Tom's Film Blog

City Of God conveys the themes of chaos and anarchy in the favella to the audience through cinematography, mise-en-scene, sound and editing. This shown in the opening scene where the gang is chasing after the chicken. For example, the first thing we see in the film is a knife being sharpened against a stone. Knives are typically dangerous objects and because it is being sharpened against a stone, it depicts somewhat of a barbaric lifestyle: this is foreshadowing the barbaric lifestyle Lil Z leads and by proxy, enforces upon his gang. This immediately creates tension and makes the audience unsure of the characters. The tension is reinforced through the editing, with the almost whiplash inducing, flashing cuts between the knife and the black screen, once again creating a sense of urgency.  Furthermore this shown when the scene reveals itself to be a cookout with the gang. Normally a cookout would be a scene that is fun, calm and familiar; but this subverted through the tight camera a...

  How are the ideological themes in your chosen films resolved? In this essay i will display how the themes of my two chosen films have been conveyed in vivid and suspenseful scenes, using various elements of film form and is ultimately resolved by the end. My first film is Shaun Of The Dead which showcases the theme of responsibility and growth. This is depicted through the character of Shaun, who at the beginning of the film is selfish, ignorant and has no consideration for other's lives but through his trials and tribulations, evolves and starts to be responsible. His growth is climaxed in the final act of the film when Shaun and the others are in the pub and find out that his Mum has been bitten. When this happens, the film's tone becomes more mature and intense: there's a lot of death and more complex decisions for each of them (should I kill my mum, should I let them go). This is representing the apex of Shaun's growth, he needs to make a decision for the greater ...

 How are the ideological themes in your chosen films resolved? Shaun Of The Dead Themes Responsibility Growing up Acceptance of others  Friendship Loyalty Trainspotting Themes: Friendship Escape/Freedom Addiction Happiness "Life" In this essay i will display how the themes of my two chosen films have been conveyed in particular scenes and elements of film form and is ultimately resolved by the end. Film 1: Shaun Of The Dead Theme: Growing Up -Shaun at the beginning of the film is like Ed - childish, selfish, unchangeable, unaware of people's problems other than his own. -Irresponsibility highlighted when he doesn't book the restaurant, an avatar of middle class. -Winchester the avatar of working class. -Suggests to go there instead, further depicting his inability to convert. -Growth begins when Liz breaks up with him, he tells himself to get his life together by writing in on the board. -When the apocalypse begins, he goes to save Liz, Davs, Di and his Mum. -Childhoo...

The opening scene uses editing, camera angles and sound to establish Shaun's character and his relationship with Liz and Ed. Firstly, the scene begins with the sound of the bell and zooming out slowly from Shaun's face. Being close up highlights his facial expression: he is wide eyed, apathetic, he is daydreaming. This is emphasised by the framing of the shot, as the background is blurred and Shaun is clear. Having him in the centre of shot shows how Shaun is absorbed by his own problems and is unaware of everyone else around, including Liz and her wants and needs. This idea is further reinforced when Liz transgresses the rhythm of scene with her dialogue. It reveals that Liz was talking all along but Shaun wasn't paying attention because her dialogue starts mid conversation. As we are aligned with Shaun and his thoughts, this depicts that he is not mature and not taking there relationship seriously. Shaun's relationship with Ed also showcased to the audience. For examp...

There are multiple sections towards the end of Trainspotting that depict Renton trying to escape his previous lifestyle but being constantly pursued by his friends, all of which display Renton's ideology and show the audience why he wants to escape his friends through alignment and elements of film form. The scene where Renton moves to London showcases the audience the life Renton wants by creating a contrast with the previous settings of the film with mise-en-scene, camera angles and music. Firstly, throughout the entirety of the film Edinburgh is depicted as a horrible place: dirty, run down and chaotic, which was made clear to the audience through locations such as Renton's flat. This is juxtaposed with almost a stereotype of London. The montage at the beginning of scene showcasing London with the slow panning shots creates an fun and easy going atmosphere. The scenes are bright, colourful and vibrant, creating a more innocent aesthetic spiritually aswell as literally. This ...

 Alignment Film form rentons state of mind ideology Both scenes use surreal imagery and various camera angles, along with mise-en-scene and performance to align us with Renton's state of mind and struggle. The withdrawal scene is used to showcase the struggle that not only Renton is going through, but addicts overall. This makes the audience have a better understanding of their situation and allows them to have sympathy for them because we are already aligned with Renton and understands his ideology. Firstly, the scene starts with Renton's parents taking him into his bedroom. This is a familiar setting that anyone would recognise, furthermore normalising drug addicts to the general public, but also creates a contrast with Renton's apartment. For example, Renton's room is small, cramped and doesn't have alot of light in it: there's alot of brown in the room and if there is colour its dark shades of green and white. The brown can be symbolic of security, more spec...