How to Watch a Movie - Extended Director's Cut Special Features

V. Follow Up: Film Style

In our session I briefly covered the idea of a cinematic 'stylistic continuum', with one end indicating that films can be very realistic, and the other end suggesting that films can become an excercise in aesthetic style (formalism). Classicism exists somewhere in the middle - films that use the basic conventions of filmmaking to tell a story. Since you might not have been familiar with the examples I gave in the session, here are a few trailers to give you a better idea of what I was talking about:

Realism

If it wasn't for the aliens, you might almost think District 9 is a South Aftrican documentary. Meanwhile, The Hurt Locker has gained fame as a hyper-realistic view of war in Iraq. For both these films, the lighting seems to come from natural and in-frame sources, the camera movement is generally hand-held, and neither the costumes nor acting draw attention to themselves. Both stories look like they could happen in real life.

Classicism

Don't make the mistake of thinking that 'classicism' means 'classic movies' - even though most movie 'classics' do fit under this style. All it means is that the filmmakers use the classic or traditional methods of filmmaking: sweeping crane shots, dramatic lighting, familiar pacing, background music. Most movies are examples of this style.

Formalism

This style draws attention to itself. The film, in part, is about the style. The style itself tells the story. The purpose of formalism is not to mimic real life, but rather to re-create it.

Avant-Garde

On the far end of formalism we have 'avant-garde' - A.K.A. art-house crazy-town.





Final Note: Don't make the mistake of thinking that one style of cinema is inherently better than the others. The Hurt Locker and District 9 (realism), The Blind Side and Avatar (classicism), and Inglorious Basterds and A Serious Man (formalism) were all nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture this year.

VI. How Joe Namath Eats a Sandwich

Here's a short film clip I cobbled together from the film CC Ryder (A.K.A. CC and Company) starring Joe Namath as a biker. I took the 2 minute clip from VLC media player using Fraps. As I said, the Fraps software only lets you grab clips up to 30 seconds in length. So I grabbed 4 or 5 30-second clips and edited them together using Windows Movie Maker.

In its own right, this clip is a very helpful classroom tool. It teaches students how Joe Namath eats a sandwich, and in my estimation, it is appropriate for all math, science, history, art, P.E. and English classes. Oh, and foods class, too.

Metropolis in the 21st Century

I'd like you to take a look at a post I made last semester. I think you'll find it pretty interesting. Read the whole thing and then come back here for further instructions. (You DON'T have to do the assignment at the end. Just READ the whole thing. You'll get a new assignment below.)

Click here to read about "The Uncanny Valley"

Okay, you're back. Good. So here's the question: describe your experience of watching the film. To what degree were you distracted by the quesiton, "How did they do it?" To what degree, in comparison, are you disctracted from modern movies by the same question? In other words, how can you tell when special effects are getting in the way, how can you tell if they are helping to tell a story? Please make you responses thoughtful and thorough paragraphs.  Feel free to comment on the the comments of others for extra credit.

For extra credit, you might also wish to respond to this question: What movies have you seen has there been a moment in which you've encountered "the uncanny valley?" (Think Avatar, among others.)

What Is Sci-Fi?

So we're about to start our next unit - the history of film as seen through the lens of "science fiction." Before we start, though, we may want to take a minute and ask ourselves what science ficiton even is. First watch this short film. (Twice if you need to.)



Okay. Now crack open your journals and answer the following questions. Please have your answers be thoughtful and thorough. We'll discuss your responses in class tomorrow, as well as get into our first feature-length science ficiton film.

1. What is "science fiction," and how do you know if a given film either is or is not science ficiton?

2. "Plug" is  definately fiction - that is to say,it is make believe. And yet...there are elements of this film that are speaking about the real world. So, in what way is this film commenting of the real world? In other words, what aspects of the film - even though they may be make-believe - are actually about the world we currently live in?

3.  What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of "Plug"? (acting, editing, special effects, story, pacing, tone, design, cinematography, sound, etc.)

Braveheart Breakdown

View this clip famous from Braveheart, in which William Wallace is rallying his troops before a big battle.



Your task: In the comments, select one element from the past week's lecture and analyze it's use the scene. (Nondiagetic sound, close up shot, disolve, etc.) Be sure to both (1) describe the element as it's used in the scene and (2) explain what effect it is supposed to have on the audience and how it creates that effect.

Extra credit: In a separate comment, comment and build on a classmate's comment. Do you agree or disagree with their claim? Can you find other examples in the clip that either supports or refutes thier claim? (In short, you get extra credit for being part of a discussion.)