How do we analyse film?

Introduction

Genre theory is where you can categorize each film into their own section by giving off by their

theme or setting of the film. For example, Daniel Chandler said ‘Conventional definitions of

genres tend to be based on the notion that they constitute particular conventions of content (such

as themes or settings) and/or form (including structure and style) which are shared by the texts

which are regarded as belonging to them’. As well as that Steve Neale said ‘One way of defining

genre is a set of expectations’

Laceys Repertoire of Elements has key concepts in the Media Studies. Nick Lacey defines genre

elements as involving 5 key areas. Setting, Character, Narrative, Iconography and Style. This is

how he analyzed film.

Steve Neale’s theory of Repetition & Difference. He said “Genres are instances of repetition and

difference” Steve Neale is saying that a film and its genre is defined by two things:

How much it conforms with a genre's stereotypes and conventions.

In most films, film annalists identify the protagonists and antagonists of the film. This means that

they are the Good and the bad guys of the film. For example, for Leon the bad guys were the

police what is a plot twist. This is a good way to get a understanding of the film and its narrative.

Leon and James Bond This film has the colours Red and Black to

represent danger, blood and death.

The film Leon is about an Assassin called Leon, and a girl called Mathilda appears, and her

family gets killed, so therefore she seeks revenge. So when Mathilda finds Leon and she finds

out he’s an assassin. She starts to practice and learn the ways on how to kill.

This film has a plot of Protagonists and Antagonists. As the film is corrupt and the bad guys of the

film is the Police. The leaves a plot twist of confusion. You can identify the genre by looking at the

mise en scene there is lots of props like guns and more violent equipment. The editing is fast

paced when Leon and Mathilda are in danger from the antagonists. The character himself Leon is

not exactly appealing ‘role model’ in the sense of a movie assassin. His physical appearance is

nothing like James Bond. Therefore James Bond is more known as the more attractive one who

attracts more girls. As Leon as a young girl by his side. James Bond wears better clothes such as

Suits and watches. From this you can tell James Bond is a much more Rich character than Leon.

Leon has a much more ragged look. Not appealing to females as much . Good thing about this is

that’s it different leaving the viewers left in excitement and confusion giving it a unique feel to the

way it was directed. Making the Director Luc Besson a more unique director.

Mean Girls and Napoleon Dynamite

The movie Mean Girls is a Teen Comedy what is directed by Mark Waters. This film was

produced in 2004.

The Mean Girls narrative has a clear start middle and end. Throughout the film the character’s

exposition has been established. Within the film, there has been an inciting incident. This is

where this informs the narrative what happens within the film. A certain scene where the girls

bring out the year book, a rising action revolves around the book. This is where the story slightly

has a twist. Even more, when it approaches the winter show, the new girl saves the show by

singing, making the audience join in. This foreshadows the new girl gaining popularity. Meaning

the original ‘Most Popular’ girl slowly starts to lose her popularity. As the story continues there’s

a point of rising action where the new girl ends up feeding the most popular girl these bars to put

on weight... But when really the new girl said she would make her lose weight. So overtime the

bars made the most popular girl fat. The climax is where there is a common convention where

there was a prom at the end of the film. Basically to

summarize the denougment of the film is where they all make

friends and life goes on as normal.

Within the mise en scene American High School, Mall and

parties. They were the basic settings within the film. With this,

these are iconic things that often happen in America.

The camera angles used in this film are, Split Screen, Group

Shot, Canted Angle, mid shot, POV, Close up. With this film it had

an internal monologue from Cady.

Napoleon Dynamite’s narrative is very similar to Mean girls narrative. So for example, both films

have a school. It’s based on the students that are popular and unpopular. But the twist is, the

main character in Napoleon Dynamite, is that he is the unpopular one of the school. Throughout

time of the film the main character tries to gain popularity. Eventually

Napoleon finds a friend. Once that had happened there is a girl that has an

interest in Napoleon. There is a opportunity opening for Napoleon that he takes.

That is when there is a show off to perform talents. Napoleon therefore decided

to do a dance which leads to impress the audience.

Auteur Theory The term ‘Auteur’ is a film director who influences their films so much that they rank as their

author.

How do analysts apply auteur theory on filmmakers?

Tim Burton: This directors style is known as quite wacky in a sense. What I

mean by this is Tim Burton’s films are weird in such a way. For example, in the

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a Fantasy. The children that

acted in this film had these ‘abilities’. Tim Burton follows this style with many

movies such as Charlie and The Chocolate factory and Beetlejuice.

Luc Besson: This director is well known for his unusual sense in action films.

What I mean is, the film Leon: The Professional, is very similar in a sense to

James Bond. But it’s not at the same time. In the film Leon: The

Professional, Leon is not the ideal man to be a hero in a sense. He’s not

exactly good looking. He’s not surrounded by loads of women as for

James Bond is. But Luc Besson did this for a reason. His films made the

audience question themselves. Leaving us in confusion on the whole plot. This

made his style popular as for his films.