Mise en scène (Acting and Acting Styles)

Title: Girl, Interrupted

Year: 1999

Writers: Susanna Kaysen (book), James Mangold (screenplay), Lisa Loomer (screenplay) and Anna Hamilton Phelan (screenplay),

Director: James Mangold

Actors: Winona Ryder (Susanna), Angelina Jolie (Lisa), Clea DuVall (Georgina), Elisabeth Moss (Polly), Whoopi Goldberg (Valerie) and Brittany Murphy (Daisy).

Movie Summary: This film is based on the book and true story by Susanna Kaysen. Set in the 1960’s, it is the story of a depressed and directionless young woman named Susanna (Winona Ryder). After a suicide attempt, Susanna is sent to a mental institution named Claymore. While there, she befriends a group of women in her ward. Lisa (Angelina Jolie) becomes her best friend, but it soon creates many problems. Lisa (Jolie) is a manipulative and charismatic young woman who is seemingly the “puppet master” of the other girls. Susanna struggles through many hard experiences, thoughts and feelings during her pursuit to “find herself”.

Acting and Acting Style: Three prominent actors in this film are Angelina Jolie (Lisa), Winona Ryder (Susanna) and Brittany Murphy (Daisy).

Winona Ryder’s first significant role was in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988). In Girl Interrupted (1999), Ryder is character acting. Her portrayal of Susanna Kaysen is realistic yet specific to the movie. The following clip demonstrates her character acting:

Brittany Murphy was also character acting in Girl, Interrupted (1999). Her earlier roles, such as in Clueless (1995) consisted of very different personalities and characters. Murphy plays a sexually abused and severely disturbed girl in this role:

Angelina Jolie’s performance earned her the 2000 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Although her first film was in 1982, her first breakthrough role did not come until the 1990’s, when she starred in the television film Gia (1998). Gia (1998) landed her a Golden Globe for Best Actress. Up until this point, she had primarily been a character actor. After her performance in Girl, Interrupted (1999), Jolie achieved Star status. In Girl, Interrupted (1999) Jolie was a character actor or even a wildcard. I would say this because Jolie is not yet totally recognizable and yet she has already established that she can play a variety of roles (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, 3.4). The following clip shows Jolie’s portrayal of Lisa and her realistic portrayal as a manipulator and a bully:

I would say that Angelina Jolie is definitely a Star, which is a strong personality character (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, 3.4). It is difficult to define and yet her personality is what makes her movies so successful. Jolie has also starred in several action movies, such as Salt (2010):

Jolie is often typecast as the sexy “tough girl”, as seen in these films. Other action films that show this personality include: Gone In Sixty Seconds (2000), Tomb Raider (2001), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) and The Tourist (2010).

Resources:

Brittany Murphy In Girl, Interrupted [Pills Addiction] [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7jv6qNS2t4

Girl, Interrupted (1999) – IMDb. (n.d.). Retrieved July 8, 2014, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172493/?ref_=ttco_co_tt

Girl Intterupted ( what’s your diagnonsense?! ) [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=164rFFVL9cI

Girl Interrupted – Strong Scene [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEtcP9Tf0YE

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Mangold, J. (Director). (1999). Girl, interrupted [Motion picture]. USA: Columbia Pictures.

Salt Movie Clip “Missile Launcher” [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcoejPfV4x4

Mise en scène (sound)

Title: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Year: 2013

Director: Ben Stiller

Writers: Steve Conrad (screenplay), James Thurber (original story)

Actors: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, John Daly, Sean Penn

Music: Theodore Shapiro

Movie Summary: This film is loosely based on the original short story, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1939), by James Thurber. Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) is a daydreamer who escapes his boring and predictable life through vivid heroic and romantic fantasies. Mitty has a crush on a co-worker (Kristen Wigg), who is often the object of those fantasies. When his job is threatened, Mitty must embark on a global journey in search of lost film. He goes on his first real life and action-packed adventure.

Sound: Three basic categories of sound are dialogue, sound effects and music. Each serve an important function and must be carefully balanced to make the story work (Goodykoonz&Jacobs, 2011, 6.4). Sound plays an important role in this film; each fantasy is spurred by a sound, word or event in the real world. The film switches back and forth from fantasy to reality, which establishes the theme. This also allows for its inclusion to the fantasy film genre.

Simply put, dialogue are characters talking to one another in a film. The dialogue can inform and add clarity or it can greatly impact the mood of a scene. Sometimes the dialogue can be imaginary and very fantastical. This is the case in the following scene between Walter Mitty (Stiller) and Cheryl (Kristen Wiig) As Mitty stands listening to the sounds of Cheryl talking to a co-worker, he begins to daydream (below):

The actions scenes in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) are filled with sound effects. The sound effects in a film add power and adrenaline to action sequences (Goodygoontz & Jacobs, 2011, 6.4). During the following scene, the use of sound effects reflect the urgency of the situation (the alarm) and the power of a volcanic eruption as the car speeds away:

Music can set the theme for a movie and the mood for an individual scene. Early in the movie, Witty is made fun of at the office by his new boss and is called “Major Tom”. During a later scene, Mitty feels frustrated during his mission and he imagines that Cheryl (Kristen Wiig) is singing “Major Tom” to him. It motives Mitty to act boldly and creates an elevated, hopeful and excited mood. It is a very pivotal moment in the film:

As you can see, if you removed the music from this particular scene, it would make no sense. The scene would not have been nearly as powerful or memorable.

The music in the individual scenes is much more dramatic than the overall soundtrack. According to supervising sound editor Craig Henighan, “The approach we took from a sound design standpoint was: in Walter’s everyday life the sound should be bland – a simple and basic soundtrack. When we enter the fantasies, we’d go into huge sound moments, open up the sound field to big-7.1, buildings could explode. From black and white to technicolor. We were trying to do the sonic equivalent of that idea” (Cunningham, 2013).

As you can see, the importance of sound in this film is clearly demonstrated. The mix of dialogue, special effects and music make the story come to life.

Resources:

Cunningham, K. (2013, December 5). Contenders – Sound Editor Craig Henighan and Sound Mixer Danny Michael, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty | Below the Line. Retrieved from http://www.btlnews.com/crafts/post-production/contenders-sound-editor-craig-henighan-and-sound-mixer-danny-michael-the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty/

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) – IMDb. (2013, December 25). Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359950/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt

Rich, K. (2013, July 30). Ben Stiller’s Secret Life Of Walter Mitty Debuts Stunning First Trailer – CinemaBlend.com [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Ben-Stiller-Secret-Life-Walter-Mitty-Debuts-Stunning-First-Trailer-38765.html

Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Pub Scene) on Vimeo [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://vimeo.com/85156527

The secret life of walter mitty video clip [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytf3mnY1wK

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Clip – Eruption (HD) Ben Stiller [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hijJxwlmCAY

Mise en Scène (Lighting)

Title: What Dreams May Come

Year: 1998

Writers: Richard Matheson (novel) and Ronald Bass (screenplay)

Director: Vincent Ward

Actors: Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra and Max von Sydow

Lighting: In “What Dreams May Come”, there is a constant transition; three-point-lighting changes to low-key, then to high-key (all within the same scene). This type of lighting is vital to the dramatic effect of the story. Cinematographer Eduardo Serra worked with director Vincent Ward to create the stunning visual effects in this film. “What Dreams May Come” won the 1999 Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

The protagonist in this film was played by Robin Williams. After dying in a car crash, Williams searches for his wife in the afterlife. Discovering that his wife is in hell, Williams travels throughout the underworld and into his wife’s mind. The use of low-key lighting while he travels on the boat, wading through the lost souls of hell, creates the suspenseful and ominous mood of the scene. If high-key or natural lighting was used, the scene would be remarkably less dark and tortured. In addition, the film’s genre is fantasy (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). Therefore, the use of natural lighting would be much less effective and even contrary to the film’s theme.

During the scenes in which the characters are in Heaven, the use of lighting drastically elevates the mood. According to Chapman (1998), the influence for these scenes come from a Caspar David Friedrich painting entitled “Two Men Contemplating the Moon.” (below)

Computer software was used to blend components of the painting with footage shot at Glacier National Park. The lighting used was a style called “mysterious luminescence” and the use of light actually symbolized “truth”. During the most vivid scenes, the filmmakers used stained glass color because when you are in a church you see the rich colors of the glass due to the light behind the panes (Chapman, 1998). This use of high-key lighting created the bright “other-worldly” mood. Any other use of lighting would have taken away from this and the scene would have been obtuse, if not disastrous.

The overall use of lighting in this film allows viewers to experience the various emotions that Williams feels throughout his journey.

Resources:

Chapman, G. (1998, October 12). “Air Base Furnishes Dream Location for Film Firm”. Oakland Tribune [Oakland].

Friedrich, C. D.(1825). Two men contemplating the moon [Oil on canvas]. Retrieved from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2000.51

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Ward, V. (Director). (1998). What Dreams May Come [Motion picture]. USA: Universal Studios.

What Dreams May Come (hell) [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwrmILnrzbk

What Dreams May Come Official Trailer #1 – Max von Sydow Movie (1998) HD [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmZ- FuBThuQ

Narrative/Storytelling

Title: Schindler’s List

Writer: Steven Zaillian

Director: Steven Spielberg

Actors: Liam Neeson (Oskar Schindler)
Ben Kingsley (Itzhak Stern)
Ralph Fiennes (Amon Goeth)
Caroline Goodall (Emilie Schindler)
Jonathan Sagalle (Poldek Pfefferberg)

Year: 1993

Story: Schindler’s List is the true story of German businessman, Oskar Schindler, during the World War II period. Set in Poland, the movie depicts the story of the Jews during the Holocaust–both their struggles and triumphs. Schindler originally uses the Jews for the purpose of cheap labor and later realizes that human lives are worth much more than money.

Plot: Schindler’s List opens with unidentified hands lighting Sabbath candles. This is soon followed by a Hebrew prayer blessing the candles. This scene is shot in color and the scene fades out with the wisps of smoke from the candles. The smoke from the candles become smoke from a train, as the movie transitions from color to black and white. Suddenly, the sound of typewriter “clacking” fills your ears, as a close up scene appears–seemingly endless lists of Jews arriving in Kraków, Poland.

As the story begins, Oskar Schindler starts making friends with high-ranking Nazi officers who can help him with his business ventures. Using manipulation, flattery and bribery (excessive gifts, etc.), Schindler forms his dubious business connections. After establishing these connections, Schindler next goes to the Jewish council within the Kraków Ghetto and meets a talented accountant named Itzhak Stern. Schindler seeks Stern’s help with convincing Jewish individuals to invest in his business venture by providing the capital (cash). In return, Schindler promises to pay them in manufactured products (pots and pans) that can be used for trade in the Ghetto. A reluctant Stern organizes a meeting and the proposed terms are agreed upon. In addition, Schindler uses Jewish smugglers to procure luxury items for him that will come in useful for bribing Nazi officials.

As the business starts up, Stern helps Schindler by securing Jewish workers for his factory. The Jews are significantly cheaper than the Poles. The Jew’s wages are also paid directly to the Nazis, as Jews are forbidden to earn money. Although this is slave labor, Stern knows that this status will save them from being removed to death camps. Stern uses this knowledge to recruit as many Jews as he can, even those who are considered unskilled or unfit for industrial work. At first, Schindler is unaware of Stern’s personal motives. As Schindler begins to gain awareness he is at first upset and angry.

Later, the Jews are violently evacuated from the Kraków Ghetto and sent to a forced labor camp run by a Nazi Officer named Amon Goeth. A cruel and sadistic man, Goeth clears the ghetto with extreme violence and bloodshed. Schindler watches the scene unfold from the top of the hill where he had ridden horses with a girlfriend. He watches the destruction as a spot of color comes into the black and white scene–a little girl in a red coat all alone, making her way through the carnage. After this event, Schindler begins actively helping the Jews. He begins by convincing Goeth to allow a sub-camp for his industrial workers.

As time progresses, Schindler beings to actively try to save people. He sells off jewelry and other personal items to use for bribes. Schindler gives more and more as time progresses. He “buys” as many lives as he can as the Nazis continue to murder the Jews. Later on, Goethe is ordered to exhume the bodies of those in mass graves and burn them. Schindler convinces Goethe to sell his workers and he then transports them to his factory in Czechoslovakia, using two separate trains. The train carrying all the women was mistakenly sent to Auschwitz, where Schindler is forced to buy them yet again.

The movie concludes when the war ends. Knowing that he will be considered a war criminal, Schindler must flee. Schindler tells the workers that they are free and says his goodbyes. The workers surprise him with a gift–a gold ring made from a worker’s tooth filling. The ring is engraved with the following words: “Whoever saves one life saves the world entire”. Touched by this gesture, Schindler breaks into tears and expresses his sorrow at not being able to save more people. Schindler and his wife leave and the next morning, Russian soldiers arrive and liberate the camp. The ending scene show the Jews walking to town and the black and white landscape turns to color. The film ends with present day “Schindler Jews” putting rocks on Oskar Schindler’s grave. The last person seen in the film is Liam Neeson placing a single rose on the tombstone.

Chronology: Schindler’s list uses non-linear order to make the film more interesting. Although much of it is in chronological order, parallel editing is used, which illustrates the differences between the captives and their captors. This stark contrast highlights the hardships the Jewish people endured, along with the Nazi’s disregard for them. A linear presentation of this film would not have made such a profound impact.

The non-linear form also allowed for richer character development. Oskar Schindler’s character started out as a self-centered playboy and ended with a changed man. Indeed, Schindler became a haunted man who had many regrets, including not being able to save more lives. A great example of foreshadowing is Schindler’s flippant use of bribery for personal gain which later becomes intense bribery to save the Jews from certain death.

Resources:

Molen, G. R. (Producer), & Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Schindler’s List [Motion picture]. United States: Universal Pictures.

Schindler’s List – Official® Trailer [HD]. (1993). Retrieved June 19, 2014, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdRGC-w9syA