Eye to eye and face to face is where Harmonica and Frank found themselves. They were both seconds away from pulling the trigger, but who draws first is the question? This grand showdown was produced by one of the best western directors in the game. His name is Sergio Leone. Sergio Leone combined the smallest and largest details to create a “spaghetti western” movie. The so called “Spaghetti western” film that I will be focusing on will be, Once Upon a Time in the West. I found that Leone is very precise with his facts about the historical western era plus his ability to put us in the setting of the film. Leone demonstrates in this film how he brings together the different camera angles, the mise-en-scene, but also the musical composition aspect …show more content…
of the movie. I felt that during the movie I was watching two separate films, but with Leone’s artistic ability he combined two films into one terrific movie. In this movie, I want to discuss how the film resolves Frank’s character with Harmonica at the end, and also want to focus on how Leone paints archetypes in the movie, and the predominant themes such as the good-vs-evil, the revenge, and how Frank and Harmonica are making the west. The archetypes that I found to be quite interesting is the one Leone paints as the good-vs-evil, but also I considered the theme of revenge to be in place as well in both of the main characters in this film.
The death of Frank is symbolic to the death of Harmonica’s brother in many reasons. The death of Frank provides Harmonica a sense of justice and revenge. I add the revenge part into the scenario, because Harmonica feels that Frank took away his brother from him, so by taking Frank’s life Harmonica feels that he is getting the payback he deserved. For example, at the beginning of the flashback, Frank plots to kill Harmonica’s brother with Harmonica carrying out the actions. Harmonica’s justification for Frank’s death is very fitting. To me, the good in this movie prevails to defeat the evil in the movie, but paints the way for the final dual scene between Harmonica and Frank. Frank and Harmonica were the last of the “gunslingers” in the movie, and this was critical to the west. The men were the ones who settled that land and expanded the …show more content…
west. One of the many details that I noticed throughout this film was the different camera angles and how it made a difference in the film.
In the opening scene, the camera zooms out to focus on both the men individually. The camera switches focus back and forth from Harmonica to Frank. The camera views the men from their faces to the whole body picture. By doing this effect to the men’s character it builds suspense on who may or may not fire first in the movie. Throughout, the beginning moments of the duel, the camera angles follows both men capturing them both, but the while the camera angle is facing both of the men I can see the emotional expressions in each of their faces. In Harmonica’s face, I see revenge, hurt, but also a man of much courage and bravery to defeat a man who had him kill his brother. In Frank’s expression I see a man of much confusion since at this point in time he still does not truly recognize who Harmonica is. Both men lead to a very suspenseful, but meaningful ending to the movie. I can sense violence in the future by the way the camera was used. The camera angles allowed Leone to depict a scene of terror, but builds the bigger picture of what Leone intended for it to be. I feel that movement was also a major key in the film. Right before, the men start to approach one another Frank begins to take off his coat and throw it to the grown. From this, Frank realizes that he is going to have to face the consequences of his actions, and be a man about it. I
noticed that Frank moves a lot while standing face to face with Harmonica. Frank, to me, is weighing his pros and cons of the situation. In other words, I feel that he just living in the moment and choosing his fate. On the other hand, for Harmonica, he to me is just patiently monitoring the situation, waiting for that right moment to strike. The camera follows the movement of the men closely and provides the different emotional aspects plus the gravity of the situation. The last thing that I noticed for camera angles would be at about 2:26, the camera zooms in straight to those blue eyes of Harmonica, and this reminds Harmonica of the job at hand that he has to take care of. The movie had two complete characters who were complete opposites of each other in most regards. Harmonica was a cowboy who was a gunslinger with a determined outlook on life. The way he looked at like compared to Frank truly deciphered the differences between the two men in this film. Then you have Frank, who to me is a bandit on the run, but a very crucial character to this film. The climax of the movie was the flashback that Harmonica had of Frank and how it ties the movie together. The flashback resolves the tension between Frank and Harmonica in a modern cinematic way. The flashback is a very powerful, and influential moment that provided a sense of comfort for Harmonica. I see a cathartic act, and more or less this process is a circle of death from redemption to death. The musical composition involved with this movie is written by Ennio morricone. The soundtrack of this film glues the whole film together. Morricone also wrote the soundtrack for The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The soundtrack, to me, is based off the West in the sense of the ghost towns, and the violence that took part in the west. The soundtrack of this movie creates a distinguishing identity. The music is very haunting, grim, and eerie, but builds the tension that the movie is looking for. In the beginning of the movie music played a key role, which built musical imagery through tragedy when the whole McBain family was killed. The music specializing in building the plot and the climax throughout the entire movie, but gets the attention of the audience so the scenes can be stretched out to reach their maximum effect. The last thing I noticed about the music was when Harmonica’s legs gave out and he fell to the ground, the music slowly faded out to give the dramatic effect of Harmonica and Frank’s quickness to shoot. As soon, as both men draw their weapons, the music stops and shots fire replacing the eerie music with gun fire.
The use of cinematography throughout this film helps to get the point of the film across to the audience. One of the most iconic scenes in this film features near the ending, in the background there is sound of an ongoing war which represents the war against the indigenous culture, while ‘Dave’ and ‘Gail’ are in a tent together holding hands. The camera zooms in on their hands, and the audience can see the difference between the skin colours, it shows how close they are regardless of what has happened in the past.
The sound used in this scene are all diegetic, the sounds of gunfire and explosions show that the characters in this scene are in very real danger of being shot or blown up, this helps the viewer develop a more personal connection with the characters since the scene is towards the end of the film, the viewer has developed a personal connection with the characters and do not want them to die. The diegetic sounds of military personnel can be heard, this is used to show the urgency that the military personnel have to get The Sapphires and Dave out of the dangerous situation. This scene is used to emphasise the danger that Dave and The Sapphires are in very real and very lethal danger, the mixture of sinister camera angles to emphasise the visual danger that the characters are in to the inhospitable sounds portrayed by the scene to highlight the explosive danger that the characters are in. The lighting used features the darkness and the difficulty to see due to the night sky.
The way that the director has manipulated the camera angle to represent the theme is more unique than I have ever seen in any other movie directors. For example, in the beginning of the movie, the director chose to have huge flakes of Vincent’s body flakes and hair falling to the floor. This scene shows how discrimination has evolved from the looks to the DNA of
Quite often in life we wish for things bigger than ourselves. Seeming to get wrapped up in our own minds we do not pay attention to reality. As reality comes full force we are not sure how to take it, so we let it take us. In the writing “Where are you going, where have you been?” we see Oates craft archetypes and allegories into the work through detail and word choice in order to help the reader understand the shocking outdistancing of day dreams and the overshadowing sockdolager called reality. These archetypes and allegories provide a way for the reader to join Connie in the story, but also to see the danger of what Connie doesn’t see.
In modern times, phrases such as “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind,” are commonly used. Also, the mere word revenge holds negative connotations as it is seen as immature and unnecessary. The theme of revenge uses archetypes to develop ideas without having to reiterate their meaning. According to the creator of the term, Carl Jung, “archetypes are defined as being a collectively inherited unconscious idea, pattern of thought, image, etc., universally present in individual psyches.” (Dictionary) The Count of Monte Cristo, one of the novels that pioneer this theme, tells the story of a man’s quest for revenge on those who betrayed him. This man spends 14 years of his life imprisoned because of his betrayers, but he manages to escape to avenge his suffering. In the novel The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas uses the archetypes of the byronic hero, the betrayer and the old sage to demonstrate that one’s suffering doesn’t give them the right to seek revenge on those who have failed them.
use of the camera the sound and the mise en scene. I will analyze the
To begin, the idea of two realisms is first illustrated in the opening sequence of the film and continues throughout the length of the story. For example, the neighborhood shown in the film is very staged, with warm and soft lighting, providing a calm, serene feeling.
In the opening scene of the movie we see Frank’s character played by Denzel Washington. Right away we are shocked by his violence and see his power. This is the first motif we are introduced to. We see Frank stand tall over his victim, and the dark shadowing we see on his face and body show his dominance. Another motif we are introduced to is how real this film is setup to be. The car headlights that setup the background and introduce where we the setting is as well as motivate lights. They have a purpose in the film in promoting its authenticity. We also hear the all the sounds in the forefront. When hear the sounds up close it dramatic for us as viewers. We hear every 7drop of gasoline that is poured on the man’s body and we even hear the flick of the lighter as Frank sets the man on fire. This is the director Scott Ridley’s way of saying to the audience I want to fool you, and I want you to feel like you were there and what you are watching in front of you is real.
Due to the film’s quality and interest it became an award winning film. The film had excellent sound effects such as the battle scenes. The image quality was also outstanding; it used many different angles to depict the actor to make you feel involved in the scenes. In the action scenes the most common viewpoint used was a close up shot which allows the audience to see and feel the intensity of the scene. The second viewpoint mostly used was a tracking shot due to the actors c...
Interestingly we don’t get to see much of shot reverse shot during dialogues but we get the point what Mulvey is trying to say. Visual representation of introduction is done my narrator before and after each chapter. She tries to give us a clue what next to expect. But still it is not crystal clear because of the strange but powerful selections of shots. However in deep analysis each shot composition has its own meaning. Each scene is special and is tryi...
Therefore, it is possible to notice how the cinematography, the mise-en-scene and the editing are used to resemble the peculiarities of the space in which the actions are taking place. For instance, the first part is characterized by long pan or tilt shots, the camera is steady but still manages to follow the characters actions. The editing points to the linear occurring of the events. Also, the characters and the objects are usually methodically placed in the scene. All of the elements are used to convey the rigid organization, efficiency and control typical of the military environment. On the other hand, in the second part, there are usually shorter shots and steadicam shots. The camera is free to investigate the space of action. Here, the editing is used to create a dynamic perception of the events. In this way Kubrick is able to bring in the spectators’ minds the chaotic reality of the war. Moreover, colors become another tool to communicate to the audience this sort of split within the film. In fact, after Pyle’s death the viewer can notice how those metallic and cold colors, that are present at the beginning of the film, shift into wormer colors. It is actually through Pyle’s suicide that the the spectator gets this switch. In that scene the dark red blood stains, and ideologically violates, the cold white tiles of the bathroom. This film is also different on
In The Passion of Joan of Arc, Carl Theodor Dreyer uses the visuality of spatial relationships in each shot with the human face and its ability to convey unspoken emotion in his portrayal of the demise of Joan of Arc. Unlike most film, the message is almost entirely told by just the eyes and expressions of the actors. There is very little reliance upon props and background. The camera angles and close-up shooting accentuate emotions and reactions. The editing style is almost methodic in keeping the emotional pace; it is much like an argument, alternating images of Joan’s tenacity, and the judges’ contempt. The artistic elements of the film are found in the subtle elements of the setting in contrast with the story that is realized by looking into Joan’s eyes as she witnesses her lifelong beliefs condemned and destroyed by her martyrdom.
...of what an individual can truly be to give ambiguities of framing and atmosphere. The ending of the film is by far the most unnerving scenes of all time. This is done in one shot in front of the camera, no other dialogue is said but narration.
As the world evolves so do the people within it, but without much surprise some things do not change that drastically and one of those things is the culture in which a person was born and raised. Even though ones culture or way of life may progress in some ways, it does not totally change. The topic of discussion for this paper will be that of the Italian culture. Who are they really? What types of challenges do they face? Many other topics will be discussed about the Italian society, but first we begin with the basic facts as to who they were.
Although admittedly some scenes have a comical side to them, Besson's fast paced action and gruesome images hold the tension and suspense brilliantly. His use of close-ups and camera movements, especially the subjective stance used by the victim, convey the feelings felt by the characters and the way in which they behave. Sound plays a crucial role in the opening sequence because, in my view, it is used to control the level of suspense and intrigue.