doing. From the narration the writer of the movie is seeking to communicate how unfortunate occurrence in life, can break people and prevent them from leading productive lives. The looking out and looking in concept evident in that part is that, communication is vital especially when an individual is going through loss. When people get a place where they can clearly communicate their feelings they become better and the heavy cloud of grief and sadness leaves them as they talk to their support system. (Adler, 2017). Empathy plays a central role also in search situations because the individuals battling grief get to understand that someone cares and that all is not lost.
Further analysis of the movie Magic of Belle Isle illustrates that Rob Reiner has particularly chosen to give the audience life-affirming material that contain important lessons that the audience can learn from. It is clear that there are so many conversations going on in the movie. The famous writer, Monte Wildhorn is well known for writing on novels grand and serene adventures a long time ago in history when cowboys were a common thing to see. After the death of his wife he loses his inspiration and moves to the small town of Belle. The next door neighbors welcome him and they become close and their relationship grows from there. The next door neighbors were the O’Neal family, a recently divorced family that had a mother and three girls. In a span of that short period of time they became closer. The daughters Willow, Fin and Flora together with their mother got to learn a few things from Monte Wildhorn. The family found Monte fun to be around and very resourceful as well.
One of the daughters aspires to be a greater writer and a storyteller and its through talking to Wildhorn she learns the dynamics of being a great writer. Monte accepted the chance to becomes Finn’s mentor because of the benefits that could have come with taking the job. He thought to himself that he could get the money to buy alcohol but the lesson translated into something deeper than just getting alcohol money. By taking Finn through the sessions on imagination and the importance of imagination to a writer, he realized the spark being ignited in him and he started to imagine again which is an incredible thing to stumble upon.
Seeing the progress, the Fin is making Mrs. O’Neal decides to invite Monte over to her place and the most incredible thing happens. The two have an unexpected spark and that evening gives Monte an inspiration that fuels him to start writing once again. He writes a story where all the characters are children but disguised as mice. In the real sense he was writing a story about the O’Neal family. From reading the story Mrs. O’Neal understands and reads the sign that Monte loves her and from there their connection grows deeper and a beautiful bond is formed as Monte continues mentoring the girls.
When analyzing the movie considering the looking and looking in concepts, it is evident that the film is strongly based on the people. It is safe to indicate that the movie is more or less character-driven unlike a majority of some films whose turn of events and episodes are often guided by the plot. The third looking out, looking in concept that is evident in the film is communication. A lot of conversations are recorded in the film. The conversations recorded are appealing and they spark feel good feeling in the lives of the audience as well as for those acting the film. Through the conversations, Monte found his inspiration again once more and he started writing. Through conversation and the appropriate communication that Mrs O’Neal had with Monte Wildhorn, they found compassion and the right and befitting company in each other, which was good for both of them after going through the loss they all went through.
When considering the key elements that are discussed in looking out and looking in, the highlighted concept is emotions. There are specific emotional scenes in the film, include the conversations between Wildhorn and Finn, Where Monte stated, “Never stop looking for what’s not there.” Fin in return replied, “I Promise.” Emotions play a significant role in the lives of human beings. They make people happy, motivated, there are emotions of fear and defeat as well as hurt. Through the movie it is clear that despite the fact that the emotions may be overwhelming it is necessary to be emotionally intelligent and to understand when a shift should be made. Monte came to the realization that he had to get past the pain of losing his wife and his confinement to the wheelchair and to become whole again as he still had what he needed the most, that is his hands and brain. By recognizing the difficult emotions Monte was able to get past the pain and to become self –sufficient once again.(Kaffah, 2015)
In conclusion The Magic of Belle Isle, is a sweet story with a moral worldview, it has been seen as a vessel that connects a family and gives light and life to a broken man. Through the love demonstrated by the O’Neal family for each other Monte is inspired to look at life positively and to know that all is not lost. He picks himself up from that dark place and he is able to create, to imagine, to love and to write once again. Family bonds are restored and relationships are mended, that is between the teenage daughter and her mother after empathizing with the situation and understanding what Mrs. O’Neal went through in her marriage and as she was also trying to raise her children.
References.
Adler, R. B., & Proctor II, R. F. (2017). Looking out, looking in. Nelson Education. Adler, R. B., & Proctor II, R. F. (2017). Looking out, looking in. Nelson Education.
Kaffah, S. (2015). A Subtitling Analysis Of Verbs And Verb Phrases In The Magic Of Belle Isle Movie (Doctoral dissertation, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta).
BIBLIOGRAPHY l 1033 Reed, R. (2012). Bellr Isle Sees the Reunion of Reiner and Freeman for Another Magical Musing on Growing Old. Observer.
