horray for hollywood -catherine van tatenhove

Arguably the most illustrious, successful, talented, and enigmatic director has been forcing us to hide under a blanket to hide half the screen in utter disturbance while also making us cry because of a small boys love for an equally small alien. Steven Spielberg has been a brilliant mind for as far back as my first cinematic experience began with The Sound of Music no less, but he actually found his start in 1961. Since he began his journey in directing he has made a plethora of films,  some stemming from his personal and hardship stricken childhood, while still others depict pivotal historical events with incredible precision and passion. ET and Schindler's List are both perfect examples of the aforementioned genre descriptions. ET being about a boy named Elliott who inadvertently befriends an alien and Schindler's List encompassing the atrocities of the Holocaust. These movies are threaded with differences in style including usage of shots and angles, music, and props. However, one aspect remains the same through out. Through out all of Spielberg's films there's always a moment of perfectly orchestrated but still completely natural emotion. Whether it's the horrifying death of a small girl in a red coat amongst the black and white film representing hope, or a young boy begging for the safety of his new best friend. Spielberg makes us cry, scream, and laugh regardless of which of his movies we are glued to. It's inevitable. And, for me, it's been priceless.