Preliminary Task- "The Follower"

In order to complete our preliminary task we had to practice our camcorder skills and research into the 180 degree rule. As well as this we had to create a short sotryline for the prelim task to follow and a short piece of dialogue.

When creating our preliminary task, we decided to go for a narrative that reflects the work that we have been doing throughout our AS year so far; we focused on the thriller genre. As far as dialogue goes, we made sure that it related to the narrative and filming.

Seeing as the task was complete in a short time, i think that it was quite successful. Problems i have with the final outcome is the sound and picture quality rather than the content. The music used fits the video quite well, however it is hard to hear the dialogue. If we were to re-do this, I would have liked to record more takes of each cut to have more options. Also, have the girls speak much louder when doing the dialogue.

180 degree rule:

Two characters in the same scene should always have the left/ right relationship to each other.

If the camera passes over the imaginery axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line. A new shot from the opposite side is known as reverse angle.

You can move over 180 degrees but you have to show it. For example a tracking shot may be used but the passing of the 180 degrees must be shown in editing.

Costume Ideas

All of the costumes that will be used in our thriller are going to be inspired by various film noir's and 40's fashion. Here are some ideas that i have thought of:

High heels are essential for the femme fatale character because they are feminine and glamorous yet can make a character very vulnerable if in the wrong situation. These will be used for our femme fatale character as she will be walking down a cobbled street.

A clutch bag is a small accessory but it is featured in our thriller idea as part of the red herring so it is something we need to consider.

Faux fur coats are vintage and really glamorous- perfect for our femme fatale character. They are also relevant to a modern audience because they are a current trend. The coat fits in with the film noir genre and the 1940's era too. It is also a believable costume as our femme fatale character will be walking down a street at night; the coat is practical for the narrative.

Long coats are going to be used for our male characters because they are something that are seen a lot in crime thrillers and film noir's. They have big shoulders and are oversized, making the male character look large and dominant. This costume idea was inspired by films like The Third Man and Once Upon a Time in America.

Briefcases suggest a businessman, however luggage is often utilised in thrillers as a cover up for criminal activity: it could be storing money, weapons or even drugs. The male characters in our thriller all have suspicious backgrounds so this is an appropriate idea.

Psycho

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Writers: Joseph Stefano (screenplay), Robert Bloch (novel)

Release Date: 4 August 1960 (UK)

Genre: Horror/ Thriller

Producers: Alfred Hitchcock

Production Companies: Shamely Productions

Distributors: Paramount Pictures, Les Films Paramount, Paramount Film Service, Paramount, Universal Pictures, MCA Videocassette, MCA Home Video, MCA/ Universal Home Video, Pioneer Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Video, Universal Home Video, Universal Home Entertainment, Action Gitanes, Columbia TriStar Home Video, Universal Pictures Benelux, ACFK, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Sound Mix: Mono (westrex recording system)

Psycho begins with titles; jagged lines and harsh music (possibly created by violins) gives the impression that the film is a thriller. The establishing shot is of Phoenix, Arizona- it does exactly what it says, establishes the location/setting of the film. The camera then pans round and tracks into the hotel window as a kind of point of view shot. The shot following this show voyeuristic activity and a femme fatale character is instantly recognised. However, the deviant, bad imagery normally associated with the femme fatale is challenged as she is wearing white underwear. Connotations towards white suggest innocence and purity, something that is clearly opposing the stereotypical 'femme fatale'.

The female character is engaging with a married man which is morally quite wrong. However, in her case, the audience can sympathise with her as Sam (her lover) is clearly leading her on and making excuses for them not being a legitimate couple. There is mention of him having to pay his ex wife money- this raises suspicion as the involvement of money could cause trouble.

The female character is supposed to deposit money for her employer but when the camera cuts to a shot of her bedroom she is now in black underwear, suggesting that she may be descending into a bad person. Also in the mise en scene is a packed suitcase and the money, both suggesting that she is about to run away. This behaviour shows a change in her morality; this is conventional of the thriller genre as a morally unstable character is often utilised.

This is followed by a shot of the femme fatale in the car- the harsh music further confirms that she is going on the run; again another generic feature of the thriller genre. The get away is similar to the one in Thelma & Louise, with the dark mise en scene, wet roads etc.

The Third Man

Director: Carol Reed

Writers: Graham Green (story), Alexander Korda (story), Graham Greene (screenplay), Carol Reed, Orson Welles

Release Date: 3 December 1949 (UK)

Genre: Film Noir/ Mystery/ Thriller

Producers: Hugh Perceval (associate producer), Carol Reed (producer), Alexander Korda (producer), David O. Selznick (producer)

Production Companies: London Film Productions, British Lion Film Corporation

Distributors: London Film Productions, Selznick Releasing Organization, Sascha-Verleih, Twentieth Century- Fox Film Corporation, Action Gitanes, ACFK, Deutsche London-Film Verleih, Electric Pictures Ltd, Optimum Releasing, Rialto Pictures, Alpha Video Distributors, BIM Distribuzione, Canal +, Contender Entertainment Group, Continental Home Video, The Criterion Collection, Home Vision Entertainment, Jef Films International, Lion International Films, Optimum Home Entertainment, Spiegel Media GmbH, Universal Pictures Benelux, VCI Home Video, Vintage Video, Warner Home Video

Sound Mix: Mono (western electric recording)

The Third Man is an interesting Film Noir as it includes quite ambiguous characters; there is a femme fatale who appears deviant, manipulative yet glamorous. the fact that she is an actress strengthens her danger and makes the viewer question her; she is very enigmatic also. The character Harry Lime is shown through the use of music; it is repeated throughout the film and sort of connotes him and the kind of person he is.

The establishing shot used in The Third man is of the location- very similar to the film Psycho. However, it is followed by various shot of Vienna. The director Carol Reed filmed this in post-war Vienna meaning that everything that you see in the mise en scene was already there. The film talks of a fragmented city that is divided into zones for different countries- this reflects the actual circumstances of the time.

Music, followed by a voice over starts the film, engaging the audience. Shots of a black market appear near the beginning showing illegal trading and suggesting an ominous and crime ridden city. Also shown in the mise en scene are beautiful statues and buildings- this contrasts with shot of the illegal goods being sold and suggests that corruption and danger lies under the surface of what you see. This is backed up by a shot of a body floating in the water. Close-ups are used to show the exchanging of money and a mans arm with numerous watches on it; at no point do you see the faces of the criminals, only the hands. The close-up is utilised in all thriller films and is a key feature needed to see important details of the film. For example: a facial expression, a person's hand holding a gun etc. A steam train is used at the beginning of this film, they were used a lot in contemporary thrillers.

The character Holly Martins walks under a ladder- this is bad luck according to superstition and could have been used as a premonition of future events. Use of shadow is also shown a lot in this film to suggest that there's maybe two sides to him or that maybe something or someone is watching or following him. The shadows casted are large and unmissable and are utilised in the film as a convention of thriller films. There is a high angle shot of Holly Martins, making him seem insignificant as the shadow is bigger than him and the German man talking to him from the top of the stairs is portrayed as inferior as Holly is new in town. The low angle shot of the German man makes him look bigger also, as if her is peering/towering over Holly. All of this is shot on a large staircase- a generic feature if a thriller film.

The femme fatale is an actress and Harry Lime's lover, she is a suspicious character. Her clothing is generic of a femme fatale as she is glamorous and feminine and wears a hat to cover her face when needed. Other costumes featured in The Third Man are leather coats, trilby hats, long coats etc- all of which are significant to the Film Noir sub-genre. The scene of Harry Lime's funeral is unusual- the music isn't sad and no one is crying. This raises suspicion and creates questions of the sincerity of his death. The last time Holly Martins saw Harry was 7 years previous to his death; a lot could have changed during the time that past since seeing each other.

A tilt shot focuses on the British man- the canted angle shot suggesting disorientation. The British attitude to Americans is shown when the policeman says "just a scribbler with too much to drink in him" This also shows the the British officer is the confident one. A titled shot is also used as Holly enters the door of the femme fatales dressing room after watching her perform at the theatre.

Holly and the femme fatale return to see the German man that lives in Harry Lime's building and Holly peers out of the window- a high angle shot of the street is used, it is wet and shadowy. Wet streets are conventionally used in thrillers as well as the use of chiaroscuro lighting. The viewers suspicion of the femme fatale is heightened when she answers the phone and pretends that nobody talked when in fact the audience knows that Harry Lime was on the phone. There is a child in this scene too, he is an important character as he listens in at their conversation. The shot is a low angle from the kids point of view and it is also tilted; everything looks bigger. When Holly and Anna (femme fatale) return to see the man one evening, there is a crowd around his building and they find out that he is dead. The Little boy screams at Holly and runs after him as if he murdered the German man. The kid's shadow is large and chiaroscuro lighting is used; the boy appears innocent at first glance but his behaviour is devious; he is like a little devil and his intelligence is quite terrifying.

The film doesn't include subtitles for the parts where some characters speak german; this is so the audience are meant to feel like Holly- like hey are outsiders, foreigners. Holly thinks that Harry was murdered- this is a logical notion on his part as crime flourishes in fragmented cities like Vienna so it is a likely scenario. Especially given Harry's past. Wet, shadowed cobbled streets are shown in the mise en scene throughout the film to show that the city is potentially dangerous. The rule of thirds is use as well as chiaroscuro lighting. It is a low angle shot of the femme fatale but half of her body is shadowed- all of these features make the shot more interesting and follow the conventions of the thriller genre and film noir. A tilt shot is used when Holly and Anna are running down the stairs from the young boy; in this shot they are quite vulnerable.

Holly is quite a naive character as he is trying to help out his supposedly dead friend Harry but he doesn't know that Harry watered down penicillin and sold it through the black market, killing loads of people; he was a mass murderer. As Holly walks down a cobbled street there is a shot of a dark door way with a cat sitting on the step- cats are thought to be spiritual and known to be bad luck. The shot is slightly tilted, showing the viewers that there is something suspicious about it; it then moves to a close up of a pair of feet and the cat. The feet are Harry Lime's; his body and face are shadowed and the mise en scene is mostly black until his face is lit and the camera zooms into his face, he smirks and his expression is cheeky and suspicious as if he doesn't think that what he has done is wrong. Harry's music is played to reassure the audience that it is him. Holly's facial expression looks like he has seen a ghost which is ironic as he thought Harry was dead- this also proves Holly's naivety because he was wrong about his friend.

There is a low angle tilt shot of his shadow on the wall. Harry has metaphorically been a ghost to Holly throughout the film as a large shadow like Harry's followed him during the film, starting with the one on the staircase at the beginning of the film. Harry runs away, proving that he is guilty of something; his dark clothing suggests that he is a hunted man. He tries to hide by going underground into the sewage system; a claustrophobic space- this is another convention of thriller films. He then runs through a tunnel underground with the police and Holly after him, the tunnel suggests that they are closing in on him. The sewer could be a metaphor for Harry because he's a rat, a criminal. He is then trapped. Trying to climb the staircase, he struggles and shows vulnerability and finally justice is served.

The film follows a circular narrative because it ends back at the funeral. Holly gets out of a car to see Anna but she walks straight past him and down the road into a vanishing point. This shows her detached and unreadable character as the audience would have seen her fairly close relationship with Holly and so her actions at the end are quite shocking, reminding the viewers that she is the femme fatale.

Femme Fatales

The phrase "femme fatale" is french for "deadly woman". A femme fatale is an alluring and seductive character who uses feminine devices like beauty, her charm and sexuality to lead other characters into compromising and dangerous situations. The outcome is quite often fatal- reiterating the meaning behind the name "femme fatale". She is a character utilised a lot within film, especially film noir. Her ability to entice her male victim was the earliest stories seen in literature; this is still used today in modern films. The character is most commonly seen within the crime or thriller genre as she is known to have a dark background. The ideas involved within the femme fatale character are closely tied to fears and perceptions that people have of the female witch. Misogyny is something else to look at when thinking about the femme fatale character as she shows signs of independence and is definitely a strong character; she goes against the wholesome traditional female roles. In some cases the femme fatale could be the victim of something or become a sort of heroine character, this is very rarely though. Often you see objects with the that suggest their bad character (e.g money, red nail varnish, red lipstick) and symoblism such as black underwear. This suggests a bad character also because of the connotations associated with the colour black- a change in character can be shown through the transition of white clothing or underwear to black. This is something that is utilised in Psycho.

It is quite conventional to see femme fatales smoking, especially in film noir's as it was something that was used in almost all of them.

Forthcoming Thriller Research

I am currently researching the tv drama Spooks and the film Seven and will be creating posts on them soon.

Film Noir

(Sunset Boulevard, 1950)

Film Noir is a type of cinematography that is associated with a low-key black and white visual style. It is particularly recognised as a style of hollywood crime; it's popularity stretched through from the early 1940's to the late 1950's. This style of film is suspected to have partly emerged from the crime fiction that appeared in the U.S during the depression. The crime/ thriller conventions of a film noir generally emphasize cynical attitudes and highlight sexual motivations; alot of features of film noir are utilised today and often given a modern edge. The tone of film noir is quite pessimistic, depicting a corrupt world. Alot of the time they are imbued with sexual innuendo and self-reflexive humor also.

(The Third Man, 1949)
Visual Style:
* Low key lighting
* Light/ dark contrasts
* Use of shadows
* Obscuring of characters' faces
* Tilt angles, Low-angle shots, Close- ups
* Reflection in mirrors
* Chiarascuro lighting

Structure and Narrative:
* Flashbacks
* Voiceover narration
* First person narration
* Shooting primary narrative as a flashback

(I Confess, 1953)

Tilt shots and shadows are also generic conventions of a Film Noir and they are utilised in The Third Man.

Plot, Character and Settings:
* Crime/ murder
* Criminal motivation
* An investigation- by a private eye, concerned amateur or police detective
* Adulterous affairs
* False suspicions/ red herrings
* Betrayals/ double crosses
* Morally questionable heroes
* Femme fatales, corrupt policemen, jealous husbands, down-and-out writers
* Cigarette smoking
* Urban/ city setting
* Night/ rain

Initial Ideas (revised)

Sub-Genre: Film Noir/ Crime/ Thriller
Location: Elm Hill, Old parts of Norwich, Cobbled street, Miadshead hotel area, Bedroom (old looking) - filmed at night (street lights, deserted area)
Cast: Femme Fatale (main character)- Holly Delaney, Running Man-, Killer/ Follower-, Lover-
Costume: Femma Fatale- faux fur coat, heel, beret, clutch bag, Running Man- messy suit, hat, briefcase, Killer/ Follower- long coat, brogues, hat, Lover- white vest (blood-stained)
Props: Cigarettes, Empty vodka bottle, Make up, Jewellery, Nail varnish
Objects: Dresser, Bed
Responsibilities: Ryan, Sabrina, Sam, Dulcie: Casting, Filming, Lighting, Costume, Make-up, Editing

Narrative Structure: Our thriller should sort of follow Todorov's theory as their is suggestion of an equilibrium and disequilibrium in the opening of the the thriller. If the film was to be made fully it would follow have a circular narrative, returning to the opening sequence at the end to explain the situation.

Character Background:

Femme Fatale: been a victim of violent physical abuse as a child (from her father) Then got in with bad crowds to breakaway from her childhood and family - her lover is bad?

Lover: involved in dodgy dealings with money etc

Killer: femme fatales lover owes the man something? did something to him? - all involving money and social status (mafia type?)

Intertextual References:

Tiffany Lamp, pearl necklace, femme fatale character, trilby hats, long coats, killing in the bed- all references from Once Upon a Time in America.

Killer in the shadows with his face not visible, wet cobbled streets- references from The Third Man.

Birds, Black dress (like the black underwear) showing that the femme fatale is bad/ devious- references from Psycho.

Thriller Film Audience Research

What I want to find out:
The audience expectations of independent/ mainstream films
Which age group prefers the thriller genre
Which sub-genre of thriller do people prefer
Do the audience prefer a male or female lead
What locations are most thrilling to the target market

What costumes would you expect to see in the film noir genre?

How I am going to find out:
Questionnaire/ Research

Questionnaire

Questionnaire

Questionnaire

Show images of various locations and get people to choose which one they find most thrilling

Show images of various costumes and get people to choose which one/s they think fit the film noir genre best

What I expect to find out:
The differences between the two types of film and what the expectations for an independent film are
Adults prefer thriller films- most likely to be young adults (age 16-30)
Action/ Thrillers, Crime/ Thrillers and Horror/ Thrillers are most popular
I suspect that a male lead will be favoured because the majority of films use a man as the main character, however a female lead will probably be popular amongst women
The audience will probably choose locations that have been utilised a lot in various thriller films

Classic costumes like trilby hats, long coats, high heels will be the most common answer from the audience as that is what is seen in old film noir thrillers

Independent Film:

It is a film produced mostly outside of a major film studio; they are produced with a low budget and unfamiliar actors and heavily rely on word of mouth and awards for their success. They are usually exhibited and distributed on limited release but their main appeal is the quirky unusual way in which they are filmed and the narrative of the film.

Examples: Cube, Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Blair Witch Project, Lost in Translation, Mememto, Clerks, Donnie Darko, The Usual Suspects, Reservoir Dogs

Mainstream Film:

It is a commercial film made by a major film company with a high budget. They are distributed to cinemas across the world and rely on famous actors to boost viewings. The narrative is often predictable and a big feature used in mainstream is special effects.

Examples: Die Hard, Transformers, American Pie, Avatar, Twilight, Pirates of The Caribbean, King King, Indiana Jones, Toy Story, Harry Potter

Questionnaire and Results:

From looking a the results of my Thriller audience research, I have found that "mainstream" films are more popular than "independent". This result was expected because "mainstream" is what most people are used and they feature famous actors. Their hight budget and use of special effects wins over the audience also.

Crime and Action were the most popular sub-genre followed by film noir; action and crime are both utilised quite a lot in thriller films and are very fast paced when done "mainstream", meaning that they keep the audience engaged. The crime sub-genre generally has tension-filled moments throughout as well.

The results from the questionnaire show that the audience prefer a male lead rather than a female lead. This shows misogynous behaviour and perhaps a superior view of men; this sexist view would have, however, been sub-consciously created by the audience. This is because they would have witnessed a large majority of male leading roles for years.

When researching into Thriller films, I looked at locations quite a lot. The questionnaire shows that a wet, damp, dark street and basement were found to be the most thrilling. This is quite an interesting set of results because they contrast; a basement is isolated and streets are very open. However, they are both dark and have places for people to lurk behind. Shadows can be created in both and the two locations have been utilised in various Thriller films.

The majority of people that took part in my questionnaire circled the right costumes foe a Film Noir. This is good because it reassures me that the sub-genre can be easily recognised and that the audience has an understanding of it. It also makes planning for my Thriller opening easier because I can now look at my target audience's opinions and views and take them into consideration.

Perfume Advert

Analysis of Advert

This advert utilises a generic British signifier- the Union Jack. I also made the advert for a British label so that the concept makes sense. The product promotes youth (which is clear from the title of the fragrance), a rock 'n' roll lifestyle and the effortless British attitude. I conveyed this by using George Craig in the advert; he is a British artist and model, best known for being the front man of One Night Only and face of Burberry. He is not hugely famous, so doesn't distract from the concept of the advert too much; however, he is recognisable and has the preppy/indie look that Fred Perry is all about.

I would say that the unique selling point for this advert is George Craig and the unmissable Britishness of it. The target market for this product is obvious from the name of the fragrance; it is aimed at young men. The demographic for this advert is mainly individuals- people who like to be different, yet it is also aimed at a quite middle class market as Fred Perry is quite an expensive label. However, the advert is distinctively British, attracting quite a patriotical market. George Craig's appearance also influences a kind of 'rock 'n' roll'/ 'indie' style, so the advert should appeal to people that are into that kind of music scene and aspire to have that kind of style.

The advert particularly shows creativity and connotes a kind of spontaneous attitude- the self-actualization section of Maslow's Theory has been used in order to convey this. The aspirational qualities of it are to have a young, spontaneous attitude and to have a cool, effortless style; the advert is trying to persuade a new concept of "youth", using classic British style.

The colours of the Union Jack connote Britishness. The use of black and white pictures gives the advert a classic look and connotes a rock 'n' roll theme. The subtlety of the Fred Perry logo fits the advert well and the fact that it is golden suggests that it is a well-known label that has a great reputation. The perfume bottles are Navy and almost the same colour as the blue on the Union Jack- this is so that the fragrance relates to the advert and fits the colour scheme.

Drag Me To Hell

Director: Sam Raimi

Writers: Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi

Release Date: 27 May 2009 (UK)

Genre: Horror/ Thriller

Producers: Grant Curtis (producer), Joshua Donen (executive producer), Joseph Drake (executive producer), Nathan Kahane (executive producer), Ivan Raimi (associate producer, co-producer), Sam Raimi (producer), Cristen Carr Strubbe (co-producer), Robert G. Tapert (producer)

Production Companies: Universal Pictures, Ghost House Pictures, Buckaroo Entertainment, Mandate Pictures, Tippett Studio

Distributors: Blega Fils, GAGA, Metropolitan Filexport, RCV Film Distribution, Saigon Movies Media, Scanbox Entertainment, United International Picture (UIP), Universal Pictures Canada, Universal Pictures, Viva International Pictures, CatchPlay, Golden Screen Cinemas, Golden Village Pictures, Hollywood Classic Entertainment, Kam & Ronson Enterprise Co, Lionsgate, Paramount, Prorom Media-Trade, RCV Home Entertainment, Spentzos Films, Universal Studios Home Entertainment,

Special Effects: ReThink VFX, Curv Studios, Michael Kaelin & Associates, Tippett Studio, i.e. Effects

Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

Drag Me To Hell is a Horror, however it features a lot of conventions of a Thriller film. As the film is a sub-genre, it still uses common aspects of the Thriller genre but within a Horror story line.

The narrative structure of the film follows Todorov's theory- It begins with an equilibrium which is then disrupted, causing a disequilibrium, sparking off a series of events. His theory then says that the problems are solved, restoring the equilibrium. However, in Drag Me To Hell, the end equilibrium is then disturbed once again to create a shocking ending.

It is common for characters in Thrillers to back up towards something; It is an action that makes the audience feel that the character is disoriented and it is also a kind of premonition that a bad event is about to occur. Fear is created through shadows in this film also; a convention that is utilised in most Thriller films. The use of rain, wet streets and dark lighting are also common aspects of Thrillers that have been used in this Horror. A location that particularly stood out to me in Drag Me To Hell was the car park- this is very generic of a Thriller as the location is an enclosed space, connoting claustrophobia. The lighting in a car park is quite dim; there are a lot of dark, shadowy places for people to lurk. It is an ominous location.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Director: Guy Ritchie

Writers: Guy Ritchie

Release Date: 28 August 1998 (UK)

Genre: Comedy/ Crime/ Thriller

Produced By: Stephen Marks (executive producer), Georgia Masters (co-producer), Peter Morton (executive producer), Angad Paul (executive producer), Sebastian Pearson (associate producer), Jan Roldanus (associate producer), Trudy Styler (executive producer), Steve Tisch (executive producer), Jon Slan (executive producer), Ronaldo Vasconcellos (line producer), Matthew Vaughn (producer)

Production Companies: Summit Entertainment, The Steve Tisch Company, SKA Films, HandMade Films, Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Distributors: The Steve Tisch Company, Universal Pictures, Gramercy Pictures, BV-film AS, Falcon, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Distribution, REP Distribution, United International Pictures (UIP), Warner Sogefilms S.A, BDG, Columbia Home Video, Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International, Columbia TriStar Home Video, LK-TEL, PolyGram Video, Universal Pictures Canada, V8
Special Effects: Cinesite (digital effects), Ken Lailey Effects

Sound Mix:Dolby Digital

User Ratings:

Males- 8.2

Females- 7.7

Aged Under 18- 8.5

Males Under 18- 8.6

Females Under 18- 6.5

Aged 18-29- 8.4

Males 18-29- 8.4

Females 18-29- 8.3

Aged 30-44- 7.9

Males 30-44- 8.0

Females 30-44- 7.8

User Comment:

**********- CriticNick

"I suppose the most obvious feature of this movie is that it is beautifully balanced between being serious and humorous at the same time. The characters are two-dimensional. The villains are menacing, and yet they are made to look like idiots, and the good guys think they are so smart yet keep getting the rug pulled from under them. They are all projected as 'cool' yet the situation is always out of their control. Maybe it could be called a satire on true life."

"I haven't even mentioned the excellent and unique camerawork, speaker blowing soundtrack, beautifully threaded plot, perfect ending and the grittiest visuals I've seen. You wont see any reflective glass laden sky scrapers here, or 'over head city shots', or incredible special effects. This movie has actors I have never heard of, dialogues that you have to rewind and replay to understand, buildings that look as though they have been condemned for demolition, cars that wouldn't even be seen in our scrap yards, has probably been made with a budget that most movies in Hollywood use for make-up alone, has no love scenes, or romance or complex relationships, no Oscar-worthy performances, and yet is perfect entertainment."

The first shot you see in LSTSB is a group people crowding a salesman. The man is selling goods illegally, so it is quite like the black market trade utilised in The Third Man. A cultural signifier is recognised almost immediately; the accents of the characters gives away the fact that they are from London. A mid close-up of the salesman is used and then the camera tracks round to the crowd, showing the interest in his quick sales. This is followed by police sirens; the men abandon the sales and run when the police come, suggesting that they are bad characters with criminal behaviours- a common convention of characters in thriller films. The use of gritty, unglamorous locations (wet floors, empty warehouses, garages etc) also refer to the thriller genre as it is something that is utilised in almost all of them. This film is shot in an urban/ city area, with blurred streets and a generally dark mise-en-scene; key lighting is used to highlight some characters and events occurring.

The main storyline of the film involves money and debt, suggesting crime. Aswell as the dark clothing and long coats; this is seen alot in thrillers, especially older thrillers and film noirs. The group of three men used in Once Upon a Time in America is used in this film too, suggesting that they stick together and that they are quite intimidating/ menacing. Violence is often incorporated in thriller films, as it is in this one; the character Harry dips someone's head in a barrel and there is the constant suggestion of violence through the dialogue used and the use of guns being featured in it. A shocking shot is of a man hanging from the ceiling and having knives thrown at him- this shows really extreme violent behaviour and reminds the audience of the criminal and thrilling aspects of the film. You see a scar on the face of one of the characters, causing them to be seen as having a dark past- this also makes the character immediately suspicious of them.

The boss owns a sex shop, this automatically reflects that he is a sleazy, seedy character. A low angle shot is used when the group enter a building, this makes the building tower over slightly, making you feel wary. This is reinforced by the characters' body language- it seems as if they are trying to be inconspicuous. Drugs are another suggestion of bad character used in LSTSB. There is a cage-type thing around the doorway of the drug den for security which refers to their criminal activity and could be suggestive of a prison cell.

British signifiers used in this film include a red phone box, the characters accents and some colloquialisms used. Phrases like "northern monkey" and "southern fairy" are both unmistakably british insults. Comedy is used in the dialogue- hence the sub-genre of the film. Close ups, extreme close ups and low angle shots are all used to reveal more about the characters- the low angle shots particularly create suspicion and an ominous feeling. Shadows (a common feature of the thriller genre) are utilised in this film along with the characters use of a torch. Stairs are often used in thrillers and they are used in this film, along with large shadows of the characters feet stretching across them. A rare feature of the film that i noticed was that at certain points a shot would be frozen and then a voice over would be used. Close ups of luggage are used quite a lot in thrillers also, to suggest that there is something in it to be wary of; this aspect is used in LSTSB in the form of a close up of a duffel bag.

This is not a conventional thriller as it uses dry humour; humour isn't something that is seen a lot in the thriller genre and so i think it makes the film stand out from others.

A Clockwork Orange

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Writers: Stanley Kubrick (screenplay), Anthony Burgess (novel)

Release Date: 13 January 1972 (UK)

Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller

Producers: Stanley Kubrick (producer), Si Litvinoff (executive producer), Max L. Raab (executive producer), Bernard Williams (associate producer)

Production Companies: Warner Bros. Pictures, Hawk Films

Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures, Columbia-Warner Distributors

Asociácia slovenských filmových klubov (ASFK), Argentina Video Home, Warner Home Video, Warner Bros.

Sound Mix: Mono, Dolby Digital (re-issue)

User Comment:

********** - ickyptang

"Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" is one of the first movies that proved that cinema can be the most enlightening and amazing art form around."

"the film did exactly what it was supposed to. It showed how the world can be a weird and horrible place, and how this young man who goes around torturing people and being a wicked person ultimately doesn't have to pay for what he does"

"So this film brilliantly satirises this world, showcasing pure evil and people who ordinarily do not perform such evil are forced to laugh and observe what we all hate to admit is the truth. It's sick, but at the same time brilliant. And when one gets down to the core, you can't really explain it. It just is what it is. It's real. No one really sees it very often, but it is out there and everyone knows. And no one does anything about it. In essence, "A Clockwork Orange" is the ultimate satire, and one of the ultimate film experiences. It's art, it's life, and in a funky way, it's entertaining."

User Ratings:

Males- 8.6

Females- 8.2

Under 18- 9.3

Males Under 18- 9.2

Females Under 18- 9.4

Aged 18-29 - 8.7

Males 18-29 - 8.7

Females 18-29 - 8.5

Awards:

Won: Hugo Award, Silver Ribbon, KCFCC Award, NYFCC Award,

Nominated: Oscar (4), BAFTA Award (7), DGA Award, Golden Globe (3), WGA Award (screen)

The film starts with a sound-bridge of classical music- it creates tension instantly. The first image shown is of an unusual character staring at the screen; his make up is over exaggerated for use in ordinary day to day life and his facial expression is suspicious and ominous. The camera then slowly zooms out, revealing more characters and the room around them. This opening is very theatrical; making the audience question the genre. However, it then quickly cuts to a homeless man singing; tall shadows of people walking to towards him appear on the road. The people walking up to the tramp are the same characters from the start.

The lighting is very dark, with only streetlights in the distance- this is a generic convention of a Thriller. It is suggested from he oncoming group of people that they are some sort of gang. This is reinforced by their appearance; they all seem to be dressed similarly- the black hat being the common feature in all of their costumes. All of their costumes are light coloured though, which connotes innocence; this is ironic as the group seem to be far from it.

There is a close-up of the main character looking quite evil and dangerous- this suggests that something bad might occur. All of the men have bats; suggesting that they are violent. This shot if very interesting as you can only really see the outline of the men because of the darkly lit street. It then swiftly cuts to another group of men trying to rape a woman. This group is dressed in camouflage clothing, suggesting that they are rivals of the first gang.

After violently beating up the other gang, the first group of men get into a car and drive off. The image of them driving is another theatrical feature; the background flashes past rapidly in the background, making it seem slightly unreal. You then get a point of view shot of the long dark road they are driving on. Their driving is reckless and they don't mind out for other vehicles or people- suggesting that they too are reckless and quite laid back about it.

The main character lies to a woman to get inside her house; this makes the audience even more aware that he is a dark character. The group, once inside the house, proceed to attack the woman and her husband. The main character doing this all whilst singing "singing in the rain"- this suggests that he is very calm and does not care about what he is doing to the couple. It also could suggest mental instability. A lot of long shots and mid-long shots are used in this scene; close-ups are used when necessary, showing the extremity of the situation for the victims and how violent and unnerved their attackers are.

After this attack it cuts back to the first location- the milk bar. The colour scheme inside the room is monochrome which is well suited to the film. The colour black represents the group of men; their dark behaviour and violent attitude. Whereas the white represents the innocents; the victims of the gangs actions. The use of a voiceover is to tell the story, as there isn't a huge amount of dialogue used. However, the non-diegetic classical music is played almost constantly- creating tension and fear all the way through.

Jackie Brown

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writers: Quentin Tarantino (written for the screen by), Elmore Leonard (novel)
Release Date: 20 March 1998 (UK)
Genre: Crime/ Thriller
Production Companies: Miramax Films (presents), A Band Apart, Lawrence Bender Productions (uncredited)
Disrtibutors: Miramax Films, Bac Films, Columbia TriStar Egmont Film Distributors, TriStar Films AB, ECT, Egmont Film, Filmes Castello Lopes, Frenetic Films, Kidmark a Division of Trimark Entertainment, Laurenfilm, Líder Films, RCV Film Distribution, Scotia International Filmverleih, Svenska Filminstitutet, Alliance Video, BMG Video, Imagem Filmes, Impuls Home Entertainment, KANAALTWEE, Miramax Home Entertainment, New Star Home Entertainment, Nordisk Film, RCV Home Entertainment, Starz! Network, TF1 Vidéo, Universum Film
Special Effects: Bellissimo/Belardinelli Effects

User Comment:
******** - Mattias Petersson

"Tarantino sets a different mood here compared to the more frantic and violent Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. This is more of a slow crime story that focuses more on being cool than being shocking."

"Tarantino seems to handle the whole story more gently than in Pulp Fiction. He doesn't stress it, he doesn't run the risk of over-doing the "cool" parts. The end result is enjoyable but a lot more somber than what you're used to from Tarantino."


User Ratings:
Males- 7.6
Females- 7.4
Under 18- 7.9
Males Under 18- 8.1
Females Under 18- 5.3
Aged 18-29 - 7.7
Males 18-29 - 7.7
Females 18-29 - 7.6

Awards:
Won: Silver Berlin Bear, Golden Slate, KCFCC Award
Nominated: Oscar, Saturn Award, Golden Berlin Bear, DVD Premiere Award, Image Award, MTV Movie Award, Golden Satellite Award, Screen Actors Guild Award

Tarantino breaks the conventions of the Thriller genre by using a middle aged black woman at the front of the film. It begins with a tracking shot of her (Jackie Brown) and continues with a low-angle and and close-up tracking shot. This shows the importance of the character, as she is the only character that you see for the first minute or two.

Samuel L. Jackson plays the part of Ordell: a drug dealer and gun runner. The film gives an unglamorous representation of L.A, by the use of location etc. Quentin Tarantino utilises Thriller conventions in the murder sequence of Beaumont Livingston. Ordell is his benefactor; you can tell the characters' importance by their costumes. Beaumont looks more vulnerbale in an old baggy basketball vest whereas Ordell is in much smarter clothing; Ordell is clearly superior, this is shown by the fact that Beaumont walks behind him.

Approaching the murder sequence, Ordell puts Beaumont in the boot of his car- Beaumont thinking that he is going to pop out of the boot and pull a gun out on someone when they reach the said location. He only agrees to this because Ordell bailed him out of jail; he owes him. The use of a boot is a Thriller signifier as it is a claustrophobic space. There is then a close up of Ordell after he gets into the car- he has a gun and is putting gloves on. There is also the use of noir lighting; all of these features lead the audience to believe that Ordell is a suspicious character and creates bad predictions. This is reinforced by the deserted, wet street that they drive from- another generic convention of a Thriller film.

A panning shot shot is used as Ordell drives round the corner to an isolated area; it's an unglamorous urban waste ground. The murder shot of Beaumont is captured through a long distance shot, connoting an emotionless, detached attitude. Ordell drives off swiftly afterwards, with his music still playing, suggesting that he is relaxed about the situation and pretty cold blooded.