Bonnie and Clyde (Arthur Penn, 1967)

 It's interesting how the film opens up with Bonnie's naked body, it really sets the expectation that she is someone who is desired sexually and puts the audience in a position to view her as that too. In an ironic twist however, her relationship with Clyde is defined in the opposite direction due to his impotence in sex. This frustrating dynamic between Bonnie and Clyde sets the whole rest of the film's tension, given the title as well. As we continue on throughout the story we see Bonnie getting increasingly frustrated with Clyde because at the base of it he does not fulfill one of a human's most basic desires. In a way, Clyde's life as a criminal also represents that initial sexual attraction turned wrong. Clyde is attractive, clever, and wild to Bonnie in the beginning as a criminal but the deeper she gets in with Clyde the further she realizes that this is not the kind of life or man that she wants. In a way, I felt trapped with Bonnie as she gets further away from that point of no return. An impulsive decision eventually leads her to her own death, creating a tragic tale that reflects how we often project our own desires onto people that don't end up satisfying us in the end.

Cinematography wise this film was incredible, there are some really notable shots and scenes. The ending shootout obviously creates an incredible sense of tension and release, the use of lens flare and sharp light with the birds coming out create a really impeccable rhythm as the camera cuts to quick close ups of Bonnie and Clyde sharing one last look before death. On top of that the scene where they finally have sex really stood out to me, it was very clever in how the camera follows the newspapers flying in the wind as they finally share intimacy together. It really reflects the free-spirited energy between the two in that moment and the energetic banjo helps lead the audience to feel that freedom as well. Additionally the scene where Bonnie meets her mother one last time with the family picnic feels very authentic, it's as if they just simply had the actors interact with each other as the camera sneaks around picking up any candid moments they can.