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.

Thelma & Louise

Director: Ridley Scott

Writer: Callie Khouri

Release Date: 12 July 1991 (UK)

Genre: Adventure/ Crime/ Drama/ Thriller

Producers: Mimi Polk, Callie Khouri (co-producer), Dean O'Brien (co-producer), Ridley Scott (producer)

Production Companies: MGM, Pathé Entertainment, Percy Main, Star Partners III Ltd. (in association with)
Distributors: MGM, NBC, Alamode Film, Chapel Distribution, Columbus Film,
Tobis Filmkunst, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Argentina Video Home, Columbia Home Video, MGM Home Entertainment, MGM/UA Home Entertainment, United International Pictures, Warner Home Video

User Comment:
********** - Steve (ruth.boaz)

"It is clever, exciting, and funny and is shot in the middle of the breathtaking scenery of the American Southwest. However, the thing that makes it special is its illustration of pure friendship."

User Ratings:

Males- 7.2

Females-7.7

Under 18- 7.3

Males Under 18- 7.8

Females Under 18- 6.2

Aged 18-29 - 7.3

Males 18- 29 - 7.3

Females 18-29 - 7.8

The Film:

Thelma & Louise is set in Colorado, America. The country music and landscape are cultural signifiers. The two characters are very different from one another; this is evident from the first few minutes of the film. Louise has a job and is dressed smartly; Thelma on the other hand has messy hair and is quite scatty. She is less independent that Louise and is controlled by her vein, conceited and cheating husband.

At the beginning of the scene we looked at, Thelma & Louise are in a well lit bar with lots of people- this is quite a safe environment. However, it then cuts to the car park- a generic location for a Thriller; the mise en scene is dark and the car park is deserted. The only people in it are Thelma, who is drunk and unstable and the man she had been dancing with. The "friendly" man automatically creates suspicion and this is proved when he turns violent and tries to rape her. Louise steps in to help- acting as the hero character of the film; reiterating the contrast between the two. Louise is like the male figure; she carries a gun which is commonly thought to be a male weapon.

Their characters personalities are reflected through their costumes also: Thelma wears girly, feminine clothing. Whereas Louise wears more masculine things; her clothes suggest that she is stronger than Thelma, her behaviour seems to be similar to the male also. She shoots Harlem, which is a very irrational reaction: a reaction that is more likely to come from a man as they are recognised to be more irrational than women.

The roads they drive on are dark, wet and seem to be enclosing in on them; a generic feature of the Thriller genre. The light is broken up, suggesting that their lives have been broken up- now that they are on the run. They are surrounded by huge trucks which are male signifiers; their small car is vulnerable compared and it sort of personifies them. This also suggests that there is a male vs. female theme to the film.

Ridley Scott seems to be representing the midwestern males as misogynists throughout the film. For example: Daryl (Thelma's husband) and Harlem (Rapist) The attitude of men in the era that the film is set is that a woman's role is to gratify and serve men; the quote "we don't live in that kind of world Thelma" backs this. Scott turns this on it's head by using two women as main characters- this is quite uncommon and adds a twist to the Thriller genre.

Essex Boys

Director: Terry Winsor
Writing Credits: Jeff Pope, Terry Winsor
Release Date: 14 July 2000 (UK)
Genre: Crime/ Thriller
Production Company: Granada Film Productions
Distributors: Buena Vista, Filmark, Madman Entertainment, Miramax Films, Pathe
Producers: Pippa Cross (executive producer), Paul Frift (line producer), Jeff Pope (producer)
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

User Comment:
******** - Donald Thomson

"Winsor's film, it seems to me, brilliantly evokes both the drabness and cruelty of the criminal mindset. It does this partly through the choice of dull, flat Essex landscapes with their coastal marshes, grey motorway links, flash nouveau riche mansions and the tawdry glamour of seafront locations."

"The characters are both repellent and yet curiously mesmerising. This is not a film in which it is easy to lose interest."


User Ratings:
Males- 5.9
Females- 5.9
Under 18- 4.9
Males Under 18- 5.0
Females Under 18- 4.7
Aged 18-29 - 6.1
Males 18-29 - 6.0
Females 18- 29 - 6.7


Essex Boys has a very authentic feel to it as it is based on a true story. At the beginning of the film, while the credit are on, there is a non-diegetic sound of perhaps a car being scratched; this automatically identifies the genre of the film. This is also backed up by the use of black and white on the screen. The first shot is quite ominous with dust, cobwebs etc and the mise en scene is overall very dark. The establishing shot is of Billy in a garage- he is lit by chiaroscuro lighting; also suggesting the genre and creating suspense. The garage is a good choice of location because it's a claustrophobic space and the darkness of it emphasises the corruption of the characters.

A voiceover is used as a cultural signifier; we automatically notice the Essex accent. The purpose of it's use is to engage the audience and to address them directly.

The first shot of Jason Locke is from a point of view shot. The image of him is very powerful as he stands out in the garage, staring straight through the car window towards Billy. As they are driving, you notice that there are wet, deserted roads, enclosing walls around them and a highly unglamorous industrial, grey look. All of these visual aspects show how Winsor is utilising the Thriller genre. The tunnel that they drive through is used as a kind of vanishing point; connoting claustrophobia once again but also could be a metaphor, as it looks like the barrell of a gun.

The "Welcome to Essex" sign is very ironic as the image given to the audience of the county so far isn't good. It is used to take the audience into "Jason's country". The light that goes across the car window as they are driving looks like jailbars; suggesting that billy is being blinded and corrupted by Jason. He has been brought into Jason's world through the job which he naively thinks is just chauffuering Jason wherever he wants to go. Another thing that could be suggested from that image is that the light is like piano keys; Billy is being played by Jason.
Jason is a very violent character, Billy finds this out when looking through the wing mirror of the van to see Jason attacking a man. This is done through a point of view shot and is quite a common feature in Thrillers. The violent behaviour of Billy tells the audience that he is a dark character; maybe a criminal or someone with a dark past.

At the end of this clip, the victim is left stranded, in a horrible situation. Jason and Billy drive off and a shot of Essex landscape follows, reitterating the statement that it is Jason's country. By leaving the victim stranded there, it suggests that he has been kept as a prisoner in Jason's world. You can see the white van driving off in the distance of this shot; the van is another generic signifier of a Thriller.

Once Upon a Time in America

Director: Sergio Leone
Writing Credits: Harry Grey (novel "The Hoods"), Leonardo Benvenuti, Piero De Benardi, Enrico Mediolo, Franco Arcalli, Franco Ferrini, Sergio Leone
Producers: Claudio Mancini, Arnon Milchan
Release Date: 1 June 1984 (USA)
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Production Companies: Embassy International pictures, PSO International, Rafran Cinematografica, Regency Enterprises, Warner Bros, Wishbone
Distributors: Societe Noucvelle de Cinematographic (SNC), Warner Home Video, Ladd Company, Warner Bros. Pictures, National Broadcasting Company (NBC), Adams Films, Jugendfilm-Verleih, eauropean Video Corporation, Flashstar Home Video, LW Editora, Warner Bros.
Special Effects: Intrigue, Corridori G & A Cinematografica S.r.l
Sound Effects: Cine Audio Effects
Music recorded at: Forum Studio
Titles & Opticals: Studio 4

User Comment:
********** - Philip Van der Veken

"Sergio Leone is a real master when it comes to creating a special atmosphere, full of mystery, surprises and drama... He's one of the few directors who understands the art of cutting a movie in such a way that you stay focused until the end."

"The second reason why this movie is so great is the music. Ennio Morricone, who is seen as the greatest writer of film music ever, did an excellent job."


User Ratings:
Males- 8.4
Females- 7.6
Under 18- 8.4
Males under 18- 8.8
Females under 18- 5.6

Awards:
Won: Award of the Japanese Academy, BAFTA Film Award, Silver Ribbon, Kinema Junpo Award, LAFCA Award, Sant Jardi

Nominated: BAFTA Award, Golden Globe


At the very beginning of Once Upon a Time in America, while the credits are rolling, is a sound-bridge; it's of the song "God Bless America". The film is set in the USA, but the purpose of using that particular song is to establish an ironic tone as a girl gets shot within the first few minutes of the film,suggesting and creating an image of corruption. This soundtrack is also featured in "The Deer Hunter" (1978) to criticise the USA's involvement in Vietnam. Therefore, Sergio Leone is possibly using it to make a critical statement about the USA in the same way. It could also be a sort of tribute to Michael Cimino; a recognition and agreement of his work.

The film mainly focuses on gangsters and police corruption; this is easily recognisable within the first couple of minutes. The first feature of the film is the non-diegetic sound of footsteps, this is a generic convention of a thriller film; it creates tension. The following sound is of a door opening which increases suspense. The establishing shot is in a door way- the dark noir lighting also signifies the genre. This is followed by a high angle close-up of Eve's face; she wears shining pearls, a faux fur coat and red nail varnish; indicating that she is a femme fatale character. This is suggested by her glamourous look; the red nail varnish connotes danger. It is not until she puts the tiffany light on that her face is really revealed; the lighting is clear and simple, giving a beautiful image of her. Eve's costume reveals to the audience that the film is set in the 1930's.

You can see that something is bothering her, she pulls the bed cover back to reveal bullet holes in the shape of a human body on the bed (high angle shot). The bullet holes reinforce the genre of the film as it is a common visual device used TV crime dramas (such as CSI). The rule of thirds is also used here- she is on the right of the screen.

The next thing to happen is a gunshot; a man then comes out of the shadows, followed by two others. The body language of the three men connotes danger and suggests that they are definite intruders. The 3:1 ratio makes it a sort of bullying situation, especially seeing as there are three men and one woman. Their costumes are conventional; they wear long coats, dark colours and hats; the fact that they are all in brown also suggests that they work as a group/ team. The behaviour of the men is intimidating as they are all staring at Eve and their faces aren't very clear because their hats cover their eyes. The man standing in the centre seems to be the "alpha" male and leader of the group.

The camera then focuses on the intruders closing in on Eve. She is wearing light coloured clothing- they are wearing dark; this shows that they are the villainous characters. The camera then cuts to the body shape on the bed, suggesting that it has been put there ready for her. The lamp and her shirt are the same colour; when the light is turned off it indicates that she is dead.

The camera cuts really quickly to the next victim: who is violently assaulted. A close-up is used to show the vulnerability of the victim and the brutality of his attackers. The three men are still together, suggesting that they travel as a group and that they are cowards because they have to work as a trio. The fact that they choose easy targets (a woman and an overweight man) back this up.

The film then cuts to an Opium den; a scene with Noodles out of his on drugs. Furthermore reinforcing the ironic representation of America. The non-diegetic sound-bridge of the phone ringing links Noodles to a flashback of his murdered friends- the ringing sound is in his imagination.

The rain and dark mise-en-scene of the next cut signifies the thriller genre very strongly. The street lights and fire are shown through noir and chiarosciro lighting and the soaking street connotes death. The body bags and labels are another convention of the genre. Also, the fact that Noodles is watching tells the audience that he is involved/ connected to the deaths in some way- making him a generic thriller character.

Presentation On British Thrillers

In groups, we had to research into the three British Drama/ Thriller films: Red Road, London to Brighton and This Is England. We then had to present the information that we collected infront of the class. This is the powerpoint presentation that my group and I created: