Critical Score 8/10 I gave Trainspotting this rating because not only can I recognize that it’s a monumental classic for British cinema, but I think it did a really good job at the social commentary it provided on addictions (metaphorical or not) and especially problems with drug use. I think the story was told in a way that was fast and engaging while the audience still felt invested in the characters as they felt so real. The cinematography at certain points was also incredible.
Memorable Scene My favourite part of the film is where Renton falls through the “worst toilet in Scotland” because it’s an unrealistic, fantastical scene that does not exactly match with what the film had shown so far. This tells the audience that this movie won’t be as they expected- it shows that it is hyper-realistic and exaggerated, with its trippy scenes, such as when Renton begins to hallucinate the baby on his ceiling as a side effect of the drugs.
A sound mixer is the leader of the production sound crew. They are responsible for recording the high-quality audio on set. Their job is to set up wires, affixing lapel mics, operating the sole boom mic and also mixing on a mobile controller.
Then, the job of a sound editor is to make sure all the sounds that come together in post-production are in sync and run smoothly. This includes stuff like the three primary elements: dialogue, music and other sound effects. They are sometimes known as track layers.
A good sound editor enhances the quality and continuity of the audio, and can really carry the storyline being played out on the screen by raising the tension or the comedic value.
What is a sound effect?
A sound effect is artificially created or enhanced sounds that can be played throughout the film to emphasize artistic or other content of films. For example the creator of the iconic lightsaber sound from Star Wars is Ben Burtt.
Examples of non-diegetic anddiegetic sound
In this scene there is non-diegetic sound. While Arthur walks up the stairs there is a melancholy sounding song in the background.
In this scene the sound is diegetic because you can hear the sound of the rain and the Joker can also hear the same, therefore it exists in the world.
Synchronous and Asynchronous Sound
Synchronous sound is sound that is matched with the action and movements being seen. Such as the sound of a water flow near a bank of water, punching sounds during a fight scene, and also character dialogue.
Whereas Asynchronous sound is sound that is not matched with a visible source of the sound on screen. This type of sound can be used when the director wants to create tension (as the audience can hearthe sound but not see it). For example when a character on screen is walking down a hallway and they hear a dog barking, yet there is no sign of a dog in the frame.
“A needle drop” in film refers to when a pre-existing song that is usually quite popular is used in the underscore for a certain scene. An example is “Where is My Mind?” in Fight Club.
The Foley Artist
This is a form of creating sound effects using an arsenal of props. They record in a sound-proof studio to produce a clearer sound, and they then layer it on top of images.
Leitmotif
This is a “short, recurring musical phrase” that is immediately associated with something. For example: setting– the Harry Potter theme, character– the Imperial March for Darth Vader, emotion- The Shire Theme in Lord of the Rings (when the characters are thinking of the Hobbiton), evolutions of character- the infamous Up theme (evolution from young life, to then an older life)
Sound bridges
A sound bridge is a type of sound editing that occurs when sound carries over a visual transition in a film.
Two examples of this is the L-Cut and the J-Cut:
Voice over / Narration
A voice over is a sound device where you can hear the voice of a character and/or narrator speaking but you cannot see them talking while being shown on screen. Narration can be first person, or “voice of god” style. In some cases, this narration and voice over can be unreliable, leading to interesting plot devices.
An example of this in films is The Shawshank Redemption, Taxi Driver and American Psycho.
Score and Underscore
The score of a film is the music specifically made and composed for a certain film. It is designed to match with the story of the film and has to make sense. This defers to a soundtrack which is music from other places chosen to appear in the film.
An underscore is when the music is played “underneath” sequences to enhance the mood of the scene or to dramatize something. Usually it is blended in with dialogue or other sound effects.
Sound Perspective
This refers to the apparent distance of a sound source, so when sound is being heard from a different perspective than what the “main” character can hear. It can be the sound in the foreground, and is a different sound than the one that is dominant.
My favourite soundtrack is from the Harry Potter movies because it is nostalgic and I think it fits really well into the universe of the movies- they all have a fantasy aspect to them and are all instantly recognisable, which is a sign of how iconic it is. In particular, I’m referring to “Hedwig’s Theme” which appears in all eight of the movies. The composer of this theme is John Williams.
I think the director did this to make the audience feel as if they are seeing directly from Chiron’s point of view, which helps them feel more emotionally involved as you can see the exact emotions that run through his mother’s face. It feels like she is talking directly to you, the viewer. The shot that was also used out of nowhere during the middle of the film, and the vivid change was successful in really making the audience feel like they had to truly focus and listen to the words she has to say. It’s emotionally fantastic and compelling.
This is a long shot (LS) and also a back shot.
The use of these shots really ties in with the coming-of-age genre as it seems like a reflective scene, with the characters back to the camera as he overlooks the sea. It not only adds depth and is a visually beautiful shot, but it creates an emotional impact without the audience even having to see Chiron’s facial expressions. The audience feel like they are seeing from afar as Chiron progresses through his life and learns lessons, making the audience feel connected to him.
This is an MCU shot (Medium close-up)
This shot is used in this particular scene so that both the character and the background can be seen with an equal presence, which is important because we need to see the emotions that Chiron is feeling after this very tense moment but we also need to see the setting that he is sitting in: the school office/nurse environment, which can highlight Chiron’s vulnerability.
Camera Angles
There are two examples of camera angles in this picture: on the top there is a lower angle, and on the bottom, there is a higher angle. Despite this being two different examples, they work together in the same scene to create a significant meaning- it not only shows the power-imbalance between mother and son but in the higher angle when Chiron is staring back at his mother, we can feel a sense of a little fear and alienation. It feels as if Chiron is completely disassociating while his mother screams and belittles him.
This is a low camera angle.
The director’s choice of using this angle in this particular shot is helpful to portray to the audience Juan’s disdain for Chiron’s mother as he looks down at her. It also makes her character seem a lot more inferior to his.
These are eye-level shots.
Used within the same scene, this type of angle while Chiron and Kevin stare at each other feels intimate. It feels, to the viewers, as if we are looking deeply into these characters as their emotions clearly run through their faces- Chiron’s perseverance mixed with Kevin’s guilt/fear. This can make the audience feel sympathy for them both. It also demonstrates how they are both fully focused on each other, as they sort of communicate silently.
Camera Movements
In this scene the camera freely tracks the characters.
This scene was filmed from a half-submerged perspective. The camera freely moves around Chiron and Juan while it dips and splashes in the water. This makes it feel as if we aren’t just watching the scene but actively participating in it; it feels intimate and it feels like we are there due to the tracking of the camera. Additionally, it is amidst a highly emotional and pivotal moment where Chiron is starting to finally trust this adult as he battles internal conflicts, and the waves that bounce through the camera are a direct portrayal of that journey.
In this screen the camera slowly pans to the right.
This is used so that the area where Chiron and his mother sit can slowly come into focus as we feel like an outsider to this private conversation. It sets up the location and shows how isolated the characters are.
In this scene the camera tracks out.
After his bully pushes him, the camera slowly starts to track out, in sync with the other students as they walk forwards, as Chiron stays back and starts to disappear from the frame. It’s a visual metaphor for the way Chiron is being treated at school, and in life in general, that tells the audience the conflict inside of him.
I think this was a beautiful film that touched upon a lot of deep and thought-provoking topics. I felt like the three actors throughout the film (showcasing the different stages of Chiron’s life) did a really good job at making the character feel like the same one, and each actor portrayed a different stage of Chiron’s life in a slightly different yet impactful way. The colouring of the movie was also so nice.
Memorable Scene:
For me a memorable scene was the fight scene between Kevin and Chiron. Before any violence happens, there’s a shot where the camera tracks Terrell as he circles Chiron menacingly, and then right after it centres on Kevin as he is being peer-pressured into punching Chiron. It’s an impactful scene, and it uses a lot of interesting shots to portray the deep feelings on the characters’ faces.
I chose this one because everything that is on Joker’s bedside table really represents his character- the gun could potentially be seen as foreshadowing or a hint of his madness. There are also cigarettes and a lighter which are precisely placed so that he can grab them at any time, portraying maybe his addiction. Finally, the newspaper on the floor is extremely significant as it is a silent way for the audience to understand what is going on within the world that this film takes place in (verisimilitude). It drives the narrative. It also raises tension, and the words “A new movement” are an indication of an underlying theme that the movie will address. Overall, it just makes the character feel more real and it connects the audience to the film much more.
Mise en scene element= Composition
This is the second screenshot, and it shows a lot of elements of mise en scene. Firstly, there is set design. In the alleyway there are plenty of trash bags that can be seen, just thrown carelessly, and this gives the impression that the city is dirty and filthy-this helps build the world that the film takes place in. Then there is also the poster which has graffiti painted on it that says “Resist” in an ominous black pen- this further emphasizes the feelings of the rioters in Gotham and adds to the story of the film. Finally, a wide-shot angle is used which makes the viewers feel like they are watching from afar as something very bad is about to happen, and the lighting is dim and dark, making it feel creepy.
Mise en scene element= Cinematography
In this shot, they are using a medium close-up shot (MCU). This shot is used to clearly show the emotions on Joker’s face in this specific scene while he hauntingly fakes a big smile while feeling the complete opposite. It focuses the viewer completely on the character as he is the central figure and helps them fully immerse themselves and understand.
Mise en scene element= Makeup and costume
The colours of Joker’s costume and makeup are stark and very vivid which add a lot of depth and visual impact- every time Joker is on the screen the audience is attracted to the bright colours so it’s very clear that Arthur is the focus. Also the makeup on Joker’s face can be seen as a metaphor for his hatred for society and how out of place he feels, like a joke, which clowns are seen as.
In comparison, at the beginning of the film the makeup and costume for Joker’s clown persona is much less serious looking and a bit goofy. The red nose can be seen as childlike, and the wig is misplaced and cheap looking- this can be seen as a reflection of Arthur’s feelings towards this terrible job. As we watch the costume develop throughout the movie, it tells the audience the story of Joker’s downfall spiral into the murderous character he becomes. It’s a subtle way of storytelling but it works very well.
What does Monaco mean by the term “The Spectrum of the Arts”?
The spectrum refers to the development of ‘art’ throughout decades of history, and it explains how eventually film and other sorts of recorded media found its own place within the form of art.
In the beginning, the ancients recognized History, Poetry, Comedy, Tragedy, Music, Dance and Astronomy as the seven forms of art. These forms were used as tools to understand the world and culture around them. As for the Greeks and Romans, they further categorized Poetry into three categories: Lyric, Dramatic, and Epic.
However, as centuries passed, changes to these aforementioned forms of art were made. Dance, for starters, was dropped from the list and replaced by Geometry, which marked the growing importance of mathematics and other more “scientific” forms. And in the twentieth century as the modernized version of science was developing, recorded media was starting to revolutionize.
Film became an entirely new art form in which there was a much more direct understanding between viewer and creator. Visually, film changed the way art could be consumed. Then, when sound and colour got created within films, marking the end of the silent film era, the art of cinematography really cemented its place in the so called “Spectrum of Arts”.
Critical Score: 6/10 Action-packed films aren’t my favourite genre. However, I think this film was interesting and it had a lot of moments that inspired fear. I had no beforehand knowledge of Joker’s backstory, and I think it was very shocking and explained a lot about his character. The contrast of his laugh to his true emotions was very well done and eerie. Also, I think the film was very visually pleasing and the dim lighting and bland colours added a lot to the atmosphere.
Memorable Scene: The scene on the train when the Joker kills the three men; it was the beginning of his descent into madness and the shaking of the camera while the train was rapidly moving displayed insanity well. It was also a very intense scene, and the dark lighting and ominous green helped the scary atmosphere. He was also in the clown costume when this happened and the mask itself is a representation of the Joker’s identity.
The Breakfast Club- I put this film into historically significant even though it is vastly different from the other ones in this category because I think it was a film that was one of a kind for the time (1985). The film greatly boosted the popularity of comedic, teen-centered films. And although the film isn’t necessarily an extremely deep film, it still followed mature themes and is still taught in schools today; it is very inspirational. The movie also won an Excellence Award in 2005.
The Bugs Life- I put this film in mainstream because it was produced by Pixar Animation Studios which is one of the biggest animation studios in the world, and it most likely expected to garner a lot of attention straight away. Additionally, it is a film made for families and this genre of movie usually can’t explore deep and important themes and they strive to keep everything light-hearted and comedic. It is also not the best animation film put out there.
