Film Noir is a cinematic term used to describe a specific type of film in Hollywood: stylized crime dramas, particularly those that have a mood of pessimism, fatalism and cynical attitudes. The 1940s and 1950s are regarded as the “classic period” of American film noir.
Some examples are=
In a Lonely Place (Nicholas Ray, 1950)
And Double Indemnity (Billy Wilder, 1944)
There is also the “Neo Noir” type of film which contains the visual style and themes of classic film noir but with an added modern sensibility. They also contain graphic displays of violence and sexuality.
I gave the film this rating because I think that it was unexpectedly enjoyable as it was comedic with genuinely funny moments, the characters (despite a little flawed) were good to watch, and I think the narrative story of the film stayed very focused. But mostly the dialogue in this film stood out to me; it was sharp and every word mattered and added something new.
Memorable Scene
For me, I think the one scene that stood out particularly was the scene where Ilsa asks Sam to play her a song that related her to Rick. I think that it was just a very well-done scene, and not only was the score incredibly beautiful but it is an extremely iconic scene too.
1. Why did film makers and producers move to Hollywood?
Typically film makers, producers and people interested in the business moved to Hollywood as it presented the most opportunities, and it also became known as the “capital of the film industry”. This city was chosen specifically for its consistent climate which allowed for more lenient filming and to avoid the costs of Edison’s patents.
2. Name some of the big stars, directors and pictures from the Silent Era of Hollywood? (at least TWO of each)
Firstly, the most famous and iconic star of this era was Charlie Chaplin, an English actor and director most known for his character of The Tramp. Another famous actress was Clara Bow who rose to fame in the 1920s and was known as the “It Girl”. For directors, Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau and David Wark Griffith were highly regarded and known.
3.In what ways were the early Hollywood studio system like a factory or production line or even the Premier League (football)?
This is because they worked in similar ways: the studio system operated like a factory with stars, directors, writers, and crew all working under long-term contracts.
4.When and what was the first “talking picture”?
The first ever “talking picture” or “talkie” was The Jazz Singer which premiered on the 6th of October 1927. It was made with the Vitaphone which was at the time the leading brand of sound-on-disc technology.
5.Why did the end of the silent era cause problems for some performers working in the film industry?
The end of the silent era was catastrophic for many performers in the film industry at the time because when “talkies” began becoming popular many actors and actresses either didn’t understand the technology involved to productively work or directors/producers thought their voice didn’t fit the film.
6.What was happening in America(and around the world) at this time?
The first World War and the Wallstreet Crash, which was an economic disaster for Americans in the 1920’s and eventually also led to the Great Depression.
The Hollywood Studio System
Classical Hollywood Style
The invisible style of storytelling refers to the classical Hollywood filmmaking technique that aims to conceal artistic choices and present a natural story to the audience.
Shaun, as a young person is represented in this film as being a vulnerable and impressionable boy that can easily adapt to what others say to him. He is easily influenced by Combo’s ideologies which is a real representation of how so many real young people in the real world start to fall into far-right ideas. But at the end he shows that it is still possible for young people to change. Shaun is also seen as a victim of circumstance, of the social and political problems happening around him as he is rightly clueless.
Older People
Shaun’s mum throughout the film is the only parental figure seen that doesn’t manipulate Shaun’s vulnerability and constantly supports him. She can be seen as a positive light for Shaun, especially when she talks with Shaun about his dead father and offers help. She is seen as a responsible, caring mother.
This differs to Combo who, for Shaun, seems to fill in the void that Shaun’s biological father left when he passed away. Combo is represented as an adult who is angry and very outspoken- he doesn’t sway in his ideas and wants to spread them around. He may think of himself as a hero for Shaun, but actually he is a manipulative figure that used his authority due to his age to pick on Shaun’s insecurities and lack of a parent. He is not responsible, and is not a good representative for what an adult should be and do.
Class
All of the characters in This is England represent the lower working class. We see them navigate their childhoods while in this class and this is reflective of the director’s own experiences. For Shaun, we see the drawbacks of his own poverty reflected in the mise en scène in his bedroom- the chair as a bedside table, the dim lights and the décor in bad condition.
Black People
Milky is the victim of racism in This is England. He represents the views held by many English people in the 1980s, and when he is brutally beat up by Combo, we see the extent of the deep hatred. However, he explains how he has a good and big family around him, and him and Combo even find a point to relate on when they discuss music, but Combo’s racist views eventually prevails.
I think aesthetics refers to how a world or character is presented to the viewer and the story it tells through that. It refers to the overall style of the film and the feel of it and the themes it may present.
Realism
Verisimilitude in film is “similarity to the truth”- the appearance of something being true or real- and in film is how much the viewer can believe that something truly takes place in the film.
I put the Dead Poets Society (1989) because it is a good representation of being a student in a private school in the 60’s and just the timeframe of that period.
Social-Realism
This sub-genre of realism seeks to capture society in a specific and accurate way and aims to to draw attention to socio-political conditions of the working class to critique the power structures behind it.
I chose Billy Elliot (2000) as my example for social realism in a film because it includes a realist depiction of British people and society and it explores certain socio-political conditions such as the 1984’s miners strike, gender stereotypes and the problem of police violence.
Magic Realism
Magic-Realism is a genre that portrays fantastical events in a realistic tone. It works with tales such as fables, myths, and folk stories. However despite the fantasy elements, magic-realism maintains a realistic view of the world so well that in some cases it blurs the line of speculation and reality.
The Princess Bride (1987) is my example for magic realism because it has a wide variety of fantastical elements such as fairy tales, knights and magic, but it also maintains a heavily realistic tone throughout the whole movie and is not fully fantasy.
Hyper Realism
This is a genre in which what is real and what is fiction are seamlessly blended together so that there is no clear distinction between one ends and where another begins.
Visual Style
Iconography = This is the visual images and symbols used in a work of art or the study or interpretation of things. For examplethe lamb which represents Christ and the dove which represents the Holy Spirit.
Intertextual Referencing = This is the point where two works of art overlap- such as reusing its ideas and meanings and making it something of their own. Since art is so subjective it is very common for this to happen.
Visual/Sound Motifs = This is a recurring visual or sound that occurs in a film. This can help add story to the film or let the viewer be aware of a characters feelings.
Colour Grading = This involves adjusting and enhancing the colours and tones of a film to create a specific mood or atmosphere.
Auteur Trademarks = This is when a film-maker has a very distinctive and personal style that is reflected within their creative choices. This is also due to them having full authority over their films. There are many examples of this, such as Sofia Coppola’s focus on women with a pastel, elegant palette, Quentin Tarantino’s non-linear storytelling and sharp dialogue, and most distinctively Wes Anderson’s vibrant and quirky style:
Tone
Pathos = This is an appeal to an audience’s emotion- it purposely evoking strong emotions within them like anger or sadness. This can be in forms of inspirational music in the background or just dialogue.
Bathos = Bathos is a sudden, often humorous drop in tone during an anti-climax. It usually appears in satirical genres or used for intentional comedic effect.
Suspense = This is a common technique used in many films to evoke an audience’s excited anticipation about plot or conflict or to heighten an eerie, scary scene. It elevates tension and is a very good use of tone.
Comedy = Comedy in film is not only a genre but it is also used in other non-comedic films to elicit laughter from an audience and to lighten the mood in stressful moments. There can usually be a comedic-relief character that fills in this role. There are plenty examples of comedic films such as Step Brothers, 21 Jump Street, Zoolander and Airplane!
Dramatic Irony = Simply put, this is when the audience knows something that the characters in the film do not. An example would be a character in a horror going into a room where we know the killer awaits.
Distancing Effect (Verfremdung) = This is also known as “alienating an audience” and can also be shortened to the “v effect”. Invented by playwright Bertolt Brecht, he wanted to ‘distance’ the audience away from the action so that they could not feel emotionally invested in the characters but rather reach an intellectual understanding with them.
Postmodern Humour = Typically this refers to to humour that features jokes about serious topics like murder or war to make light of the topic. It is a fiction that deals with depressing complexities of modern life in a humorous tone. A film most known for this is Blade Runner (1982) by Ridley Scott.
“Has a potentially cathartic effect on the spectator.”
“Been encouraged to sympathise with Arthur’s point of view as a victim of circumstance.”
“Stylised use.”
“This is particularly evident.”
“Enables the spectator.”
2.) Diegetic sound refers to any sound that comes from within the world of the film either on-screen or off-screen. For example, the sound of cars on a busy street or the sound of live music at a festival (drums, guitars etc). It always happens the same time that the action takes place.
3.) Cathartic effect is a process of releasing negative emotions like grief, anger or sadness. The effect of a catharsis can be caused from good writing of dialogue in the film or an emotionally-moving scene that produces high emotions.
4.) Reframing in this context is when the character changes in the view of the spectator maybe because of something they might’ve went through, or just because of a general drastic change.
5.) Identify the PEEL (Point, evidence, explain, link)
Throughout Joker, cinematography is used effectively to create a sense of chaos within the film’s diegetic world. This is particularly evident in the scene towards the end of the film where Arthur is shown in a low- angle, close-up looking out of the police car window and reacting with glee at the riots taking place around him. Here, the camera is used to position the spectator as not only connecting with Arthur, but now looking up to him. This suggests to the spectator that the tables have turned and Arthur, who was earlier depicted as pathetic and sad, is now depicted as powerful and heroic. This “reframing” of the central character” has a potentially cathartic effect on the spectator who has, up until this point, been encouraged to sympathise with Arthur’s point of view as a victim of circumstance. The deliberate and stylised use of this slow-motion reaction shot, enables the spectator to get a sense of poetic justice being served: Arthur is now on his way to prison.
Critical Score8.5/10 I gave the film this score because not only was I thoroughly invested in all the characters throughout the entire film- especially Sean and his development- I also loved how accurately the film seemed to depict British culture with the dialogue, setting and mise en scene. I also liked how the film included the aspect of British politics around the time frame it was set, and how they used montages at the beginning and the end to explain the politics and helped establish verisimilitude.
Memorable Scene My favourite scene is the very last one at the end of the film where Sean takes the same walk that he took at the beginning of the film, except this time he has changed as a person and gone through a lot. The audience can tell that he is reflecting over all that had happened to him, and it’s a deep moment when he throws the flag of England that Combo gave him into the ocean; this reflects his feelings about the country he lives in and the anger he may feel. And this all happens with a cover song from the British band The Smiths “Please please please let me get what I want.” playing in the back which adds more emotional depth to the moment.
All aspects of film form including narrative contribute to the representations of cultures and societies (gender, ethnicity, and age) including the ideological nature of those representations.
Performance
Can cover: age, ethnicity, facial expression of character and body language, costume.
Stereotypes = A stereotype is a fixed general image or set of characteristics that a lot of people believe represent a particular type of person or thing.
Countertype = An opposite type or a parallel or corresponding type.
An example of a countertype in film would be the character of Sarah Connor in the Terminator I and II. In the first film she is the typical stereotype of a clumsy American actress, however she has a drastic change in the second film where she becomes a typical action movie heroine sort of character.
Representation in Trainspotting
1. WHO IS DOING THE REPRESENTATION? (DIRECTOR’S VIEWPOINT)
Renton and his group of friends – By Danny Boyle.
2.WHO IS BEING REPRESENTED ? (Identify specific social groups)
They are being represented as a group of delinquent white Scottish men that are addicted to drugs- specifically heroin. Also: the lower class, parents, adults.
3.WHAT SOCIAL GROUPS ARE OMITTED FROM THE REPRESENTATIONS?
People of colour, the upper class and women.
4.WHAT MESSAGES ABOUT PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUPS ARE BEING CONVEYED?
The message of how an addiction to drugs can ruin a persons life, and the power and influence of it. It’s a social commentary that shows the unglamorous part of drugs that is not often shown.
5.WHICH CHARACTERS OR SOCIAL GROUPS HAVE POWER WITHIN THE REPRESENTATIONS?
The characters that provide them with the drugs such as “Mother Superior” Swanney (Peter Mullan). Also the police force and Renton’s parents.
6.DO THE CHARACTERS ADHERE TO OR CHALLENGE STEREOTYPES?
I’d say that yes, Renton and his friends represent the typical stereotype of a drug addict very well and this is supported by the mise en scène, the setting, the costumes and the cinematography.
7.ARE THE CHARACTERS TYPICAL OF FILMS IN THAT GENRE?
The main genres of Trainspotting is crime/drama and to an extent the character subtype of a drug addict could be typical for it.
8.WHAT DO REPRESENTATIONS TELL AUDIENCES ABOUT SOCIETY AT THE TIME THE FILM WAS MADE AND/OR SET?
Representations such as gender, age and race can tell the audience a lot about the time was made/set because of the way they behave, the stereotypes they adhere to (like women being housewives in the 1900s) and the way others react to them. It helps make the film feel real when there is a specific date to its timeline. Certain representations, such as working class people vs higher class people can also tell a story about the society within a film and tell the audience how their world works.
^ In this image older people are being represented. More specifically, Renton’s parents. The audience watch as Renton is being almost infantilised as his parents tuck him into his own bed and take care of him. This presents them as responsible and neat, they are the target type of “adult” that Renton and his friends should aim to be instead of drug addicts. And for their outfits, they are dressed all smartly and clean amidst Renton’s dark and shabby room while he is dressed in clothes from the day before- this shows the stark difference between them and the lives they both live.
Critical Score 6/10 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.
