Midterm Paper
Melvin and Howard was a comedy and drama packed movie, which was produced by Jonathan Demme. Although the movie was shot in a very simplistic manner, it was awarded and nominated for various Oscars. Along with other directors, the movie caught the attention of Paul Thomas Anderson. He believes that this film “doesn't just hit me emotionally. It's the first 20 minutes: two guys talking in a fucking car - and that's it! This to me is heaven” (P.T. Anderson’s Top 10). Henceforth, Anderson uses some similar techniques as Jonathan Demme to produce one of his first films, “Hard Eight.” The film “Hard Eight” includes a similar storyline, parallel scenes, and various comparable shots. Although the film did not do as well in the Box Office as it was expected to, it allowed Anderson to learn his mistakes and grow as a director (P.T. Anderson’s Top 10).
In both films, “Melvin and Howard” and “Hard Eight,” The main characters are down on their luck and a point in their lives where everything is falling apart. In “Hard Eight” John is tired of his life, as he has no money for his mothers funeral and has nothing to support himself by. Similarly, in “Melvin and Howard” Howard Hughes has hit a rough patch in his life where he is in need of guidance to help himself recover. Thus both characters, Howard and John, are helped by strangers to help them recover a new sense of life. This stage of recovery mainly occurs during a car ride in both films. These films consist of a long and unraveling car ride scene where the two characters open up to one another. Melvin and Howard learn about each other during the long car ride back towards Howard’s house. During this scene the audience are introduced to what type of person both characters are. Howard is a wealthy man but with no greater meaning in life, whereas Melvin is an upbeat but unlucky individual who is constantly hit with bad situations. On the other hand, Sydney is a wise old man who seems to be quite lonely in...