Mise en Scene- Saving Private Ryan

A film can be most impactful when the it puts the viewer in the center of the action, like they are watching a real event unfold as if they were there.  To me, no film accomplishes this better than Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan.  This WWII film starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon follows a group of soldiers as they search for a fellow soldier behind enemy lines.  In the following scene, the invasion of Normandy is depicted, which opens the film.  This scene is a perfect example of how a director uses aspects of mise en scene to not only keep the film interesting, but also to make the viewer feel like they're there.

This scene uses some awesome visual design technique to make it more realistic and interesting.  The first thing I noticed was the dull, bleak color palette.  The scene's colors are mostly saturated with gray and brown tones.  Spielberg likely did this to highlight the bleak and harsh realities of war, as using a vibrant color palette would have felt cartoon-like and unrealistic.  Another cool of aspect of visual design the director incorporated was the costumes.  The soldiers' uniforms looked beat-up and faded,  likely how they would've looked in real life.  This again was probably done to make the scene look more realistic, as the costumes make it feel like we are watching real soldiers.  The director also uses a rough film stock to make the images look rough and grainy.  The director probably did this to make the scene look darker and edgier, which pairs well with the violence on screen.

Another aspect of mise en scene that the film utilizes well is cinematography.  This scene utilizes many types of shots, but one I noticed in particular was an effective extreme close-up shot.  This shot occurred when one soldier aimed his rifle at the enemy on the hill.  The camera zoomed in on the soldier's eyes and mouth, and it helped the viewer feel the extreme stress and focus that the soldier had.  The director also incorporated a lot of shaky-cam to make the scene feel more chaotic.  As the camera shakes, it makes the viewer feel like we're right in the line of fire and experiencing the gunfire and explosions along with the characters.

Finally, this scene masterfully uses editing techniques to keep viewers intrigued.  I really like how Spielberg mixes quick cuts with long cuts to keep the scene unpredictable.  For instance, the scene will show a shot with the soldiers hiding behind a barricade, which will be a long shot; then suddenly the film will cut to quick shots a soldier running through the chaotic line of fire.  This variance in cuts makes the scene unpredictable, and it keeps the viewers guessing and interested.  The director also uses tracking shots in this scene.  In one example, as the soldiers turned a corner around a barricade, the camera followed.  When I saw it, I got the feeling as if I was trailing the pack behind the soldiers, and as the camera followed, I felt as if I was following them.  I'd imagine this was the effect the director hoped for when using this tracking shot, and it was effective in making the viewer feel as if they were there.

Saving Private Ryan, and this scene in particular, uses many aspects of mise en scene to make it more realistic and interesting.  Steven Spielberg once again once again proves he's a master of film making with this film.  This scene is one of the reasons this director and film are recognized as one of the greatest in their respected categories in film.

There Will Be Blood Visual Design Analysis

There's an old cliche that says, "A picture's worth a thousand words."  This holds true in Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood, where the brilliant visual design allows for the film's visuals to say more than any character ever could.  The film follows Daniel Plainview, an aspiring oil tycoon who rises to power in California at the turn of the 20th Century.  The film's opening scene is unique because it features no dialogue for nearly 10 consecutive minutes.  The scene uses beautiful scenery and design to introduce the film rather than dialogue, and it is executed masterfully.  The visual design of There Will Be Blood, specifically the setting, the lighting, and the color palette help the director give the film a dark, intense opening.

The first thing I observed about this scene was the incredible setting in which it takes place in.  The extreme long shot of the mountain range serves as an example of setting for sheer visual impact.  Not until that shot is shown does the audience really get a grip on how intimidating and vast this landscape-setting is, and it also represents how isolated the area is, as there is no civilization in sight. These details of the geographical setting give the viewer an idea of how grueling and intimidating the environment of which the protagonist is operating in is.  Another aspect of the setting I found interesting was the mine shaft that Daniel Plainview was working in.  While watching this shot, I couldn't help but feel claustrophobic as he ventured down deeper in the shaft.  I think the mine shaft was a perfect setting for the director to make the viewer feel a bit uneasy and uncomfortable.  Also, details from this setting also give a clue to the viewer as to which time period the film takes place in. The primitive technology at the mine shows that the film probably takes place at least a century ago. The details of the setting give some context to the viewer and is a good example of setting for verisimilitude, meaning it appears realistic to the time period.  In terms of setting, I thought this film did an incredible job in the introduction.  The film stunned me with its beautiful landscapes, and made me uneasy with its tight mining shots.  I felt the introduction to the film had a good balance of not only intriguing the viewer with its setting, but also giving the viewer information about the time period.  Also, the fact that the director did this without including any dialogue made the setting even more impressive.

Another aspect of the film's visual design that I found interesting was the lighting.  When Daniel is working in the mine, there is a lot of low-key lighting, meaning that the shot is very shadowy and dim.  I think the director chose this lighting to accentuate the dark conditions that Daniel is working in, and the bleak lifestyle he lives.  This lighting is effective at creating a gloomy mood that the viewer can easily identify.  Another interesting lighting technique is used when Daniel begins to ascend from the mine, and the light from the surface shines through the shaft.  This would be an example of high-key lighting, in which a lot of light is allowed to shine through.  I think the director did this to provide a contrast between the bleakness of the mine and the beauty of the above-ground land, and it portrays the land as one of more hope and optimism.

Finally, I really liked how the director used a specific color palette to help accentuate the mood of this scene.  The color palette featured a lot of grays and browns, and when color was featured it was very diluted and dim.  An example of this can be seen in this picture:

Notice how there is a wide variety of browns and grays used in this shot for much of the nature.

Also, even the blue sky looks dim and gray.  It is clear from this shot that the director did not want to have vibrant colors featured.  Another example of the color palette can be seen in this shot:

Even beautiful landscapes like this are made to look dull and bland.  Judging from both of these examples, it's clear the director wanted his colors to give the film a bleak, dim look.  The film's palette also matches the mood of the film, and the palette is effective in adding to the overall atmosphere of the film.

It takes a lot of detail and skill to effectively introduce a film without any words being spoken, but I believe There Will Be Blood pulled it off.  The opening scene's setting, lighting, and color palette all prepare the viewer for what is about to come.  Some may say a picture's worth a thousand words, but I think this motion picture's opening scene is worth a whole lot more.

Writing Assignment 3

Mitch Hansen

Writing Assignment 3

A movie that it is worthy of its acclaim is The Godfather.  The film uses many techniques to advance the story line and keep the viewer interested.  The Godfather worthy of its acclaim due to its unified plot, character development, and use of suspense building techniques.

The Godfather masterfully uses plot unification techniques.  For example, the phrase, "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse" is a recurring piece of dialogue in the film.  It is especially significant in showing the transformation from Vito to Michael as the Don.  Since the phrase is recurring, it gives the viewer a sense of stability, and makes the plot more continuous and unified.  Another plot unification technique that the film uses is a circular story line.  The film begins with Don Vito in his room with people asking him for favors and kissing his ring, and the story ends the same way except this time with Don Michael.  The circular pattern of the story works as an effective plot unification technique because it gives the audience a satisfying conclusion and wraps the story together wonderfully.

Another quality that makes The Godfather worthy of acclaim is its character development.  The film not only uses broad character traits but also subtle details to develop its characters.  For example, in the first scene, the film paints Don Vito as a man of great power.

In this scene, Don Vito is shown as taller than the other man present, and he seems to be constantly looking down on him as if he were imposing his power on him.  This helps the viewer see Don Vito as a powerful character from the start.  Another example of character development is when we first meet Michael.  He says to Kay, "That's my family, Kay, that's not me".  This quote develops Michael's character as being different than the rest of the family.  Since this dialogue is included, it establishes Michael as a bit of outsider from the beginning.

One thing I really appreciate about The Godfather is its timely use of suspense.  The film doesn't rely heavily on suspense, but when suspenseful scenes occur it is very well-done.   One scene that stands out is when Michael is guarding the hospital for his father.  When the enemy car rolls up, the viewer does not have any idea what could happen next.  This type of suspense provides for action and helps move the story along.  Another scene with great suspense-building is the baptism scene.  The music the director chose provides a dark, almost demonic atmosphere.  The music makes for a suspenseful background to the violence occurring around it.

The Godfather is considered to be one of the best movies ever made, and it's easy to see why.  With the film's plot unification, character development, and suspense, it is worthy of its acclaim.  The combination of techniques used in the film makes it an unforgettable viewing experience.  

Writing Assignment 2

Mitch Hansen

Suspense Blog

Filmmakers use a variety of techniques to build suspense in their films.  One such movie that uses many of these techniques is the Cohen Brothers' No Country for Old Men.  In this film, a hit man is tracking down a man who has stolen millions of dollars from a drug dealer.   No Country for Old Men uses techniques like dramatic irony and point-of-view shots to build suspense.


This first scene we will examine is one of the more memorable scenes from the film:

Earlier in the film, we learned that the antagonist hit man (the man with the long hair in the scene) chooses whether to kill people based on the flip of a coin.  However, the man working the register has no idea that this is the case.  We as the viewer know that this very coin flip but determine this man's fate, but the fact that the man has no idea what the purpose of the coin toss is makes the scene very suspenseful.  This use of dramatic irony makes the viewer uneasy about the fate of the cashier, and keeps the audience in suspense.

Take a look at this next scene:

In this scene, the director uses a few techniques to make it suspenseful.  I really like how the pace is unpredictable.  At first it shows our antagonist (named Anton) slowly walking towards the motel room.  The takes are long and slowly pan on Anton's face and his feet.  After he enters the room, however, the takes become quick and choppy as the bullets fly.  This change in tempo does a great job at building suspense, and it never lets the viewer get comfortable or get a "feel" for the scene.  Also, the directors use a point-of-view shot as Anton checks in the bathroom.  The camera slowly follows Anton's vision as he peeks around the corner of the bathroom.  This builds suspense because the viewer does not know what will happen next: we only see what Anton sees.

No Country for Old Men creates suspense unlike almost any other film.  This translated into a Academy Award win for Best Picture for the film.  As we follow the cat-and-mouse chase that is the basis of the film's plot.  One can't help but be on the edge of their seat the entire time due to the wonderfully executed suspense techniques the directors use.