Fargo- a review

Director: Joel Coen
Year: 1996
Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller

The costumes play a part in establishing characters. This is especially true of Jerry Lundegaard who is portrayed as dull. This is evident in his choice of clothing. They are alawys beige or brown. His office also reflects his personality. It's bare and organised. There are trophies in one corner which could give the idea that he's achieved something. The problem is that he's achieved something in golf; which is really boring.

The use of setting is also akey factor in the use of mise en scene in 'Fargo'. The film's set in a flat area covered in snow. This flatnesscan therefore portray a sense of barreness and isolation. The snow could symbolise errieness and coldness.

The establishment of charcaters is also important in the use of mise en scene. Jerry Lundegaard is portrayed as bland (his clothes) and passive. He also seems to hide his anger and gives tell-tell signs that he's uncomfortable (his fidgets with his face). The two henchmen contrast greatly. While one sits quietly, showing no facial expressions at all and only cracks right at the end, the other one gets angry easily, swearing all the time. All the characters are, however, the same in one way; their accent.

I personally didn't like 'Fargo' as i don't like thriller films. The killings didn't seem as much of a surprise as I thought they were going to be because they happened all the time. I also thought that the storyline was boring and lacked any sort of momentum. The thing I have learn from 'Fargo' about film-making is that you don't always have need non-diegetic noises to create tension. There is an example of this at the end of the film when the police officer sees one of the henchmen puttintg the other one through the wood-chipper. Coen creates the tension via diegetic (the woodchipper) and not by diegetic noises (background music).

Shrek- use of mise en scene (22nd Sept)

Director: Andrew Adamson
Vicky Jenson
Year: 2001 USA
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy/Family/Fantasy/Romance

• the book- panning shot, taking the micky out of Walt Disney films
• use of light- the beam on top of the book
• diegetic (doors slamming) and non-diegetic (background music0 are both used
• using everyday actions to introduce cast.
• shrek uses the same actions as the hunts men- not that different
• underneath camera angle make the hunters look big
• shrek looks small through his window
• lighting on shreks face make him look dangerous
• when he comes out of the toilet at the beginning the angle is low making him look large
• shows where he lives- the use of lighting (surrondings are the oppiste of the owner)
• map on the ground might show what happens later on.
• Shrek is relaxed while the hunters are busy and hurrying around
• the part where the hunter threatens the ogre. Shrek over powwers him immediately. Shows power and weakness- quite sarcastic

Piartes of the Caribbean- Curse of the Black Pearl (14th Sept)

Director: Gore Verbinski
Year: 2003
Genre: Action/Adventure/Comedy/Fantasy

Opening Scene:

• many clues about bad luck coming: pirate song, woman being on board, fog.
• opening scene sets the tone for the rest of the film.
• with Elizabeth's singing, the lack of background noise and the camera angle slowly zooming in on her back this all creates a sense of tension.
• this tension is obvious when the man taps her on the shoulder and she jumps with shock.
• Lone umbrella, Will on the wreckage, builds up to the burning ship.

Thelma and Louise (10th Sept)

Director: Ridley Scott


Year:1991


Genre: Adventure, Crime, Drama, Thriller

• deigetic- cutlery, tv, talking, washing up



• no deigetic- background music



• falling over- comedy genre



• putting food in and out of the fridge- knows that she's not allowed to have it but she gives in



• angriness of the husband gives the idea that he's the domineering person.



• lighting



• women are very opposite



• part of the film where Thelma puts the gun in the bag seems important- it makes it seem as though she might use it later on in the film



• Thelma is tied-down while Louise is free



• The husband swinging his keys could show his arrogance



• Thelma is packing everything- she may not be coming back



• sports car- shows off, red car (colour of anger), arrogance, loves the car more than hiswife.



• husband lives with wife but treats her like a mother doing everything for him.



• trapped in the house- passive



• husband moans at Thelma for doing anything


• 'people always buy carpets on a Friday'- could mean that the husband's having an affair


• the packing sequence is short: 'real time' is longer


• Scott builds up the clues: gun, the time that Lousie picks up Thelma, mountains in the background, etc

North by North-West (9th Sept)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Year: 1959
Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller.

• Location, camera angle. A baron landscape from his point of view.
• Scale, the lonliness, out of place.
• camera angle when the trunk gos past and picks up all the dust.
• sound- no background noise when establishes tension.
• sound emphasises loneliness.
• establishing shot: where the scene starts.
• anigma: a puzzle
• sky shot: shows vast area of space- a canvas.
• views around him are from his point of view.
• trunck going past- close up afterwards shows his reaction.
• camera moving forward and the character moving forward show his point of view but from two different aspects.
• character standing next to road shows the scale once again- he is small compared to the surronding area.
• low shot for vulnerability