(Yes, there was a sequel - Escape from L.A. Good but not great.)
Side note: This movie takes place in 1997, and back when I saw it 1997 was still the future. That's how old I am.
John Carpenter’s cult classic Escape from New York (1981) is set in the future dystopia that is 1997 and America and the Soviets are still entrenched in battle. The president of the United States (Donald Pleasance) is traveling aboard Air Force one to a meeting between the US, Russia and China to hopefully end the conflict. Before he can reach his destination, Air Force one must travel over Manhattan, which has been turned into a prison-island surrounded by military on all sides. As this occurs, the plane is hijacked and is directed into the prison and all radio connection between the plane and the nearby military base is lost. Eventually the army goes in looking for the president to discover an escape pod and to be told that the president is being held captive by the Duke (Isaac Hayes) and his cronies. It is at this point that military leader Bob Hauk (Lee Van Cleef) sends in the onetime war hero and now captured criminal Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) to save the president along with a briefcase containing secret nuclear formulas. If he succeeds, Snake will be given a full pardon and his life will be spared. So it is now that Snake ventures into this hellhole and must complete his mission before it is too late.
This scene at 29 minutes and 18 seconds in the film, Snake Plissken has flown a small plane onto the top of the World Trade Center to infiltrate the city and is now walking down a hallway of the WTC on his way onto the city streets. Cinematography wise this moment uses a full body and eye level shot to show the audience that Snake may be part of something bigger than just himself. It is also somewhat eyelevel to insinuate the true height and length of the buildings hallways. This shot is in a short depth of field to allow the audience to focus on the closest area to make the audience believe the hallway is longer than it may be, possibly to reference the bridge scene towards the end of the film as well as to possibly symbolize the difficult struggle that this mission will entail.
Mise-en-scene wise, this shot has the workings of brilliance. First of all, the way Kurt Russell plays Snake is perfect. The way Kurt is walking with such a cocky attitude makes his character even better. Rather than trying to sneak by and be stealthy, Snake just walks down the hall almost daring anyone or thing to just try to jump him.
Along with acting comes the set design. Along with the long hallways theory presented earlier, it can be seen by the doorway of the closest room that there are rain clouds. This is just an even less subtle reminder that this job is no sunny walk in the park.
Even further down we see an orange crucifix. This has really no religious connotations, but rather is a symbol for Snake’s redemption (and later on that of Brain’s). By being a war hero, Snake had honor. He then became a criminal and has lost the respect he had earned. This “suicide-mission” is the way Snake can return to his former standing in the eye of the government, the eyes of other humans and in his own mind.
The prop design of this shot mainly consists of strewn about papers on the floor along with the occasional chair or other item of debris. This allows the scene to be all the more believable as one would expect a rundown building where basically “hobo-prisoners” are the only occupants to be the epitome of a dilapidated home. Each paper is placed with a purpose, to seem as if abandoned in a hurry by the decent civilians who lived there ten years before.
The lighting is also a key aspect of making this scene perfect. Even though it is an office building, the fluorescent lights are not on. The only lighting comes from places that are either off camera, giving the air of eeriness and a lonesome quality to the setting and to Snake. Having no true light source shown also allows the audience to further believe the story by having the notion that since Manhattan is a prison, it could be dangerous to leave electricity on for these violent human beings.
In conclusion, I have several questions to ask:
- From this scene do you feel if Snake was completely or partly successful in his mission?
- Does anything of the scene (mise-en-scene wise) make you believe the scene, if so which part? If not, why is it not believable?
- Why you cry?
The mis-en-scene, I would like to point out, is amazing. All the graffiti on the wall seems to scream out this city has really gone down the drain. Also, it openly states, in my opinion, Snake is truly alone in his endeavors and how he might be surrounded by enemies. The papers on the floor symbolize how chaotic NY has become and how anarchy has sinked its teeth into the state. I love how Snake is still able to walk so tall! Shadows completely encircle him, yet he is unafraid. I like question #3.
ReplyDeleteI must agree that mis en scene wise... oh my god its definitely believable. I haven't seen this movie but from the description I get the idea. This shot works because its almost scary. Looking at it gives me this odd chill. There is graffiti and a lot of paper all over. It looks like trash, but believably a criminal hide out or somewhere where you might find this type of guy. The lighting/shadows really do add to the shot. You can't quite see the face and its eerie when you don't know who someone is. From the shot I would guess that he was partly successful because of mainly the lighting: he is enclosed in this darkness but there is another big portion of light. I feel like the darkness says that he is still considered the bad guy and is/has done crime and evil, but the light side says he isn't fully there and there is still a good side. At least so I think. He is in the dark side because he isn't quite finished or he hasn't totally succeeded or he is still working for the bad people.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the fact that it takes place in the World Trade Center? Do you think this creates different reactions to pre-9/11 audiences (like myself) than post-9/11 audiences? Zach, I'd especially like to hear what you have to say about this.
ReplyDeleteI think to pre-9/11 audiences the movie has an eerie sense because to see the towers still standing and to have "fallen" to this status is almost as depressing. To see the epicenter of the economic world turn into basically a giant trash can just shows how bad things (in this alternate) world have gotten. In John Carpenter's world crime has gone up and military spending (like always) surpasses law enforcement. This has become an unintentional warning to us. I think that this is the creepiest fact, any post-9/11 vibes this movie gives off are all incidental.
ReplyDeleteOwen Moynihan
ReplyDeleteI hadn't noticed the walking thing you pointed out till I read it and it completely makes the scene. It shows how he is on a suicide mission and knows it and doesn't care. The cocky walk screams that he is dead and doesn't care at all.
Ya I totally agree with owen about how he is walking and with everyone else about the Mis en scene. The background in this shot is ridiculously realistic and looks like how New York city would look like after being turned into a prison and ravaged by the most awful people in the united states. The floor, the walls and the ceiling all look realistic with the graffiti on the walls, the paper and garbage strewn across the floor and the ceiling tiles all old and moldy it really looks like the setting snake is in. The shadow in the distance really makes you wonder what may be lurking behind every corner in New York and make you really unsure about how safe Snake will actually be even though he has military training. What Owen said about the walking was definitely true because he walks in a way that expresses his attitude toward the mission he is on because he walks like he has no purpose and like he is angry he has to be on this mission which he was apparently forced to go on. He walks like he is also alone in the world and it's him against all of New York because thats kind of his style. He is the type that doesn't need a partner and will get everything done on his own. He doesn't need help in his missions and has no one who does want to help him in life. I do think he was successful in his mission though because he did accomplish his goal of saving the president and he himself was able to survive but he only played a joke on the people by switching the tape which he had successfully recovered from the Duke.
ReplyDeleteBrandon Stark
ReplyDeleteI believe that Kurt Russel is completely succesful in his mission. By mentioning the way he walks shows that he's not afraid of the cosequences and that death or faliure are not optional. I think that the destroyed backround matches his personality of his corruption and criminalized life. The scattered papers and destroyed walls use to be strong and in order, just like Kurt Russel's character was. But now it's all been changed.
Yes, from this scene, it looks like Snake was partly successful in his mission. He is walking with his head up high, and his back straight, so he doesn't look like a guy who just failed his mission. But it seems like he was only partly successful because it seems like he still has a long way to go until he reaches the end of the room, and I feel like that's supposed to show how he still has a long way to go in finishing his mission. And the Mis en scene is very believable because it looks like a abandoned business building with the tiled ceilings falling apart, and all the papers strewn all over the room. But I think it's the graffiti that really adds the final touch to make it realistic.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that the mis-en-scene is absolutely amazing. One thing i really like is that the area around snake is meant for him it completly suits him. It is almost as if that was his sanctuary. Another thing i really like is that this is very realistic. It seems very interesting how the darkness and shadows appears to be around and yet he is unafraid he seems to get his power from the darkness unlike other people where darkness is there this weakness. I think the analysis was very well done and it made me want to see the movie.
ReplyDeleteI think that snake was successful i think that the light shining on him represents good and the darkness is sorrunding it so it means theres good but alot of evil around it. the set desighn really drew me in because its very mysterious.
ReplyDelete