Penny Marshall Film Analysis

Penny Marshall has directed six films in her career: "The Preachers Wife"(1996), "Renaissance Man"(1994), "A League of Their Own"(1992), "Awakenings"(1990), "Big"(1998), and "Jumpin' Jack Flash"(1986). We know Penny best from her stint in Laverne and Shirley (1976-1983) as the hilarious Laverne De Fazio. After the series was cancelled Laverne appeared in some pictures until her directorial debut in "Jumpin' Jack Flash". This film was pretty much a bomb and Penny gained credibility as a director in "Big". Tom Hanks received a nomination for Best Actor in this picture. Marshall's best directorial accomplishment had to be in "Awakenings" starring Robert DeNiro and Robin Williams. This film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor (Robert DeNiro),
There is another side to the color scheme. When the patients "awaken" they go on a field trip to a Jazz lounge, this place symbolizing life and freedom and happiness is filled with color. As well the patients are out of their drab clothes and are wearing make up and dancing to the songs they left behind so many years ago. <br><br>In "Big" loose framing is mostly used. This allows for Tom Hanks' character to move around and do all the physical comedy that is necessary for this part. He must play a child in an adult's body. Mostly full shot is use because there is so much moving around and in order to give the set the look of being "Big" and sort of dwarfing Josh Baskin. He is a child in an adult world and we must be reminded of this. There is an abundant use of color. The world of cement and pavement of the city has been thrown out the window and the audience can see the world through a child's eyes. Through profile shots the audience is able to wonder what is going through his mind and hypothesize what he is going to do. Everything is filled with excitement and good nature. Josh's room filled with a trampoline, a Pepsi machine and an abundance of toys is representative of the world of a
"Awakenings" on the other hand starred Robert DeNiro and Robin Williams, two well-known and respected actors. This is obviously a step up for Penny Marshall. "Big" was a lighthearted comedy and "Awakenings" was an emotional drama. Penny Marshall shifted her level of intensity for this film. As was mentioned before Marshall tended to direct and produce comedies and this drama was a paradigm shift for her that worked out very well with critics. There does not seem to be any pattern of collaboration with other artists within her films. A different composer writes each music score and her films each have their own unique cast of actors (with exception to Tom Hanks in "A League of their Own") and actresses. Her ideology displayed in each film is different; there are differences in point of view between "Big", <br><br>"Awakenings", "Jumpin' Jack Flash" etc. As there exists differences in each film there exists a difference in success with audiences and