Class Notes and Questions for Homework: Snatch

Here are the class notes. There are questions below. Answer them and I will give you 10/10

Genre is action comedy.

England and America, focusing on two outgroups (minority groups): Jewish, gypsies: pikey (not really polite to call them either): Roma or Romani

They came to Europe overland from India nine hundred years ago. The stereotype is they are poor, live in wagons/caravans and thieves. They are also dark, mysterious, magical, and good-looking.

They are great fighters. Right now, the heavy boxing champion of the world is a gypsy: pikey. There is around 800,000 gypsies in America now.

There is a lot of prejudice against them in Europe. The European societies treat them like garbage. They were also killed by the Nazis along with Jews and gay people.

Director and writer of this movie is Guy Ritchie. He used to be married to Madonna.

I didn’t send any questions, so you don’t have to worry about that. I will send these notes though with questions underneath. I will do that tonight. If you do them, I will give you 10/10 for a grade. We are half-way through Snatch. Snatch means “to steal” or “rob” and run away. Remember they snatched the diamonds in Belgium. A lot of the shenanigans are around getting the diamond. Shenanigans means mischief or do something bad. Brad Pitt was supposed to play Turkish, but he was unable to do a London accent. As an actor, this is his weakness. He can’t do accents. The old gangster is called Brick Top. This is something I don’t really understand. That is slang for “red-head” (hair) or a ginger, but he doesn’t have red hair. There must be a backstory. A backstory is what happened before the start of the movie. It helps actors develop the role or acting more clearly.

Antisemitic is to hate Jewish people.

One of the themes of the movie is prejudice against outgroup people (minorities).

The director had a Brazilian friend who said in Brazil the worst thing you can do is abuse dogs. Irony.

Extras are actors in the background who do not have lines (don’t say anything).

Paying homage to: copy an earlier great film scene to show respect

McGregor’s character is dealing with being sick from heroin. Brad Pitt’s character is really hung over. Alcohol. Constipated.

I will ask you to explain the twist of fate at the end of Snatch.

Coming of age genre. This means teenagers growing up.

The cookie cutter metaphor.

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1. How is the Garden of Eden related to The Last of the Mohicans?

2. What does Hawkeye say about the white man? He is quoting his stepfather. (We will rewatch this scene in next week's class.)

3. Why does the last sequence of The Last of the Mohicans feel like an MTV music video?

4. What is the twist of fate in The Last of the Mohicans?

5. Why are caravans important in Snatch?

6. What is Mickey's (Brad Pitt) occupation?

7. How does Brick Top get rid of corpses?

8. Why does your teacher think the director of Snatch is paying homage to Trainspotting?

9. What is the twist of fate in Snatch? 

10. How is Lucky Star related? 

Mysterious Skin

The Last of the Mohicans

 Here are the notes for November 19, 2022:

The Last of the Mohicans

An Indian nation in America

Starring Daniel Day Lewis, the only actor to win three Oscar Awards

Based on the 1826 novel by James F. Cooper

One of the early masterpieces of American literature.

It is talking about history

1757 in New York

Seven Years War between England and France. This had a massive impact on world history

1756 tp 1763

England will fight America 1775 to 1783: This is the first war England has lost since 1066. As a result, America becomes free of England and establishes the first modern democracy.

Also these wars bankrupt France. As a result, the King of France has his head chopped off and France becomes the second modern democracy.

Genre is an historical epic. Epic is when the protagonist is forced to take a journey (long trip where you find meaning about life).

The soundtrack is loud and grand. It matches the grandness of America’s landscape.

The first white people to come to America were the poor people of Europe. They saw America as a Garden of Eden (from the Bible where Adam and Eve live) because of all of the food and resources available.

The Indians thought how the British fought in war was stupid. They wore red coats so they were easy to see and thought both sides should follow some rules to fighting.

The Indians used surprise attacks called an ambush and would hide in the forest, called guerrilla warfare. Later, when America fought England, they copied the guerrilla style of fighting.

 1826

Describes the 18 century and the wars between England and France. But they have not fought 1815. England will win this war 1756 to 1763, and they acquire Quebec, which is still part of Canada today. Canada is still a colony of England today. That is the reason why people in Quebec speak French and not English.

Michael Mann is the director. He started out making music videos. Then he made a famous TV show in the 1980 called Miami Vice.

The Huron houses are called wigwams.

Yankee is actually an Indian word to call the white man, but we have forgotten the actual meaning. People debate it.

Opening credits are the start of a movie or TV show. They tell who the actors are.

But they set the mood or feeling for the program.

The Last of the Mohicans has a twist of fate.

Remember, that means surprise ending. We think the last Mohican is the son; actually, it is the father.