The cornerstone of film theory is mise en scene, a French term which literally means "putting on stage." Mise en scene is, simply, everything that is happening in the film world at the time you are watching it. Take the picture on the left.
Asking questions about a film is important because any director worth their salt will set up each scene as a moving painting, with hints and clues about the film, and each scene has to fit into the overall theme or tone of the film; even a passive viewer will feel askew when even one scene is off. Alas, this is the hardest part of directing, because the audience won't see it when you're doing right (they are hopefully too wrapped up in the film to care) but only notice when it is wrong.
Maybe this is why I like every movie, because I don't ask questions or pay attention to background elements. I just listen to what is being said and watch the actors who are talking.
ReplyDeleteWow, really well said post. It is true that the flow of each scene can easily be ignored, but when we consider the imagery, the music, and the type of filming, it makes it clear why we love the movies we do. I watched, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, with a great deal of imagination as a once famous man learns to deal with life when he become severly paralyzed. Directing seems to be much more than yelling, Cut!
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ReplyDeleteDo you analyze all the messages that the director and writor tries to protray? Do you ever see a message in a movie that might be contradicted by another message in the same movie? How do you feel about high grossing movies not being nominated for best movie of the year in the academy awards, such as Dark Knight?
ReplyDeleteI definitely understand the "we only notice the wrong" when watching movies. We delve into the director's vision and create our expectations.
ReplyDeleteI can't help but think of when my husband and I went to see the "Tranformers" movie. We were driving home, and my husband was annoyed that people kept driving and going toward the Transformers when they were in that large battle in the city.
Giant Transformers from another galaxy. Machines with thoughts and feelings. No problem - he believes that. The human response was what stopped him. His expectations were more set on that response.
With regard to high grossing movies...I think the other awards "people's awards" do encompass what some feel are missing from the academy awards. However, just because a movie is popular does not mean it is a good movie...or vice versa. It's a Wonderful Life bombed at the theatres.