An Education

An Education.

An Education is a Drama set in the 1960's which was directed by Lone Scherifig and released February 2010. The film stars Carey Mulligan, Rosamund Pike and Peter Sarsgaard. The film looks into the life of a teenaged girl trying to balance education between her older boyfriend. The film was nominated for three Oscars in 2010, including one for Best Actress in a leading role (Carey Mulligan). The film however did win a BAFTA for Best Leading Actress.

An important part of the film is when we realise that the innocent conversation to begin with wasn't so innocent as first intended. When David starts to treat Jenny more like a girl friend, the audience have a more awkward response as we already know that she is a school girl. Although she is 16, the relationship still comes off strange and that there is something weird going on. Because the audience is positioned to see the point of view of the protagonist, we should feel the same way about the relationship as Jenny does. However, in my opinion, due to the fact that David lies to Jenny's father about his intentions and plans highlights the fact that both Jenny and David know that the relationship is wrong or wouldn't be understood by other people. A significant scene in the film is when Jenny finds out what David does for a living. The importance of this is that Jenny is that when Jenny tries to walk away form David after finding out what he does, he manages to persuade her to stay with him. This portrays to the audience that he has a hold of Jenny and can almost control her. People have tried to warn her about being in a relationship with an older man but she has ignored the majority of concerns. This allows the audience to interpret what type of relationship Jenny and David have and how it has affected Jenny's character.

The performance from Carey Mulligan is very important through out the films as the audience has to be able to see the development in her character and in her case how such a young person has a high maturity level in order to go out with an older man. Her performance allows the the audience to understand how an intelligent girl was dragged into a world she thought she wanted. Her performance shows a realistic interpretation in regard to issues around 'untraditional' relationships.

Exam Question

Exam question

'When watching documentaries, we are just as involved in narrative and character as we are when watching fictional films'. Discuss how far this is true in relation to your own studies of documentary spectatorship.

In relation to my studies, I believe this statement to be true as documentary is a part of film and therefore has the same affect as fictional films. We are introduced to characters in the same way and documentaries often form the same narrative structure commonly seen in in fictional films (Todorov's equilibrium). This is significant because this indicates that even though an audience is watching a documentary it still uses the same conventions within fictional films.

Because documentaries depict a true story the characters are more personal which in this case should makes it easier for the audience to be involved with the characters. The people shown in documentaries are also given back stories in order to make them more relatable and to make the audience sympathise with them more. For example in the documentary 'Undefeated' directed by Daniel Lindsay in 2011 shows the audience the life of a young american football team in Manassas. The importance of this is that the audience is shown the background of the majority of the key players in the team including Money, O.C Brown and Chavis. We see the struggle that the players face including absent fathers and poverty and because of this, the audience becomes involved in the film through the characters. They are able to relate and root for the characters just like they can in fiction films.

However, although the documentaries go along way to present the same conventions seen in fictional films in terms of characters and narrative, the way in which the story is presented is a lot differently. Documentary are shown in many different ways, expository, observational, poetic, participatory, reflexive and performative. Most use observational techniques. In the documentary The Imposter directed by Bart Layton in 2012 the film displays  a story of a family who was tricked by an older man pretending to be their lost young teen son. The film is shown through interviews and re-enactments which still allows the a story to be told like in fictional films even though it is told in a different way. This still means that the viewer is involved in the narrative and the characters within it. However, because the audience is viewing the film from an un-natural angel, one which they are not used to in fictional films, the audience may feel distant from the film. This is different from fictional films as rather the audience being able to experience the event taking place, they are now being told it through another persons opinions or ideas.

In conclusion I would still argue that documentaries still go along way in following the statement as they achieve just the same as fictional films. They still present the ideas of characters and still hold a strong conventional storylines that show a disruption in the state of equilibrium which is what the audience would get from a fictional film. The audience can still be involved in the same way, but documentaries tend to to depict an event in a more factual way.

Hacksaw Ridge.

Hacksaw Ridge.

Hacksaw Ridge is a drama based on real events directed by Mel Gibson which was released in November 2016. The film stars Andrew Garfield, Theresa Palmer and Luke Bracey. The film won two Oscars, best achievement in film editing and sound mixing, and were nominated for a further four Oscars. The film had an estimated budget of $40,000,000 and on the opening weekend received just over $15,000,000. 

An important aspect of this film is that it is based on a real story. At the end of the film the audience is shown the real people that were shown in the film and also their stories as to what followed the events. This is important because it provokes emotion within the audience as usually in films they don't get to see were the people end up. The end offers the audience a catch up of Desmond Doss's life and also his take on what happened. The fact that the audience knows that it is a real story makes the film more important as usually when watching films it is a form of escapism. In this case it is telling the audience a story from a real life perspective and the film is more about showing a part of history. 

Another important factor in this film is that when we first see Desmond Doss he is a young boy. This is significant because it shows us how he grew up and what shaped him into the man he was on the battlefield. We see why he doesn't want to hold a gun or kill anyone but also why he wants to save and protect his country. By seeing him grow up and go through certain stages in life, the audience becomes more connected to him and can start to relate to him. We also see how he falls in love with his wife which is important because through out the film, his main goal is to get back to her. By having an anchor back to his home town means that the audience are rooting for him to survive the war and make it back home. 

A comparable film to this could be Unbroken as it too gives a real life account of events that take place during the war. The film also shows the background life of the main character as it is a main way to relate to an audience because they feel as if they know the character. The films are very similar but they display different events and issues during war times. One shows a religious impact on a soldier and the other shows a soldier within a Japanese POW camp. They depict different issues. 

Exam Question.

Exam Question:
To what extent can the films you have studied for this topic be accused of reinforcing rather than challenging the stereotypes? (35 Marks).

Films tend to follow and reinforce stereotypes as a way of making the characters easier for the audience to understand or relate to. This however means that films reinforce negative stereotypes that out shine the positive representations seen in films. In the films I have studied they go a long way to both enforce stereotypes and challenge them by giving the characters common traits associated with the group that they fit in but show a more positive side to how the characters eventually overcome or don't follow them.

An example of a stereotype seen in a film I have looked at is that young boys from estates are violent and disorderly. The film in which this stereotype is enforced is La Haine (1995) directed by Mathieu Kassovitz. In this film the audience are introduced to three characters, Hubert, Vince and Saïd, who all live in a rough estate within France. The three protagonists are shown to be traveling around Paris causing havoc by having constant interactions with the police and even trying to steal a car. This shows to the audience that young boys living on estates are violent criminals. This film goes a long way to reinforce the negative stereotypes of young boys on estates as based on the issues that the film depicts, Paris Riots, the audience are shown the aggressive nature of the rioters through the three protagonists. The protagonists, although from different ethnic backgrounds, share a common stereotype as a group because other characters believe that because of where they are from and how they sometimes behave they are seen to be like the rioters at the beginning of the film. Although the characters don't always conform to the negative stereotypes forced upon them they cant escape how people perceive them.
However it could be argued that when the audience looks at the characters individually the film does challenge common stereotypes, especially looking at the protagonist Hubert. Hubert comes from an African background and the common stereotype associated with black people are that they are violent. Hubert however contradicts this as he tries to do everything to change what people expect form him. He runs his own gym where he helps people similar to him have somewhere to train and stay out of trouble. Rather than following what people think of him, he has tried to stray away from the common stereotype. This is significant as although as a group the three characters are negatively stereotyped, individually they all challenge (particularly Hubert) stereotypes associated with the the group that they are put into.

Another common stereotype that is often shown within films is that disabled people are dependant on other people and that they can't do things a 'normal' person can. Disability in film often follow negative stereotypes which aren't often challenged. However a film that challenges the stereotypes linked with disability is Rust and Bone (2012) directed by Jacques Audiard. The film challenges disability stereotypes by linking disability with femininity. Where this is evident in the film is the relationship between Stephanie and Alain. Stephanie is a double amputee following an incident at her work. One of the main issues that is depicted in this film is her trying to 'find' her femininity again and gaining her confidence back whilst dealing with her new disability. Whilst she sees herself as different and strange, Alain as a 'normal' women and is the same person he met before the incident. Their relationship is the main way the film challenges stereotypes. However, in the beginning of the film it could be argued that because of her behaviour and her reluctance towards her disability shows her conforming to the stereotypes that disabled people aren't the same as abled people. Because of the developing bond between Stephanie and Alain, it portrays the idea that it is a very normal relationship which the audience may not have expected due to Stephanie's disability. The relationship is just like any other relationship within other films and their for go against rather than enforce the negative stereotypes. Rust and Bone goes along way to challenge stereotypes linked with disability as it has made it clear that disability doesn't mean the person is any less capable than anyone else. The relationship is made to be like any other relationship.

In conclusion, In the films I have studied, they have all challenged stereotypes more than they enforce them. Although La Haine does mostly reinforce stereotypes, it also however makes a point to go against certain stereotypes in order to change the expectations of the audience. La Haine and Rust and Bone go along way to challenge stereotypes by showing the original negative perception of an issue and then turning it into something positive.

The Hitcher

The Hitcher

The Hitcher is a Thriller directed by Dave Meyers and written by Eric Red (and Jake Wade Wall) which was released in January 2007. The film is a remake of the 1986 The Hitcher in which the characters that originally survive are killed in this remake. The film stars Sophia Bush, Sean Bean and Neal McDonough. The budget for this film was $10,000,000, $4,000,000 more than the original film.

An important aspect of the film is the change in the fate of the characters based on the original. In the 1986 film the character Grace is killed by the antagonist whereas in this film the roles are reversed and Jim is put in the place of Grace and is killed. This is significant as it shows two things. The first being that although the film is a remake and follows the same story line it still goes out of it's way to update the film, leading on to my second point. The second being that it shows the development of female characters within films. In a lot of older films, women are seen as the victim in which the men have to save. However, from the role reversal it gives a more positive representation of women and that they aren't just in the film to be killed off in a brutal way. The film challenges the conventions of horror/thriller films by killing the man and making the women the hero.

The idea of women being stronger and more independent isn't just shown in that seen. Through out this film, Grace (Sophia Bush) knows how to handle herself and is a strong character. A scene in which this is shown is when she fights the antagonist in the hotel room. In this scene she is caught off guard and still manages to escape the villain by fighting him. She comes across as a tough character which is not normally seen within thriller films. Grace challenges the common stereotypes linked with women. Although the film follows the same story line, the fact that the roles are reversed makes it a stand alone film in my opinion, as it offers something different from the 1986 film.

The mise-en-scene in The Hitcher plays a vital role as it creates more tension and suspense. The majority of the film is set in the desert roads in New Mexico which means that their are very few people around to help the characters which is main problem encountered in the film. This adds elements of suspense because the characters are out in the open which means virtually anything can happen because their is no one around to stop it. The characters have no where to run and no where to hide which suggests to the audience that it is going to be very hard for the protagonists to escape the situation. A scene that shows the impact of the mise-en-scene in the film is when the antagonist kills an entire family in the middle of the day on the side of the road. This is significant because in a lot of thrillers the murders usually take place within hidden locations either locked away or somewhere excluded under the cover of the night sky. However, this film depicts a violent murder of a family in broad daylight where no one is around to save them. This shows to the audience that because of where the protagonists are, anything could happen.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is an Adventure Drama which was directed by Tim Burton and released in September 2016. The film includes stars such as Asa Butterfield, Eva Green, Samuel Jackson and Ella Purnell. The film is about a boy who finds a mysterious world that has been told in stories where he is the children's only hope of saving them. The budget for the film was $110,000,000 and on the opening weekend received just under the £29,000,000 being shown on 3,522 screens. The film is based upon a dark fantasy novel written by Ransom Riggs.

A key scene in the film is when Jake (Asa Butterfield) arrives in Wales in search for the children's home in his Grandad's stories. What is key in this scene is the mise-en-scene. When he arrives in Wales it is very gloomy, dark and run down which is the exact opposite as to what his Grandad told him. This is significant because Jake is trying to find out whether the stories he was told as a young boy were real or not as the rest of his family thought that his Grandad was delusional. By the mise-en-scene contradicting the stories it makes the audience feel as if everything they have been told or shown so far regarding the children's home is a lie/fantasy. The mise-en-scene is also important when it comes to the audience working out what type of environment they are in. Usually when the characters are in a dark and gloomy place it connotes the idea of danger or insecurity. Although the audience sees the dark environment they aren't shown the danger which suggests a false sense of security that the characters aren't aware of. Once the audience see the gloomy Wales town they are introduced to the bright and happy children's home. The reason why this is important because the children's home is not as normal as it may sound. The home is for peculiar children (children who have powers) and the only way they can stay safe is in a 'time loop' in 1943. The mise-en-scene completely goes against the gloomy town of Wales to suggest the idea of safety and security. This is significant because the main storyline is that they are in the time loop so they are protected from monsters who are trying to find them. The Home is brightly coloured, it has massive gardens filled with flowers and all the children appear to be happy.

The mise-en-scene does two different things in the films, the first being to show danger and sadness in Jakes everyday life and the first showing happiness and safety. The mise-en-scene is used to show the audience emotion within the environment they are in. This links in with the themes of family and friendship as to Jake it is all about him trying to keep everyone he cares about safe and hidden from the people after them.

Keeping Up With the Joneses

Keeping Up With the Joneses

Keeping Up With the Joneses is an action comedy directed by Greg Mottola which was released on October 2016. The film stars Gal Gadot, Isla Fisher, Jon Hamm and Zach Galifianakis all of which are big names in the industry by not all are known for comedic roles. The film is set in the suburbs where a couple find out their neighbours are spies. The film had a budget of $40,000,000 but on the opening weekend made just under $5,500,000.

An important aspect of this film is definitely performance. Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher are known for previous comedic roles. Jon Hamm has had some comedic roles, (Minions) but is mostly known for more serious roles like Mad Men and Gal Gadot is mainly known for her roles in Wonder Woman and the Fast and Furious movies. The importance of this is that by having a mix of well known comedic actors and well known action actors could change how the viewer interprets the film. The doesn't take it self to seriously, purposefully making the characters appear comedic, but the characters act in a serious manner. They believe that everything they are doing is the proper response to what should happen in the situations they face. This makes the film, in my opinion, more funny because the characters almost seem oblivious. The performance in this film is significant because the audience know wha to expect from the film as due to the well known actors and the usual characters they play. The film almost mocks other spy films, like James Bond, because they are making fun of what is usually seen in spy films. Everything is not as smooth or as fancy as the audience may have seen in other films. The performance within the film backs this point up because the characters appear to be serious but still manage to get everything wrong or mess everything up.
A key scene in this film that clearly shows the impact of the performance is when Natalie and Tim (Gadot and Ham) show up to save Karen and Jeff (Fisher and Galifianakis). Karen and Jeff count down so they can run away and create a diversion, however, when they get to two Jeff runs off before Karen messing up their plan. This is significant because it shows both a serious and childlike side to the characters and also shows the main themes in the film which are Relationships and Friendship as they show how each character reacts to each other. Whilst they come up with a plan to get themselves out of the situation they mess it up by Jeff accidentally "getting a head start in his wife" and Tim and Natalie arriving to save the day as they usually do.

A film that could be compared to Keeping up with the Joneses is 'Kingsman: Secret Service'. Keeping up with the Joneses purposefully creates comedic elements through out the entirety of the film and contains the characters that are naturally funny, whereas Kingsman takes a more serious approach but also contains some comedic moments by showing what would really happen if 'normal people' were spies. Kingsman does the same as Keeping up with the Joneses in the sense that they mock spy films like James Bond by showing everything not to be as serious and fancy as films normally do.