Blog #4

Apocalypse Now Redux (2001), directed by Francis Ford Coppola, does an excellent job of capturing Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness. Though there are many differences between the two Coppola does a great job of getting the characteristics of the characters dead on. In particular his casting of Mr. Kurtz is perfect. Between physical characteristics and the lighting in the scenes Mr. Kurtz comes off as this frightening and terrifying character. In the movie Kurtz is played by Marlon Brando.
Brando’s physical features make him perfect for the part. When looking at Marlon Brando, his natural features already look intimidating. He is a very large man. His height is 5’9”, making him look very tall compared to those around him. Not only is he large in height but he also is stocky. Him being so stocky makes him even more intimidating. This movie takes place in the Vietnam during the Vietnam war. So the Vietnamese people all look really thin and with Kurtz having control it seems to be even worse with the way hew takes care of them or lack there of. This makes the fact that Brando’s Kurtz is so stocky even more frightening and terrifying, because his stature is much larger compared to those around him. He looks like he could take on anything. Though it may not play a major role, the fact that he is bald gives off the terrifying frightening vibe. He gives off that top military guy in charge feel. He is the guy in charge and he is aware and uses that to his advantage to take control. So his physical features played a major role in him being frightening and terrifying.
Another tribute that helps make him frightening and terrifying is the way the lighting was used in the filming. In particular the lighting in the scene where Willard (Conrad’s Marlow) first meets Mr. Kurtz. In this scene Willard walks in and Kurtz is laying in bed in complete darkness. Then you just hear him talk, his voice is deep and gives off this terrifying and frightening sensation. His presence in complete darkness metaphors to the darkness in himself, his lost of control. The lighting then changes and he sits up, half his face is lit and the other half covered in darkness. This is a metaphor to even though he has given off the impression of being completely lost there is still good in him. The lighting may show the good but it also is really creepy looking and makes him very frightening.
So over all I think that Coppola’s casting for Mr. Kurtz was perfect. Between the lighting and Brando’s physical features Kurtz comes off as very terrifying and frightening. I would never want to come across him and I think that is exactly how Conrad want his character to be.