Costume Critique: Annie

Howdy THEA 141 students! You have survived the first week of the semester and now it is time to let your hair down and enjoy a good movie this weekend . . . while thinking about costumes, of course!  Watch that movie from a costuming perspective and complete your first Costume Critique. Oh Joy! I know you are super excited. 

But wait, what's a costuming perspective?!  Simple--pay attention to the costumes. Do they look good? Do they help you understand the character and tell the story? Are they cohesive from scene to scene and character to character?

Follow the guidelines on Canvas as you write your first critique. Below is a little example for you--this is your blog so this is the only Costume Critique I will post on it. 

Annie

Costume Designer: Renee Ehrlich Kalfus

I was dragged to the movie theater by my 11 year old daughter. She has been counting down the days to Laie Palms opening night of Annie.  I was a kid when the original came out.  I loved that movie, sang those songs, and was not one bit excited about a remake of it.  Why mess with perfection?

To say the least I went in to the movie feeling nitpicky.  I was ready to tear it to shreds and hate every minute of it.  It took about 15 minutes to melt my cold heart and for the fresh faces, updated themes, and modernized music to sweep me away from my 1983 nostalgia.  Yep, I fell in love with Annie, again.

Too cute? Annie in the beginning.

Finally, thrift store Annie

I'm not sure if it was because I was still in my critical phase or not but the beginning of the movie didn't feel quite right to me in costuming terms. The orphans--or rather foster kids--were dressed a bit too cute.  Their clothes looked fairly fresh and new; almost right off the rack. The pink was bright and it matched the shoes. The setting was in New York City and perhaps by my current Laie, Hawaii standards (where even the rich kids dress like ragamuffins) I was setting the bar too low for these kids.  But really, in the school scenes the foster kids were dressed just as nice as the others.  I think they should have looked a bit more faded, perhaps even mismatched. You should be able to see the difference between a foster kid and the others.

There was a point right in the middle of the show though where I noticed a distinct difference in how Annie was being dressed--finally she had the faded thrift store look I had been watching for earlier. Why the change there? It was weird.  Anyways, these now more foster-friendly dud were still cute and stylish enough but now more appropriate for the characters and suddenly distinctly different from other kids. I wish it had been like this the whole way through.

This thrift store look is especially important in contrast to the new duds she gets when dressed by her new foster dad, Mr. Will Stacks: the iconic red dress.  I LOVED the red dress. I was happy that they kept it red and they made it look so classic (but totally different from the original in form) and refined, yet still little-girly. The scallops were a nice touch. I liked the peek-a-boo-pink lining at the scallops, the drape and shine of the fabric, and that it was a modest length. I was bothered in a close up shot of the straps. They didn't fit her shoulders right and needed a little taper but probably most people didn't notice that.

I could go on and on about the costumes in this show but I think I will conclude by briefly touching on the costumes of two other characters. One that I hated and one that I loved.

I hated Ms Hannigan's (Cameron Diaz) costuming and hair and makeup. I thought she looked too neatly made up--not raunchy enough. Her clothes looked too new. Her make-up looked like she was fresh from the make-up counter at Macy's and her hair was too . . . I don't know the word . . . just not right. It looked like she had let the girls do her braids (very nice braids I must add) but she was supposed to hate the girls. It just didn't fit. She didn't look poor and desperate she just acted that way.

I loved everything worn by Grace (Rose Byrne).  In fact I want her whole wardrobe. After the show I sketched a few of them and am hoping to make the pieces for myself. She looked so refined and smooth and feminine and powerful.  I wanted to be her. Especially in the scene with this blue dress. Click on the picture and look at the dress up close. It is just so darn cute and would look fabulous on me--don't you think?

Ok, so when all is said and done the movie exceeded my expectations on most accounts. I walked away feeling good about it, singing a few songs and inspired to do some sewing.

Me and my beautiful little family.

Bula vinaka all my name is Vasiti Cava. I am from the beautiful island of Fiji in the South Pacific.  As you can see from the picture I am a mother of four, two boys and two girls ages ranging from 4 years-7 months old. I am majoring in Elementary Education and this year will be my last year.  I am the youngest of seven siblings.  We are all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.  I served a mission back in Fiji Suva Mission from 2007-2008.

My hobbies are listening to music especially reggae, traveling and watching movies.  Since I love watching movies I have come to use this as a tool of spending time with my children but most of the time I just love to play with them.  I count myself blessed to have this great calling as a mother to my children.  It plays a big role in my major(Elementary Education).  It is a challenge and blessing to be wearing 3 hats like a student, mother and working, through these challenges I have come to appreciate what the world has to offer me in those areas.

In this class I hope to develop a skill that I wished I had learnt well from my mother.  I wanted to take this class so that I can develop a skill that will be a source of wealth in income for my family.  I know that it has a lot to offer me, the knowledge and skills to display in my future elementary classroom.

Introducing:Sister Dooley!

Hello THEA 141 students, and welcome to our Behind the Scenes blog! Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the Blogger platform by writing an introduction about yourself with a picture. Be sure to include the label "intro" and a personalized tag just you will use, like your name.

Always double check your work before publishing. Check that your spelling, punctuation, grammar are correct and of course make sure your content is appropriate for fellow students, teachers, future employers, grandma's.

Mother, Learner, Surfer. Introducing Sis. Dooley!
I can't believe I am the mother of 4 children ages 11-18! Time has flown by so much faster than I ever imagined it could. My oldest son just left for his mission and my baby is in 6th grade-- her last year of elementary school-- at Laie Elementary. Growing up, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said, "A mother". I have thoroughly enjoyed this lifelong career.

I love learning. I am always trying new things and my favorite thing to read is non-fiction. Yep! I know I'm weird. Some of the things I have taught myself to do over the years include: baking perfect chocolate chip cookies and home-made bread; maintaining roses, grape vines, and now tropical flora; remodeling houses and refinishing wood floors; budgeting and pinching pennies. My newest venture is learning how to tune a piano.

I love gardening and sewing and surfing. Surfing is a new skill I learned just a few years ago. It took me 2 months of dedicated strength training and practice to ride my first wave unassisted. I try to get out at least three times a week with my husband, kids, friends, or even by myself. I am currently teaching myself how to cross-step and walk on my board.

I am looking forward to working on Mary Poppins and the Importance of Being Ernest this semester. I think it will be a fun and challenging venture.