Weekly film analysis: Hardcore Henry (2015)

‘Henry is resurrected from death with no memory, and he must save his wife from a telekinetic warlord with a plan to bio-engineer soldiers.’

Hardcore Henry was a 2015 Russian- American science fiction film written, co-produced and directed by IIya Naishuller and produced by Timur Bekmambetov. The themes of this film were mystery, death, violence, betrayal, etc. The production companies of this were Huayi Brothers Pictures and distributed by STX Entertainment. The language was set in mostly Russian and English. The budget of this film was $2-3 million and had a great box office of $14.3 million.

What makes this film stand out was that it was shot from a first-person perspective, which attracted a large audience range, especially people that enjoy FPOV video games. It made the film hugely engaging, making the audience feel as they was put on the spot of being Henry throughout the whole film.

The film starts off with a group of boys  bullying him, then goes in with the film credits showing red lighted scenes of guns, man being punched, already indicating that this film relates to violence, and death. The red shots could foreshadow danger of what’s about to come.  He finds himself awake in a bath found in a laboratory with a female scientist who later claims to be his wife. Already expressing the theme of love, makes the audience question why his wife wanted him back and why in a robotic form? Audience may question, why is his qualities needed? Both the wife and he is the protagonist and the antagonist would be Akan. Performance is used to show Akan’s qualities of being psychokinetic, which empowers his ‘villain like’ qualities, making us realise why Akan would want to take control of Henry and use him as his own. Towards the end of the film, the audience uncovers that his wife wasn’t actually his wife and was actually Akan’s wife who used her to set him up to betray him. Again, the micro feature of ‘performance’ makes it indicative nobody could be trusted and that Estelle was just used to manipulate soldiers like Henry. 

Weekly Film Analysis: Dorian Gray (2009)

Picture of Dorian Grey (2009)

‘Young and powerful Dorian found himself slipping deeper and deeper into a world of sin, sex and celebrity, seemingly without any consequences. But a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all. How long can he hide the secret behind his eternal youth?’

Dorian Gray is a 2009 British fantasy drama and the themes that run throughout this film was love, hate, identity crisis, youth, beauty, sin, etc. This film was based on the novel of Oscar Wilde written in 1890.  This version was directed by Oliver Parker, written by Toby Finlay and cinematography by Roger Pratt. Production companies of this film were UK Film Council and distributed by Momentum Pictures. The location of the film was set in the UK and competed in the Official Fantastic competition in the Sites Film Festival. The box office of this was $22,410, 097 given the fact that the film already had a massive audience from the novel.

The use of performance showed by the protagonist (Dorian) portrays his naivety and innocence as he wasn’t aware of the lustful world out there. Lord Henry Wotton is the antagonist who influences Dorian into his bad behaviour making him become more sinful with his dignity. Lord Henry paints a picture of Dorian Gray, and the audience learn that Lord Henry actually falls in love with the beauty of his picture and makes Dorian feel that his beauty is all that matters in this society. The contradiction of homosexuality and the time zone of Victorian times was a complete contrast as being gay wasn’t acceptable in society.  Furthermore, the use of the protagonist Sybil made Dorian realise that he was led astray by Lord Henry by going to a brothel- she killed herself. Historically, women who had sex before marriage was seen as impure and drown themselves in the river- so she did and Dorian hit reality realising that she was also pregnant with his child. Performance also showed that Lord Henry had control over Dorian highly as he made him believe that the death of Sybil was an ‘experience to be learnt from, to make a man stronger’.

Mis en scene was highlighted by the picture of Dorian Gray. When Sybil died, Dorian looked at his painting and saw a maggot poke out of the painting of his eye, suggesting that his eyes are not seeing the harsh reality of misery he put Sybil through. Furthermore, the use of maggot coming out of the paintings eye could indicate that he needs to realise he’s under the influence f Lord Henry and that he needs to ‘open his eyes’.

'71 Analysis

‘A young British soldier is accidentally abandoned by his unit following a terrifying riot on the streets of Belfast in 1971. Unable to tell friend from foe, the raw recruit must survive the night alone and find his way to safety through a disorienting, alien and deadly landscape.’

is a 2014 British historical film in Northern Ireland and the themes  that runs throughout this film was war, brotherhood, violence, hate, etc. This was written by Gregory Burke and directed by Yann Demange. The production companies of this film were Film4, BFI Film Fund, Warp Film and distributed by StudioCanal. The budget of the film is £8.1 million and the box office of it is $3.2 million. Although a low box office, this film had a 96% rating of positives review by Rotten Tomatoes. The location of the film was set in Blackburn, Lancashire and continued in Sheffield and Liverpool.

Throughout the film the use of the microelement mis-en-scene shows the audience what type of environment they’re watching. This is shown through their military uniform, instantly making the audience aware it’s a war based film involving violence and conflict. This is also shown through their weapons/equipment and how they lacked it, showing how long-standing the history of the film is- as modern day soldiers are usually fully equipped. Furthermore, the public were wearing very old fashioned clothing giving the audience an insight of the time zone again. Moreover, the use of the colour in the scene (where he’s running away from the war) is shown in a grey tone, making the scene look very dusty, giving the themes of war, violence and fear. This is also shown through performance; the actors had an accent, which makes the film look more believable in the location it was set in.  The use of the soldiers little brother also shows the innocent backgrounds of the soldiers’ lives and how they actually have other meanings behind their life rather than fighting in a war. The theme shown through this was brotherhood, love and family. 

Weekly Film Analysis: Gone Girl (2014)

Gone girl is a 2014 American psychological thriller and the themes that run throughout this film are lust, love, hate, revenge, disturbance, etc. This film was directed by David Fincher, written by Gillian Flynn based on the 2012 novel. This film stars the famous Ben Affleck (male protagonist) and Rosemund Pike (female antagonist).  The company productions of this film were Regency Enterprises and distributed by 20^th Century Fox. The film was located in the United States, budget of the film was $61 million and box office came out to be $389.3 million. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 88%, based on 281 reviews, with a rating average of 8/10. The site read: "Dark, intelligent, and stylish to a fault, Gone Girl plays to the strengths of director David Fincher while bringing the best out of stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike”.

 

The scene starts with 20th century fox. The scene then starts with a narrative structure of a man talking about his wife, and stroking her head. Already, this shows the wife’s vulnerability and his dominance through performance. This is shown when she looks up to the camera, showing that the audience is in the eyes of the husband. He states ‘I picture cracking her lovely skull’ making him sound like he wants to kill her, making her look like the victim. In contrast, as the film goes on, we discover that the wife made him a diary to make him look like he kidnapped her when she was ‘gone’. This made him look like the culprit and really illuminated to the audience that the husband was the victim after all.

The use of light is used to show Amy’s dark, mentally ill behavior. A wide shot presents this clearly when she is facing her husband and one side of her face is shadowed. This gives an indication to the audience that half of her is innocent, vulnerable and kind and the other side shows that she is evil, dark, even potentially foreshadowing what she is capable of in this film. The microelement of performance shows that Amy is the antagonist as Nick tries to escape her psychotic behaviour as he found out what she is capable of and Amy reveals she is pregnant, having artificially inseminated herself with Nick's sperm stored at a fertility clinic. Nick doubts the child is his and says he will undertake a paternity test. Nick reacts violently to Amy's firmness that they remain married, but feels responsible for the child. Despite nick’s objections, he reluctantly decides to stay with Amy. The "happy" couple announces on television that they are having a child. The theme presented here is isolation, trapped and fear as he couldn’t leave her due to a child.

 

Prezi: US Films

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Prezi: British Films

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Weekly Film Analysis: Brotherhood 2016

‘First, there was Kidulthood, then Adulthood, and now comes Noel Clarke's last instalment: Brotherhood. With Sam facing up to the new world, he realizes it also comes with new problems and new challenges that he must face that he knows, will require old friends to help him survive new dangers.’

Brotherhood is a British Drama and the themes that run throughout this film is exploitation, money, revenge, greed, crime, family, betrayal, love and loss. This film was made in 2016, made a spinoff of the film Adulthood. This was written and directed by Noel Clarke who also starred as the male protagonist of this film, cinematography by Aaron Reid and music by Tom Linden. The location of the film was set in United Kingdom. This was distributed by Lionsgate (UK)and was screened at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.

Story was based on gang violence, knowing the storyline of Adulthood, Sam (protagonist) realises that his remorseful past catches up to him, involving his family as his weakness to get into the old lifestyle he had. In the opening scene, shows Sam matured and not like how he was presented in Adulthood. This scene uses flashback scenes from Adulthood to give a sort of recap to the audience, in order for them to link the stories together. The last flash back scene is of Sam with blood dripping down his face, which suggests that the darkness around him connotes that the ‘old sam’ has died and that he has a new beginning. The scene cuts off saying ’10 years later’ showing the audience a new time zone and a new generation of teenagers involved in this lifestyle, which potentially foreshadows already that his past is catching up to him. The next scene shows people at the ages around 18-24 at a gig dancing, contrasting performance of urban rappers, hip hop jazz music being played.  As the performance goes on, a young boy shoots the main star, also known as Sam’s brother and leaves a note saying ‘for Sam Pell’.

Already, in six minutes we uncover a lot about Sam. Wide shots of the estate and trains going past gives the audience an insight of where Sam and his family live, which links to the reality of crime and social realism. It then shows Sam travelling to different places as a cleaner, kitchen worker, etc. showing that he is working hard in the right way.  A wide shot view shows Sam looking into the mirror at Gym; he slaps the fat on his belly as humorous encounter, showing his new life is what he’s happy with. Mis en scene is used to show a family portrait of his wife and children, signifying why he is working hard and his maturity have developed as he is a father.  His wife states that he is very involved with his work and isn’t physically there for his children and wants to be surprised at a brunch they go to in the morning. Towards the end of the film when he goes through all his loss, challenges and fights, he splits the money with his brother, friend from past, and his wife, he goes to see her at the morning brunch they go to, which signified that he’s finally here for his children and wasn’t there before as he was protecting them against his past. 

800 Words: Comparing American Films

Comparison of American films, ‘Inglorious Basterds’ and ‘miracle of St Anna’

Both films, ‘miracle of St Anna’ and ‘inglorious Bastards’ is both war reality based stories. They share varied similarities such as the themes of war, love, crime, religion, violence, etc. they also both share the underlining meaning of how the Nazi treated these people in war. The key theme in both films would be revenge.

 ‘Miracle of St Anna’ was an American-Italian war film, the genre is a historical fiction and the themes that ran throughout this film were violence, war, family, betrayal, unloyalty, sacrifice, reality, friendship and love. This film was made in 2008 and directed by Spike Lee, also adapted by the 2003 novel by James McBride. The location of this film was set in Italy mainly and in the United States.  The production companies of this film are Touchstone Pictures, 40 Acres and a Mule Film works and RAI Cinema, and were distributed Walt Disney Studios and Motion Pictures. The budget of this film was $45 million and box office was 19.4 million- this was a box office disappointment, but gained a further $10.1 million from DVD sales. ‘Inglorious Bastards’ was an American-German film made in 2009 and the genre of this film is War. The themes that ran throughout this film were violence, revenge, conflict, discrimination, etc. This film was directed and written by Quentin Tarantino, produced by Lawrence Bender and cinematography by Robert Richardson.  The production company of this film was A Band Apart, Studio Babelsberg and distributed by The Weinstein Company and Universal Pictures. The budget of the film was $70 million and made a box office at $321.5 million.  The location of the film is in England and Germany and most of the languages were set in English, German and French.

Both films share the theme of war. This is shown in ‘miracle of St Anna’ through the performance of the soldiers, the black American soldiers fighting for their country. This is also shown through the Italian family, making the audience aware that it wasn’t just a war targeting Jews, or the non-Arian race; it was also affecting the Italian, showing innocent neighbourhoods of Tuscany died. Furthermore, this is shown through Black Americans and how racism was still happening as their sergeant behaved as if he was superior and looked down upon the black soldiers.  This is also shown through ‘inglorious Basterds’  showing the harsh realities of abolishing Jews, this was showcased in the very beginning scene when the Colonel asked whether or not the man was hiding Jews; instantly shoots the floorboards where they was hiding. Also, this is shown through the ‘Basterds’ themselves by making a group to attack the Nazi soldiers, which shows their view of their revenge. Again, this indicates from the Jews perspective that they’re fighting back, wanting revenge and fighting for their rights.  Furthermore, the theme of war is presented in terms of how the French was hiding the Jews, the shows a sense of defence and how they’re protecting the Jews; indicating that there was people out there trying to save the Jews, including the ‘Basterds’ .

Additionally, both films share the similarity of having multi protagonist, making the audience see the views from every perspective. In ‘miracle of St Anna, the multi protagonists was the black American soldiers, as they was trying to fight for their country, all supporting and protecting the Italians. Furthermore, the little boy Angelo wanted freedom, he was a Jew whose family was killed in a massacre, which he escaped and protected by the soldiers who took him in as their own.  Moreover, the Italians were the protagonists as they also wanted freedom and supported the American by hiding them in. In addition, ‘inglorious Basterds’ presents this through the ‘Basterds’ themselves as their goal is to seek revenge in defence for the Jews.  This indicates that there were groups that sacrificed their lives like the Bastards to save the Jews.  Furthermore, another protagonist would be Shosanna, who survived the attack when Colonel (also known as the ‘Jew hunter’) visited the house hiding Shosanna and her family. Later in the film, we notice that Shosanna owns her own theatre where the Nazi’s wanted to visit the premier, including Hitler, and her motive was to kill the Nazis, along with the Bastards. We also uncover that the antagonist in both films is Hitler as his only goal was to take over parts of Europe and abolish many races including the black Americans, Italians and Jews.

800 Words: British Film comparison

Comparing three British films and the themes they all share in common.

The three films I am comparing are ‘the selfish giant’ by Clio Barnard, ‘my brother the devil’ by Sally El Hosaini and ‘fish tank’ by Andrea Arnold as I believe them all share similar themes.

Firstly, the theme of poverty is showcased throughout all films. This is shown in ‘the selfish giant’ when Arbor and Swifty sell copper wires and giving the money to their parents. This micro element of ‘performance’ shows that these young boys feel responsible to look after their families, and don’t have a childish mind-set with the way they deal with money and show their knowledge of the poverty they’re living in. Furthermore, the microelement ‘mis en scene’ suggest that the boys wear the same tracksuit for a few days getting dirtier and dirtier by the minute, this indicates again that they’re poor and don’t have enough money to keep clean and wear fresh clothes. This is also shown in ‘my brother the devil’ when Mo’s Mother pulls out the only £20 she had in her purse to give to him when they ran out of electricity.  The microelement of ‘light’ being very dark showing their lives are in an isolated place trapped in poverty. Also, the use of ‘performance’ showing Mo’s emotions when his mother gives him the money indicates his awareness that they’re in poverty, which then motivates him into selling drugs to prove for his family. Moreover, poverty is shown in ‘fish tank’ when Mia looks out the window of the view of her area of block buildings, and shows her from the window and the typical ‘mis en scene’ of an estate showing she’s trapped in this estate due to poverty. Furthermore, this is shown through ‘performance’ when Mia steals money from the step dad, showing no remorse when taking the money.

Secondly, the theme of relationships is shown throughout these films. This is shown in ‘the selfish giant’ through Arbor and Swifty, they show a strong sense of friendship, and stuck by each other to get money up until Swifty died. The microelement ‘performance’ showed Arbor’s emotions in tragedy when his best friend died.  This is also shown in ‘my brother the devil’ through Rash and Mo, they show a strong sense of brotherhood. This is showcased when Mo took a bullet to the arm lying to the friend that wanted to kill Rash. This is also shown when Rash strongly permits to his friends that he doesn’t want his brother involved in his lifestyle, Rash indicated the responsibility and protectiveness of his little brother, Mo.  Furthermore, this is shown in ‘fish tank’ when Mia and her little sister hug before she leaves. Even though they portrayed they didn’t get along, they made the audience aware they shared a hate and love relationship, the little sister cries featuring the micro element of ‘performance’ that she loves her sister dearly. This is also shown when her and her mother dance, it was their way of saying goodbye, even though they showed no mother and daughter bond, the ‘performance’ of dance was effective
indicating their love.

Lastly, the theme of escapism is shown throughout these films. This is shown in ‘the selfish giant’ when Arbor and Swifty kept digging for copper wire to get money and ‘escape’ poverty. This illuminates that the boys have had enough of their lifestyle, wanting to change and get out of it. This is also shown in ‘my brother the devil’ when Rash does all he can to leave his lifestyle and is demonstrated when he packs his bags and leaves with Syed.  This indicates that he is happy with Syed and after all the years not knowing his true reality he felt trapped and unhappy, when he leaves his family indicates that he has found a better life. Furthermore this is shown through Mia, when she finds her way of escaping the estate through her friend that wants to take her to Wales, she doesn’t hesitate at all and packs her bags to leave. This presents that she was trapped in the house she was in, due to her age, poverty and family problems-  hence the name ‘fish tank’ the fish connotes Mia and that she is trapped in the ‘tank’ and can’t leave.

Another Tarantino movie: Django unchained

Django unchained (2012)

“With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner”.

This is an American western film and themes that ran throughout this film were racism, discrimination, conflict, etc. Quentin Tarantino directed this, produced by Stacey Sher and cinematography by Robert Richardson. Company production is the Weinstein Company and Columbia pictures and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing.  The location of this film was set in the United States. The budget of the film was $100 million and the box office was $425.4 million. This film won five academy awards, BAFTA award, etc.

Already in the opening scene, it displays a wide shot of a hot deserted island, already setting the location. This element is mis-en-scene making the audience feel set in the location with them. Through the scene, black men with scars on their back are walking in line shows already that this film has got to do with the historical context of black slavery in America. The microelement of performance, close up shots of their expressions show that they’re miserable and depressed about their treatment, already making the audience piece together what this film is going to be about. This all changes grandually when Django gains class each time.  Performance and his are mis-en-scene show the audience how he has developed over time from being a slave to becoming a hunter. This film had a cyclical structure for ‘what comes around, goes around’. 

Inglourious Basterds analysis

Inglorious Basterds

This is an American-German film made in 2009 and the genre of this film is War. The themes that ran throughout this film were violence, revenge, conflict, discrimination, etc. This film was directed and written by Quentin Tarantino, produced by Lawrence Bender and cinematography by Robert Richardson.  The production company of this film was A Band Apart, Studio Babelsberg and distributed by The Weinstein Company and Universal Pictures. The budget of the film was $70 million and made a box office at $321.5 million.  The location of the film is in England and Germany and most of the languages were set in English, German and French.

The scene opens with the title, directors and company production credits. It then says ‘chapter 1, once upon a time in Nazi occupied France’ already showing that it is a Nazi based story. Already from the word ‘Nazi’ suggests that this is a war like film involving Hitler, the holocaust and features involving WW2.  The scene opens up with a wide shot view of a house based in a farm with cows, green field and a man axing a tree down.  The scene then presents a woman hanging laundry, then noticing a vehicle coming their way from a far distance. The micro feature of performance is used by the woman presenting her fear when seeing the vehicles and also by communicating with the man the audience first saw at the beginning.  The close up shot of their face shows how they feel fearful, potentially foreshadowing something to occur in the film.

The audience notice that it is the colonel visiting this family, already performance and mis-en-scene with

their military clothing shows why such a superior man is coming to a man that lives in a farm.  The colonel clearly asks the owner whether he is hiding any Jews in his house, the man denies it and a camera shot shows that he is hiding Jews beneath his floorboards, again shows why these German soldiers are here. The soldier continues to interrogate the man showing his dominance through performance.  The man gives up and tells him that he is hiding Jews, close up shot showing his fear and his face about to tremble when he tells the colonel. Making the audience understand and feel sympathetic.