Intro
- 1. CallumWallace PR4: How do we analyse film? There are multiple ways to analyse film, among many there is the use of Lacey’s repertoire of elements to analyse genre. The theory defines genre using 5 key areas; setting, character. Narrative, iconography, style. We analyse these areas and look at the codes and conventions use and then we use the analysis of each area to establish the genre of the film with reasons as to why the filmis placed in that genre. Also there is the use of auteur theory to analyse a filmmaker and see if he fits the characteristics of an auteur in relation to; if they demonstrates a particular line of style throughout their films, a filmmaker who demonstrates innovation, a filmmaker who demonstrates artistic merit, a filmmaker who uses similar themes throughout their films to put their mark on a genre, amongst many other characteristics. For example an established auteur and beloved filmmaker is Martin Scorsese he fits multiple characteristics to become an auteur such as, a certain style which has adopted the name ‘Scorseseisms’. This is the use of certain filmmaking techniques/conventions in his films such as the use of voiceover, freeze frames, tracking shots, the use of the setting New York and usually the main character is a white male who’s pride is ultimately is his downfall. Film analysers use Lacey’s repertoire of elements to analyse and look in depth into the genre and conventions of a film. So for example I applied Laceys repertoire of elements to the ‘A walk among the tombstones’ trailer and established multiple conventions of an action thriller film for example the use of the setting New York which is iconic of action thrillers because of its use throughout many action thriller and its reputation as a crime filled city that never sleeps. Also the characters are very conventional of action thrillers, I wrote in my analysis “Protagonistis conventionalto Acton thrillers. A strong cold figurethat really is softon the inside.Who is hunting afterthe unknown antagonistorgroupsof antagonists.Theantagonistshave killed oneof his client’s wives who playstherole of the victim. The husband of thevictimscharacteris originally shown ascaring butthen seemsmore shady when wehear thathe doesn’twantthemkilled he wantsthatbroughtto
- 2. CallumWallace him. This suggestsheis a morecomplex characterand maybeinvolved in the plotmore than originally thoughtand hasthe potentialeven to be a secondary protagonistorantagonist,wedon’t knowyet.” There isalsomanyother conventionsinthe othersections;narrative andtechnical codes. Briefly,the narrative usesthe conventionsof avigilante/hero,inthiscase a private detective whois tryingto save the female victimandtobringthe antagonisttojustice.Withinthe technical codesthe misen scene andlightingthroughoutisverydarkandominoustokeepintactwiththe genre of actionthriller.There isnota single highkeylightingshotthroughoutthe traileruntilwe see a womanwho assume isthe victimthatthe protagonististryingto save.It isusedto try and convey the innocence of the victimbyusingthe highkeylightingandmakingherlookangelicespeciallyin comparisontothe restof the shotsused. An example of twoseeminglyverysimilarfilmsbeingcompletelydifferent conventionallyisalmostall of the JamesBondfranchise andLeon.One of them perceivedasthe workof an auteurand the other beingperceivedasverygeneric usingformulaicmethodstocreate the film. Forexample one of the maindifferences isthe portrayal of womeninbothfilms. Inbond,womenare portrayedasa distraction,assistantorsomeone tosleepwith.Neverreallya mainfocustothe storyand if theyeverare givenabiggerrole theirprimarycharacterarch isthat they didn’tletBondsleepwiththemstraightawayandit’sBondchasingafterthem. Subjectsact (JamesBond) Objectsare actedupon(Bondgirl),thisis almostevery instance of JamesBondchasingaftera girl. WhereasinLeon we got a strongermore independentfemale characterinsurprisingperson,a12 yearold girl.InLeonalmostthe entire plotandconflictcentresonthe youngfemale character insteadof beingaside character as a damsel indistress.She seeksrevenge againsther family’s killers,corruptpolice officers,bytrainingwithhernextdoorneighbourwhohappensto be atrained assassin. Where asinJamesBond the assassinwouldbe the mainfocal pointinthe movie the young girl and herdesire forrevenge isthe mainfocal point.Thisisan example innovationfromLuc Besson,he couldhave justmade a filmwhere there isabeautiful olderwomancompanionand make the filmmore genericbuthe decidedtobe more innovative andhave the plotof anassassin movie base arounda strong12 year oldgirl wantingrevenge. Thisisone of the reasonshe couldbe consideredanauteuroverthe likesof anyotherJamesBonddirector. Alsothe portrayal of the ‘trainedkiller’ineachmovie isextremely differentinJamesBondwe get a suave,sophisticated,secretservice agentthat alwaysgetsthe girl and inLeon we getan isolatedloner character who’sclosestthingtoa relationshipishisemployerwhosends himto kill highupdrug dealersandhisplant.Thisisobviouslyanother conventiondefierfromBessonandsecuresthisfilmevenmore asthe workof an auteurdirector.
- 3. CallumWallace I alsoappliedLaceysrepertoireof elementstoMeanGirls to analyse the filmanddefine itsgenre. MeanGirlsisa 2004 Mark Waterdirectedfilm. The filmcontains typical teendrama/comedyconventionsbutalsotakesatwiston the stereotypesafterpresentingthem.Forexample with the characters a stereotypedisportrayedandtheythen showcharacter traitsthat is unconventional fortheir stereotype,forexamplethere isacharacter calledKevin Gnapoor,who ispart of the school mathscompetingteam, whoalsocompetesinthe talentcontestas a rapper. The narrative isveryconventional off ateencomedy,withthe romanticsub- plotalwaysbeingrepresentedthroughout. But alsofeaturesthe revenge plotwhichcouldbe consideredunconventionalof the genre.Asfor iconographythere are the typical iconicelementsforthe teencomedygenre.Suchas,the highschool/promsetting, typical jockand nerduniformsandoverthe top American house partiessetting.Thisreinforcesthe genreof teen comedyfurther.There are alsocertaintechniquesusedsuchasvoiceoverandanimatedchecklistfor the revenge plotusedthroughoutamongstotherthings.Thesetechniqueshelptodefine the genre because theyenhance the storyof the girl the plotfollowsandmake itmore engage able forthe teenswatching. A filmIthinkperfectlydescribesthe workof anAuteurisGoodfellas a1990 crime filmDirectedby Martin Scorsese.Thisfilmviewsthe moblivesof three pivotal figuresinthe 1960's and70's New York. HenryHill isa local boy turnedgangsterina neighborhoodfull of the roughestandtoughest. TommyDevitoisa pure bredgangster,whoturnsout to be Henry's bestfriend.JimmyConwayputsthe twoof themtogether,andrunssome of the biggesthijacksand burglariesthe townhaseverseen.Afteranextendedjail sentence,Henrymustsneakaroundthe backof the local mobboss,Paulie Cicero,tolive the life of luxuryhe has alwaysdreamedof.Inthe end,the friendsendupina hell of a jam, and mustdo anythingtheycan tosave each other,and stay alive. The filmdefinedthe genre of crime filmsandinfluencedandinspiredalotof moviesafterits release.Scorsesewasalreadyconsideredanauteurbefore thisfilmhoweverwithfilmssuchasTaxi driverandraging bull alreadyunderhisbelt.But thiswasScorsese’sfirstfilmwhere he demonstratedthemesandstylesthatwill be copiedfordecadestocome,evenbyhimself with Scorsese showingsimilarthemesthroughhisfuture films.The filminitiallywasn’tacommercial success,beingbeatenbyfilmsin1990 such as Home Alone,GhostandPrettywoman. It onlymade 6 milliononthe openingweekendonafilmwitha budgetwithof 25 million.Butitisnow seenas
- 4. CallumWallace the bestfilmthatcame out at that yearand one of the bestfilmsof all time.Which showsScorsese chose artisticmeritovercommercial successanditpaidoff in the yearsto come. Conclusion These methodsof analysishelptogenerateagreaterappreciationof cinemabecause when watchingfilmonce youhave analysedrepertoire of elementsandauteurtheoryyouwill lookmore indepthwhenwatchingfilms,lookingforconventionsof the genre andstereotypesandsee if the filmisthe workof an auteuror cliché inyouropinion.Forexample whenviewinginterstellarforthe firsttime incinemaI wasconstantlyanalysingthe movie,mainlythe audiobecause there was certainlinesof dialogue whichwere inaudible because of the soundeffectsbeingsoloudinIMAX. But I alsothoughtit wasa completelyunique filmandthe use of realisminsteadof specialeffects gave it a reallyrelatable feel.