Son of a Gun.

Son of a Gun.

Key Cast: Ewan McGregor, Brenton Thwaites and Alicia Vikander.

Director: Julius Avery

Writer: Julius Avery

Genre: Crime Action

Themes: Love, violence, betrayal and friendship.

Release: December 2014

Budget:?

Key Scene:

An important scene within this film is when we JR (protagonist) meets Tasha. Later on in the scene Tasha ends up helping JR when he falls into a pool and starts to drown. This is an important scene because the audience sees that JR and Tasha aren't like the other gang members. Whilst all the men stand around the pool laughing, only Tasha goes into the pool to save him. This shows that JR has vulnerabilities unlike the other men who are shown to be strong and brave. It also shows that Tasha goes against the general stereotype of the women in the film (that they are objects for men) because she decides to help JR. This is significant because it shows to the audience that although they are connected to the gang and the crime they do, they are nothing like them. This means that the audience connect more with the two characters. Another important scene is at the very end of the film when JR and Brendan are on the boat ready to leave with the gold. This is an important scene because it shows the theme of betrayal, which is a main theme within the film. This is significant because through put the whole film, Brendan has underestimated JR and Tasha and had planned to make them the scape goats. The audience wants JR to achieve his goal and get the girl he deserves and in the end he does. 

Key Micro-features:

An important micro-feature is Mise-en-scene, in particular props. The main characters, JR and Brendan meet in prison where JR sees Brendan playing chess. This is important because the game of chess is a main focus point in the film and it is how JR gets into business with Brendan. At the beginning of the film chess is used to bring the protagonists of the film together and at the end of the film it is used to show the end game of the plan and the end of the game that they were playing. Mise-en-scene (props) is significant because it suggests to the audience that there is a constant game going on through out the film. This creates meaning as it could suggest that instead of the characters actually playing chess, they are the pieces in the game. They are in a real life game of chess where they are vulnerable to the other team. This is important as it shows that any of them are at risk and no one is safe.

Comparables:

A film similar to this is American Heist (2014). This film has similar story line to Son of a gun as it s focused on a brother duo, one of which has just come out of prison and the other in a stable life (James, played by Hayden Christensen). The two protagonists in both the films, JR and James, are very similar as they both re shown to get into something that is too big for them. Although they are involved in robberies and other crime, they are both shown to be vulnerable and not cut out for a criminal lifestyle. This trait is important in both the films because it makes the audience more connected with the audience.

Spike Lee vs Quentin Tarantino

Spike Lee vs Quentin Tarantino

Spike Lee Films: Inside man and Old Boy.

Quentin Tarantino films: Django Unchained and Inglorious Basterds.

Spike Lee: He is an American film director known for films such as Malcolm X and Inside Man. He came from and artistic educational background and studied at Clark Atlanta university Studying film. He has produced 35 films since 1983 two of which were Oscar nominated films (Do the Right thing and Malcolm X). Spike Lee often focuses on the issue of racism and discrimination. The film Miracle of St.Anna looks at the black soldiers in the war, which isn't really shown in other films. Spike Lee made She's got to have it (1986) for $175,000 but it earned £7,000,000 at the box office which launched his career. because of this he later went on to open a production company called 40 acres & a mule film works.

Quentin Tarantino: He was born in Knoxville Tennessee and he started making films in his early twenties. His films are known to be violent and sometimes graphic. He often features in his own films only in small scenes. For example in Inglorious Basterds he is the first german soldier who is scalped. This goes back to the idea that his film are violent. His style is very over the top especially in shooting scenes where the blood explodes out of peoples bodies and the bodies lay mangled on the floor. This is a very specific style for Tarantino.
Tarantino is known for the films: Django Unchained, Pulp Fiction and Inglorious Basterds. He has won an academy award and a golden globe for best screenplay for both Django Unchained and Pulp Fiction. 

Danish Girl

Danish Girl.

Key Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Amber Heard.

Director: Tom Hooper

Writer: David Ebershoff

Genre: Drama

Themes: Love, Friendship, Gender Identity.

Release: January 2016

Budget: $25,000,000

Key Scenes:

An important scene is when Lili is first seen by other people including her friends. This is important because in this scene at the party everyone sees her as beautiful. She grabs everyones attention. This is important because at the time no on knew who she really was, but they saw her as Lili. This is important because it shows to the audience that everyone thought she was beautiful because she was now her true self. Also this is the scene where Lili comes to life and is now a real person. It shows how Einar first realised he wanted to be Lili.The film is loosely based on a true story and follows the life of the transgender artist Lili. 

A key scene within this film is when we see the main character lili, played by Eddie Redmayne, getting harassed by two men whilst she is out walking. This is an important scene as although the film shows a more positive side to being transgender and most of the characters are supportive of her, there are still some people who weren't. This further shows to the audience how hard it was for people like Lili to be who they really were.  This scene shows the negative side to the issue and the difficulties that come with it. 

Micro-Features: 

An important micro-feature is mise-en-scene. The film is set in the 1920's in Copenhagen. This is important because the film is about showing a transgender lifestyle when it wasn't widely accepted and surgery for this hadn't been done before. The mise-en-scene plays a key role in the film because it is loosely based on a true story. The location therefore shows where and how Lili Lived. This makes the audience relate to Lili because it shows that she has a relatively normal life but she is put in an extraordinary situation.

Another important micro-feature is obviously performance. Because Eddie Redmayne plays completely different people it is important to show the separation between them but also the similarities. Also the performance is important because Einar has to hide his true identity from some people as it is not widely accepted, so she has to hide what every one can see. Performance is important because when she finds out that she has an option to become Lili her face lights up. Although Gerda and her know that there are high risks to the operation, Gerda looks more concerned and frightened whereas Lili is excited by the fact.

Film London.

Film London.

Film London is an agency that helps film makers fund and produce new films. One of the films that Film London helped fund was Jack Ryan Shadow Recruit. Film London has also helped with other big films such as Sky Fall and Rush. Although Jack Ryan: Shadow recruit wasn't produced by Film London it was still supported by them through funding. The producers of this film were Mace Neufeld and Lorenzo do Bonaventura. The production company was Paramount Pictures. This is a well known film company that produces large films.Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.

Key Cast: Chris Pine, Keira Knightley and Kevin Costner.

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Writer: Adam Cozad

Genre: Action Thriller

Themes: Love, War, Terrorism, Deceit, determination.

Release: January 2014

Budget: $60,000,000

A key Scene within the film is when the protagonist, Jack ( played by Chris Pine) gets injured in war. He ends up in a rehabilitation centre where he tries to recover from his injury. This is a key scene because from Jack's determination the audience knows that he isn't going to let anything stop him. This is important because it introduces Jacks personality. By showing that he wants to overcome his injury connects the audience with the character and they want him to achieve his goal.

Another key scene is when Jack's wife gets in trouble with antagonist of the film. This is important as it continues to show Jacks determination. This is important because although he wants to complete his mission that he has been set, he won't jeopardise his family. By showing that his family is important to him makes him more relatable to the audience further connecting them.

An important micro-feature is performance. This is because Jack lives two lives, one working for the CIA and one with his wife. This is important because he has to deceive his wife because he is working for the CIA. This is important also because if the two lives cross then the audience becomes more concerned for the lives of the protagonists. The performance is important because the audience knows the true intention of Jack so they understand what os going on, however the antagonist doesn't This means that Jack has to change the way his personality in order to hide his true intentions. The audience is more on edge through out the film because they know that he is hiding a secret that could get him killed.

Old Boy

Old Boy.

Key Cast: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen and Samuel L Jackson.
Director: Spike Lee
Writer: Garon Tsuchiya
Genre: Mystery Drama
Themes: Love, Family, Confinement, lies, deceit
Release: November 2013
Budget: $30,000,000

Key Scenes:
A key scene within this film is at the beginning of the film where we meet Joe and find out what his personality is like. From the first couple of scenes we find out that he is an alcoholic and a father but he is not very family oriented. When he becomes imprisoned, we see that he is determined to make a change. At this point the audience knows that his daughter is the only thing keeping him from giving up. Through his imprisonment he writes letters to his daughter, explaining how he is going to be a better father. The audience then wants Joe to succeed and get his daughter. This is what makes the audience connects with Joe and feel sympathy for hime that he has ended up in the situation.
Another key scene within this film is towards the very end of the film when the audience comes to realise why the protagonist, Joe, was put in the situation he was in and why it happened. Joe becomes face to face with his enemy and everything is explained to him. The end scene exceeds the audiences expectations as the plot twist in the end of the film is completely unexpected. This is a key scene as the audience is in the same position as the protagonist as they too are unaware of why Joe has been targeted. The end scene is used to both answer the audiences questions but to also shock them.

Micro-Features:
An important micro-feature in this film is editing. Because the film is set over a long period of time (20 years) the film makers need to show the changes both physical and mental over this period of time. The editing is important because through out the film the audience can see how his experience and treatment has changed him. His hair and beard gets longer and dirtier, he starts to lose weight and he decides to stop drinking alcohol. The editing enables the audience to understand how determined he is to get out and change his life and do right by his daughter.
Another important micro-feature is mise-en-scene. Because it takes place in a single room for the majority of the film the mise-en-scene needs to show the conditions that he is has lived in for 20 years. The colours are dull (browns and beige) the window is a cycle of pictures that show up on a canvas and only the basics are provided. The mise-en-scene is used to show how his descent into darkness as he starts to hallucinate people in his room that are just images on a poster. The mise-en-scene is important because it makes the audience feel as if they are too, trapped in the room with him.

Comparables:
This film could be compared to The film 'Room' (directed by Lenny Abrahamson 2015). The majority of this film is also set in a room and mise-en-scene is important as well. The use of dull colours in the films shows to the audience the tedious experience of seeing the same thing every day. Although they have both have different themes and genre to one another, they still both use the same techniques to create the sense of being trapped and enclosed. Even thought they are a completely different genre of film they still make the audience feel sympathy for the characters within the film and make the audience want them to succeed.