Film Theory and Analysis

Film Theory and Analysis Lesson 4

Film Theory and Analysis Manu Scansani E-mail daskalogiannis81@yahoo.com Office Hours: (Room 1#511) Monday 11.45/12.45; Wednesday 16.00/17.00 QQ: 1417650393 Niko Brauer E-mail niko_brauer@hotmail.com Office Hours: (Room 1#519) Thursday 12.30/14.00 QQ: 1265906802 http://filmanalysis.weebly.com

Film Screening (next week) • Social Drama – Monday 17.20/20 • The Wrestler [摔角手] (Cinema) (D Aronofsky, 2008, 109 min) • American Beauty [美国丽人] (1#410) (S Mendes, 1999, 122 min) • A Clockwork Orange [发条橘] (1#412)violent(S Kubrick, 1971, 136 min) • The Truman Show [楚门的世界] (1#416)(P Weir, 1998, 103 min) • Film Corner – Monday 20.00 (3♯102-1/102-2)

Access to Cinema… To reserve a seat in the Cinema (120 seats) write your name on the Cinema List in your teacher’s office from 12.30 on Mondays, until the List is full.

Essay Reminder • Remember: by week 6 choose the film you want to write about ! • The essay may be marked by someone not familiar with the course – make sure to write it so an intelligent outsider can understand it. Please, remember to choose only an English-speaking film. • If you want to write about more than one film, you need to submit a topic by week 6, explaining how you will link the films you chose. • Need help? Come to my Office.

This Week • Narrative – how and why do films tell stories the way they do? • Comedies – what makes a film funny? • Forrest Gump – why is it so popular?

Narrative, Story, Plot • Everything that you see happening on screen is part of the plot of the film (= every action happening in the film). • When you tell your friend about the film, you will re-tell its story – including what you don’t see on screen, but what is implied. • i.e. Forrest Gump: You do not see Jenny giving birth to small Forrest, so it is not part of the plot. That small Forrest is her son, is part of the story, however. • The narrative describes how this story is told on screen (it describes its formal structure).

Narrative: The Classic Hollywood Narrative System I A story built around an active protagonist who struggles against primarily external forces of antagonism to pursue his or her desire, through continuous time, within a consistent and causally connected fictional reality, to a closed ending of absolute, irreversible change. - Robert McKee (page 37)

Narrative: The Classic Hollywood Narrative System II • The narrative is composed of 6 elements which are often present in most films. • The narrative was developed through Hollywood classic films, and thanks to the contribution of screenwriters (=authors who write the screenplay). • The aim was to make narrative structures accessible (=easy to understand) to the audience (and compatible with Hollywood moral values).

Narrative: 6 elements of the Classic Hollywood system • The Hero/Protagonist Main character of the film; drives the story forward; the audience identifies with the hero and his/her motives Forrest Gump follows the story of a guy named Forrest • Cause and Effect There are no coincidences; nothing happens randomly, events are logically consistent even in fantasy worlds Forrest Gump is placed on the All-American Football Team, even though it seems impossible, for his running skills • Omniscient Narration The story is presented from several viewpoints, not just that of the main character; broader perspective Even though the story is told by Forrest Gump, we understand the viewpoints of his mother, Lieutenant Dan, Jenny and others.

Narrative: 6 elements of the Classic Hollywood system • Motivation There is nothing in the film that has no reason for being there; It can advance plot, create realism, provide context or it has aesthetic value Short clips of Jenny with her friends while Forrest is in Vietnam both continue telling her story and provide a context for the anti-war protests that Forrest comes across later • Elision Alfred Hitchcock: Cinema is “life with the boring bits cut out.” Only significant scenes are shown – triviality is omitted; the protagonist’s intentions will be fulfilled unless obstacles.  Editing (剪接). We see Forrest starting to run from coast to coast, and then selected clips of him running, and him stopping – but not every moment of it. • Narrative Closure The plot is fully resolved; there are no loose ends; the events of the film culminate in a spectacular climax (=final part of a film). Forrest Gump artistically closes the Lieutenant Dan sub-plot by making him appear at Forrest‘s wedding

Narrative structure and its acts… Clip “Pixar”

Narrative: The Classic Three-Act Linear Structure

Act I: The Set-Up • The characters and setting (as well as basic background story) are introduced. • In the Inciting Incident, the protagonist is faced with an unexpected situation that challenges him/her to act Neo meets Trinity and Morpheus • At Turning Point I, the story changes course, with the protagonist taking action for the first time Neo decides to leave the Matrix and joins Morpheus

Act II: Development • The story and characters are developed as we see the protagonist facing the challenges introduced in Act I. • At The Point of No Return the protagonist reflects on the challenge and becomes more committed to the goal Morpheus is kidnapped and Neo believes he is the only one who can save Morpheus now. • At Turning Point II (“Moment of Truth”) the protagonist suffers a heavy set-back (he has no choice), changes his/her tactic and gains a clearer idea of what to do. Neo is unable to return to the Matrix, he is “beginning to believe” and decides to fight Agent Smith.

Act III: Resolution / Denouement • The action concludes with a strong climax and the story is closed-off, all remaining questions are answered. • The Climax is the final, decisive scene of the film, in which the protagonist confronts the challenge and may or may not succeed. Neo fights Agent Smith and realises he is The One • Briefly after the climax, the Resolution (or Denouement ) shows the protagonist reflecting on the challenge and climax. Neo and Trinity are reunited and kiss…

Structure: recap & exercise • Inciting incident – the hero faces a problem • Turning Point I – the hero acts on the problem for the first time • The Point of No Return – the hero decides to pursue the problem • Turning Point II – The hero is defeated and changes the approach to the challenge • Climax – the hero faces the problem • Resolution – The hero reflects on the problem • Which films do you know that fit into this narrative structure?

Narrative:Alternative Narrative Structures • Linear story  Non-linear story Usually films have a linear story (a story which follows a chronological evolution) (i.e. Jaws, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, No Country for Old Men). However, some films have a non-linear story (where different situations are shown in a mixed chronological order) (i.e. Pulp Fiction). • Episodic Structure The protagonist’s story is told through individual episodes. What holds episodes together is not their arrangement, but their focus on the protagonist. (i.e. Forrest Gump)

Comedies - recap • One of the oldest genres • Biggest technological invention in genre: the creation of sound technology • Moving from miming skills (Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton) to using different forms of verbal humor • At the centre of many comedies lies the figure of the “fool”, which has the same importance as the hero in blockbuster films/action films…

Comedies - humour • What is it that makes comedies funny? • Humour as Disparagement – we laugh at the weakness and “stupidity” of others – (Chaplin) • Humour as Release – we laugh to release social tension, so we laugh at social rules being broken or from seeing deeper antisocial desires fulfilled – (Borat) • Humour as Incongruity – we laugh at those things that seem out of place, strange or inappropriate to us – (Some Like it Hot)

Comedies – Types of Comedy I • Slapstick – early cinema, visual humour, often vulgar, sometimes painful. Humour as disparagement i.e. Charlie Chaplin • Black Comedy – often satire, making fun of serious topics by portraying them out of proportion. Can be humour as release. i.e. Dr. Strangelove

Comedies – Types of Comedy II • Parody/Spoof/Farce – humour as the absurd, makes fun of existing works, can be serious satire in nature i.e. Scream; Monty Python • ‘College Drama’ – recent US films talking about absurd social situations, often at university. i.e. American Pie • Romantic Comedy – humour used to intensify romantic stories – (Love Actually – 1:59:00)

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump as a Comedy • Although Forrest Gump has many tragic elements (i.e. death of his mother/wife/Bubba), it still conforms to almost all of the basic criteria of the Comedy genre: • It is amusing • It deals with ordinary characters in everyday situations • Its actions conclude happily • Its attitude towards life is basically positive • Love and life triumph • The ‘wise fool’

Forrest Gump – Narrative I • Episodic narrative structure (different episodes of his life shown in the movie). • Non-linear – the episodes happen at different times, through a big flash-back (闪光回) which opens at the beginning of the film. • Repetition – Forrest on the school bus and at the army; Forrest running from bullies; Little Forrest getting on the school bus. • Forrest’s detailed story vs Jenny’s suggested story (Forrest point of view) • Dramatic Irony – the audience understands situations before the characters do so

Forrest Gump – Characters • Much of the success of the film is based on Forrest Gump’s character. Why? • Recognition – Forrest Gump as the archetype of the fool with a special ability • Alignment – The story is told through first-person narration of Forrest Gump himself • Allegiance – Forrest is contrasted with many other characters that make him look positive (i.e. more stupid/worse characters).

Readings for next week • Must make sure to have read by next week: • Unit 1: History & Genres • Unit 2: Character and Performance • Unit 3: Narrative • Unit 6: Blockbuster Films • Unit 7: Comedies • Unit 8: Social Drama Film

Film Theory and Analysis