User:Ajcart909/sandbox

Description

This is a fictional plot and page for a cinema studies class at the University of Washington. This film does not exist and the actors referenced in this film have never played these roles. The poster in this film is also fake and was made through photoshop. The goal of this assignment was to create a Wikipedia style entry for a fictional film of my creation. The film must incorporate themes of the gangster genre with the creators own twist. Through watching multiple gangster films I Anthony Cruz, decided to cover the topics of race, gender, sexual identity, criminality, debauchery, and loyalty. These themes stood out to me the most in the films I watched and referenced in this page. However unlike previous gangster films, the film showcased here takes a modern spin by relating to current global and societal struggles while also giving representation to communities and persons not typically seen in gangster films.

BonnieCMS303

Introduction

Bonnie is a film that adds a modern twist on the 1967 film Bonnie & Clyde. The film follows the protagonist Bonita played by Alexa Demie, and her life as a white hispanic biracial woman living in San Francisco during the 2007-2010 housing crisis. Much like the original Bonie and Clyde film Bonnie is a film filmed with the setting of a previous era that is reflective of the generation it is filmed. The film takes a spin on the gangster genre by having a woman protagonist as the leading role as opposed to a man. The film follows Bonita a character who struggles with her identity being a bi racial woman who is considered a “No Sabo” as she doesn’t speak Spanish and English is her fist language. The film starts by introducing Bonitas character in a public setting where her heritage is questioned. She then meets the character Clyde played by Leo Howard who is a mysterious young man who’s behavior is juvenile, much like the Clyde from the 1967 film. Clyde meets Bonita while she’s in distress in a public seething and comes to her aid. After this introduction Bonita is entranced by his “free”/criminal lifestyle. As she is a person who struggles with establishing an identity as a biracial person Clyde’s carefree lifestyle pulls her in. The film then follows their journey of self discovery. Much like the original Bonnie & Clyde film, this project aims to cover many relevant topics of its film era while also alluding to psychological issues centered around identity. Both Bonita and Clyde are characters who struggle with establishing an identity in a tumultuous era where poverty is high and the social class divide is ever more apparent. While the film is called Bonnie and focuses on her it doesn’t fail to give the character Clyde plenty of screen time. However much like previous gangster films it treats the romantic interest as an extension of the main character. The original Bonnie and Clyde film and other iterations may have attempted this but it was not as fleshed out. This film really emphasizes Bonnie/Bonita as the main character as it follows her struggles more than Clyde’s. This is an artistic gangster film that focuses on identity and what it means to truly find it.

History

Bonnie is a reflective film in that many parallels can be drawn between the era in which it was filmed and the era in which it takes place. The film is set during the early 2000s United States housing crisis. Comparisons can be made to the year of production, 2024, as this year and the years leading up saw a high spike in housing prices and increased poverty. The film also touches upon the COVID pandemic, as the swine flu is mentioned throughout the film. However, the swine flu is not a central component of the film and is treated as more of a minute detail that aids in painting the picture of the time. Bonnita, the main character, lives in a low-income area of San Fransisco. She lives with her mother, teenage brother, and little sister. Her mom is sick, and to support her family and ill mother, Bonnita works three jobs. Due to the housing crisis and the worsening of her mother's health, Bonnita struggles to pay rent and afford her mom's medical bills. Eventually, Bonnita meets Cy after she is racially profiled in a store. Cy comes to Bonnita's aid, leading them to rob the store. Cy introduces Bonnita to a life of crime, and similar to the original Bonnie and Clyde film, the film follows the pair's journey. The film touches upon multiple topics, one of which is racism. The character Bonita is a biracial woman who knows no Spanish. Because of this, throughout the film, her character is racially profiled and judged by both Hispanic and caucasian persons. To try and fit in, Bonnita often refers to herself as Bonnie to appear more white and assimilate. Bonnita consistently assumes this identity throughout the film. It consumes her, similar to Tommy Gibbs in the 1973 film Black Ceaser. This film also touches on themes of sexuality with both the character Cy and Bonnitas's brother, Santana. Cy is a bisexual man who is open with his sexuality, while Santana struggles with accepting his. The film plays upon this with interactions between Cy and Santana (Cy does not make any advancements on Santana) as the film alludes to Santana having a crush on Cy. Beyond racism and sexuality, the film also speaks out on gender roles and expectations. Bonnita is seen as a mother to her siblings throughout the film, and her character grapples with responsibility and the desire to be free. This speaks of gender expectations but also the expectations of older siblings. While these aren't the film's only themes, these are the major highlights. The film aims to be relatable to a broad audience in that every audience member can take away from it. By discussing topics such as gender and social class, the film appeals to a wide audience. By showcasing a Latina heroine, the film offers representation. The film aims to be modern for the new generation by containing elements related to their experience. Through nationwide issues of the era, coverage of social themes, and needed representation, the film speaks to Gen Z and Gen X. By doing this, the film attempted to target this audience and, unfortunately, was poorly received by critics.

Reception and Analysis

The film received terrible reviews from critics because of its modern spin on the gangster story. The film presents themes seen in gangster classics such as Bonnie and Clyde, Black Caesar, and Touch of Evil. Critics described the movie as too “woke” because it modernized these themes, having a female heroine and containing Gen Z humor. The film takes a modern spin on the classic gangster narrative. Having a female lead as the gangster challenges the trope of the macho/lone wolf man typically seen as the gangster. By incorporating elements of sexuality, as seen in both the leading male roles of Cy and Santana, the film defies expectations of masculinity seen in previous gangster films. The film goes against the typical masculine gangster narrative, similar to the 1978 Bonnie and Clyde film, which attempted to do so but was prevented. Bonnie aimed to resurrect these themes and bring them into modern light. However, beyond themes of gender and sexuality, critics also disliked the film's aesthetic. Previously, many gangster films relied on dark lighting and cool tones to paint the setting. Gangster films have this rugged, cold aesthetic in which the world is seen as kill or be killed. While the film Bonnie also created a rugged, cold world, it relies more on a debauchery-esk aesthetic. Many bright colors and patterns are seen throughout the film in both wardrobe and set design. The film also showcases multiple scenes with bright colored lights, loud music, excessive use of drugs and alcohol, and sexual themes. Many of these elements detract from many classical gangster films. However, the film uses these elements to take a modern spin on the genre and showcase the depravity and debauchery of the gangster. The gangster is not a hero, and while the film aims to evoke empathy in its audience for the main characters, it doesn't fail to showcase the cold truth of the gangster lifestyle of criminality. The gangster is someone who goes against the systems set by society and government. This leads the gangster to engage in criminal behavior to achieve their goal. In Bonnie the systems that character fights against are gender expectations, racism, and poverty. Bonnita like many main chracters in gangster films fights back against these systems by taking action going down a criminal path with her boyfriend Cy. This film is similar to the outlaw genre in that there is no heist or main event the characters are trying to achieve. They are free spirits trying to establish a legacy in a world that doesn't see them. Many critics overlooked the creative techniques used in the film to showcase the previously mentioned themes. Many critics said the film was “too messy and didn't belong in the gangster genre.” However, aside from the film's poor ratings, many young adults enjoyed this film. It spoke to a younger audience and could be seen as a fun take on a well-established genre. Genres evolve and change as generations proceed with new conflicts, stories, movements, styles, and desires. Through watching gangster films throughout the decades, one can see the genre's evolution. The 1978 Bonnie and Clyde film did not do well on release but eventually became seen as an artistic masterpiece. This goes to show that change can foster appreciation with time. The film Bonnie aims to do that with a modern twist and the incorporation of elements seen in previous gangster films. Bonnie attempts to evolve the genre for future generations by changing the narrative of the gangster. In an all-inclusive future, anyone can be a gangster, but the gangster is never a hero. The film Bonnie knows this, and like classical gangster films, there is no happy ending.

References

American International Pictures. (1973). Black Caesar [Film]. United States.

Universal Pictures. (1958). Touch of evil [Film]. United States.

Warner Bros., Warner Home Video. (1967). Bonnie and clyde. United States, United States.