The film American Beauty, directed by Sam Mendes, is an acclaimed award winning film, ending up on around 200 critics top twenty lists. It's not only the script and they way it was written that makes this film so unique, but also the techniques that were used and decisions that were made when it came to filming and editing the film. At the time the film was filmed in 1999 Sam Mendes was a relatively new director, this film put his name on the map, he later directed films such as, Revolutionary Road, Road to Perdition, Jar head, and many others including the new hit James Bond movie, Spectre. Sam Mendes has made his presence known in the industry becoming one of the most eminent directors in the twentieth century. We see the film American Beauty really focuses on the development of characters and …show more content…
Many of the scenes that needed to be shot in daylight were actually shot at night. Hall had mastered a way to blow out or light the windows in just the right way to give the appearance of it being day, and one who was watching the film could never tell the difference. He also lit the film in such a way and cast shadows on the characters to really help and portray the characters emotion, sometimes no words were needed and the light and expression of the character told the whole story, that is brilliance. For example, Lester’s face was lit using reflective light when he looks at the photograph during the final scene. Along with the Colonel always being lit in some sort of shadow for the last section of the movie. When he is dealing with his own homosexual feelings and goes over and kisses Lester in his garage and then walks out into the rain and Hall gives him the appearance of slowly disappearing. One last lighting example was when Barbra turned to look at Jane; Mendes wanted to show the emptiness on her face, and Hall cast a shadow on her face that said more than words
When given the task of comparing the sound design used in Raising Arizona and Drive, the task is fairly simple. Drive, which came out in 2011 and is a crime drama, is in no way like the sound design used it Raising Arizona, a black comedy film that was released in 1987. Given the nature of, Drive, the soundtrack for this film is understandably, intense while the soundtrack for Raising Arizona is noticeably, campy. I believe that these particular soundtracks, while different, are perfect for their respective films. In Raising Arizona, the music of the film has a folksy and goofy vibe that fits with all of the particular scenes in the film such as the mugshot scene and the diaper robbery. However, the soundtrack for Drive is prominently dark, powerful and intangible, something that fits most of the scenes of the film such as the numerous fight and driving scenes.
Not long ago, a woman’s success was measured by the success of her husband and her domestic prowess. Today, a woman is presumed successful if she can emulate the standards of beauty portrayed in the media. Unfortunately, this subliminally enforced standard is unattainable to some women, regardless of the quality of their character. Let’s examine how western women went from being pioneering superheroes, to people who measure their worth against airbrushed photographs of impossibly beautiful women.
Luhrman uses a similar technique In Strictly ballroom. The scenes in which Scott dances with Fran are juxtaposed to those of other dancers who are under Barry Fifes rule. The lighting is natural and simplistic compared to the harsh theatrical lighting, which is otherwise used to demonstrate the fake and falsehood of federation. As well as the use of shadows and half-light, which is used to create a sense of fear or suspicion. This makes for a great metaphor and image of Doug secretly dancing in, out and around the spotlight in the otherwise dark room. This use of lighting suggests to the viewer that contrast of belonging and not.
The beginning scene was actively engrossed with low-key lighting or "dark look" that gave off an overcast to understand the power Don Corleone possessed over the individuals he was speaking with. According to David Konow (2014) "As Willis recalled in the book Masters of Light,That technique or that approach to the movie visually just came out of a thought process. And the process, in my mind, was based on evil; it was based on the soul of the picture. The wedding outside had a very sunny, almost Kodachromey, 1942 kind of feel to it. Then when we cut inside the house with Brando, it was very down and very ominous…so it was a very simple philosophy. However, the overall look of The Godfather was a kind of forties New York grit." The lighting used in The Godfather helped to implore the nostalgic feel of the movie. Although it was made in the 80 's Willis ' use of his new techniques changed the lighting in movies to come and placed the viewer in the midst of the 1940 's mafia
First and foremost, film noir refers to the visual style of a picture. The imagery of film noir was influenced by early 20th century German expressionism, featuring distorted, sinister shapes and shadows. These precursors to film noir used abstract figures and looming shadows for bizarre, emotionally stirring results. Techniques such as chiaroscuro were used to give a dark and minimalistic feeling. In many cases lighting is limited to a single harsh light source, which obscures the image, and even throws shadows across actors’ faces. These elements ensure that an audience regards the actors and the setting with equal importance. Oblique angled shots permeate many film noirs, naturally provoking anxiousness and apprehension in the viewer. In Sun...
The 1988 film Big, directed by Penny Marshall, is a single-protagonist narrative that can be split into Kristin Thompson’s four-act narrative structure with more or less equally timed sections and turning points leading into them . The set-up of the movie runs for 25 minutes, including the credits, and introduces recurring motifs of play and adolescent sexuality, both made more concrete as the film continues. The complicating action lasts for about 27 minutes, wherein Josh passes his time as a grown-up bumbling around his job at MacMillan toys. In this section the film introduces Paul as a foil and Susan as a possible love interest, carrying on the motif of playing surrounding Josh as he navigates adult interactions. The mid-film turning point
In "Constant Star", lighting told much about the play as soon as it began. Low, yellowish lighting and a bit of fog spread by ceiling fans filled the stage as the play started. This gave the stage the look of an old photograph, so the audience immediatly gathered that the show was taking place in the past. The mood was often set by lighting as well. Red lighting gave the audience a sense of foreboding while yellow indicated happy times. Also, lighting could substitute for props. During scenes involving the train, lights would flash on and off, making the stage look as if it was actually moving. This effectively created the illusion that the cast was on a train. Also, lighting was innovatively used to create a "jail" in one of the scenes by creating vertical bars on the stage around the convicts.
What do you think about when watching a film? Do you focus on the characters' good looks or the dialogue? Or do you go behind the scenes and think about what made the film? Maybe, it's even a combination of all three. No matter what comes to mind first, an important part of any good movie will be what you see. A camera and good director or cinematographer is needed to make that possible. Different directors and cinematographers will use different camera techniques to make you focus on what you see. Camera techniques show emphasis in films, because they make you focus more on situations and people. They are especially important in Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream.
With every film, there are purposely intended details which are used that may seem unnecessary or irrelevant, but are vital components of the diegesis. For most, it can be helpful to re-watch a movie to get a better understanding for what is going on. To appreciate and completely comprehend a film to its full extent, one must look to identify the five principles of form. When analyzing the plot of Get Out, these principles must be addressed because of the significant details that captivate this entire story. When considering how the aspects of function, similarity and repetition, development, difference and variation, and unity/disunity shape the film, viewers can get a grip for why the director uses certain tactics to compose each scene for
Spike Lee does many fascinating things from a directorial standpoint, which makes his film (dare I say, joint), Do the Right Thing so interesting to watch. Writer, director Lee makes much use of the high and low angle shots. He does this to draw clear contrasts between the two elders of the block, Da Mayor and Mother Sister and to make conflict more apparent.
Think about your favorite movie. When watching that movie, was there anything about the style of the movie that makes it your favorite? Have you ever thought about why that movie is just so darn good? The answer is because of the the Auteur. An Auteur is the artists behind the movie. They have and individual style and control over all elements of production, which make their movies exclusively unique. If you could put a finger on who the director of a movie is without even seeing the whole film, then the person that made the movie is most likely an auteur director. They have a unique stamp on each of their movies. This essay will be covering Martin Scorsese, you will soon find out that he is one of the best auteur directors in the film industry. This paper will include, but is not limited to two of his movies, Good Fellas, and The Wolf of Wall Street. We will also cover the details on what makes Martin Scorsese's movies unique, such as the common themes, recurring motifs, and filming practices found in their work. Then on
It is no doubt that Martin Scorsese has heavily influenced the emulating of American film making from European influences. He is a prime example of a ‘New Hollywood Cinema’ director, not only from his ethnicity and background, but from his sheer interest in this form
With many different genres and types of filmmaking, it can result in a large variety of stories and conflicts. Nevertheless, film has always brought people together as a society. If there is one thing everyone can notice about films is the achievement in style and directing. The three directors talked about in this paper are the most successful at delivering a breathtaking style and direction to their films. Baz Luhrmann, Wes Anderson, and Martin Scorsese have produced and directed films over decades and each film as impacted not only the United States but worldwide. With the unmistakable trademarks that each director has, it is very easy to feel sucked into the world in which they are shaping around you and the story. Because of these three directors, the film world and industry has been revolutionized for many centuries to come.
In addition, the elements of lighting can be a supplement to a visual story with alluring amount of light and darkness. Firstly, light versus dark is a complex theme in the film. It is looking at terms of the film’s images with use of lighting, day and night, and use of color. Second, is the way the film examines the dark recesses of the human mind and its dimensions of evil. For example, in one scene in the film, Marion Crane gets to know Norman Bates a little too well. Norman states, “Well a boy’s best friend is his mother”. There is an alluring shadow behind Norman Bates, as a shadow is not seen from Crane. It was implied in the film that Bates was deranged and had multiple personal...
Too win the girl you must defeat her seven Deadly Exes. Edgar wright the producer of “Scott Pilgrim Vs the world” and “The Adventures of TinTin”. The plot of the movie is a young man who finds a girl who he is in love with and tries to win her heart. The scene is when Scott is facing off with one Ramona’s evil exes at the battle of the bands, the Katayanagi twins. The compositional elements of this movies that they made the movie as a moving comic which the movie is based off of.