'A Bout De Souffle' (Breathless) is a 1959 French new wave film directed by Jean- Luc Godard and starred Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Bemondo. A young car thief called Michel kills a policeman, and tries to convince Patricia, an American, to run away to Italy with him.
The film was very revolutionary as it adopted a lot of techniques that had not previously been used, as well as discussion of topics that were deemed inappropriate for the time. One of the techniques that is used is the unusual editing. Where in most Hollywood films, the crew strive to achieve a continuous, flowing feature, this makes use of editing that doesn't necessarily fit together, making the audience feel slightly uncomfortable. Another thing that is new is the use of completely on location filming. There is also a lot of blunt talk of sex, which for the time was new and shocking.
However, although I appreciate the artistic nature of the film, it wasn't really my cup of tea.
The Last Seduction is a Neo-Noir film from 1994 directed by John Dahl and starring Linda Fiorentiono, Peter Berg and Bill Pullman. It narrates the story of Bridget, who after stealing her husband's drug money, runs away to a small town, where she seduces a man so as to convince him to murder her husband.
The scene I have chosen to analyse is the one in which Bridget enters the bar in Beston and first meets Mike. The scene is shot with low- key lighting reflecting the dark and dirty themes of the film. It also highlights elements of Bridget's character. The bar depicted is very typical of American bars, and is mostly filled with men. The fact that Bridget walks in confidently shows her to be a women with traits of masculinity. She is wearing a suit, again emphasising her masculinity. It also suggests that she is from a big city or a professional background. This is reiterated when Mike later says to her "you're not from around here, are you?" She is wearing monochrome themes, suggesting that everything is very black and white in her life.
At the bar, the bartender ignores Bridget and doesn't give her a drink. This reflects the patriarchal dominance of the society, serving a binary opposition of Bridget's character. Mike eventually steps in and buys her a drink, depicting him as someone who believes in traditional morals such as chivalry. He attempts to be charming so as to woo Bridget. Bridget is abrupt and cold in the way she talks, and this establishes her ruthlessness with Mike from the very start of their relationship. She is very forward and coming with her sexuality in this scene, and this foreshadows that she will use her sexuality to her advantage.
The atmosphere and music in the bar sets it up as clearly from a small town. This makes Bridget stand out in the crowd, reiterating her comandeering personality.
In the opening scene of Georgy girl, we are introduced to our main protagonist Georgy, as we see her travel along the streets of London.
When we first meet Georgy, she seems to be a confident and happy young woman. This is seen in her body language and the way she skips so fancifully down the road; swinging her handbag and whistling as she goes. She is smiling too. However, her clothing gives us a different impression of her character. She wears mostly dark colours, this reflects her dull personality. Her hair is quite messy, showing us that she is quite disorganised. Her coat is big and heavy, and it shows us that she lacks the femininity that women of that era are expected to have.In simple terms; she is not an 'it' girl (when we later meet the character of Meredith, we see that they are the binary opposition of each other).
Another element which really helps to build the scene is the music.It is has a lively happy beat; common for the 'Swinging Britain' era, however the myth is dispelled by the lyrics of the song. The lyrics of the song are cold, harsh and a blunt reminder of reality. This dull/dark reality is also highlighted in the fact that the film is shot in black and white.
The high street that Georgy travels down could be seen as a visual metaphor of life passing her by. This concept is highlighted in the song lyric, "You're always window shopping and never stopping to buy."
As the cinematography zooms in on the hairstyles in the salon, one of which Georgy ends up getting, It is reiterated that fashion is a key part of the youth culture at the time. We are also given the sense of a pressure to conform, which Georgy feels too. This is why she changes her hair. As soon as she comes out the salon though, we can see an uneasy look on her face, and she rushes to change it. This reiterates the conflict between the old and the new and how Georgy is torn betweeen the two. This is foreshadowing later themes in the film.
The ending lyric of the song, "A new Georgy Girl," hints to us that our main protagonist is going to go through a big change during the course of the film.
This 1968 film, tells the story of Polly; a young girl from Chelsea who gets a job in Battersea, and her attempts at working life. It tells us a lot about the nature of working class London during the period of 'Swinging Britain' and breaks many myths about the period. It stars Suzy Kendall and Dennis Waterman.
I enjoyed this film, as I thought it had fun likeable characters, whilst also depicting the reality of 60s. Polly is a strong female protagonist, who has clear views on the issues which are visited. I found her character refreshing for the era; especially after the derogatory portayal of women in the film Alfie. Suzy Kendall shows Polly to be independent, hard-working and a loyal friend; traits that I think are important for women to see, and especially would've been so in that era.
The main male protagonist, Peter, played by Dennis Waterman is the polar opposite. He is a character from a working- class background, who dreams of the high life. Although his character turns out to not be as great as we first think, I love Waterman's portrayal. We are really given the sense of a young man who is ambitious beyond understanding. He knows exactly what he wants from life (seen in the scene where he tells Polly his dreams when they are at his place).
The minor characters, Sylvia and Ruby, are also strong independent women. Sylvia is a women who has been married but has had a divorce, something which was a taboo subject for a long time. She has lots of life and is fun- loving. Ruby is a 17 year old girl who lives a very similar life to her older sister. She gets pregnant and decides to have an abortion. The scene in which they do this is beautifully executed, because in showing less they have increased the poignancy.
I thought that overall, all the controversial subjects of the film werre dealt with very well. As I said, I think that the abortion scene and the scenes following it, and some of the most memorable of the film, and also some of the most heartbreaking. However, this is a good thing as it is a reminder of the consequence of illegal abortions, and highlights the desperation young women were to have the abortion act passed. Divorce is also mentioned but not dwelled on. The film shows women in a positive light, which also would've been a risk at the time, as it was a patriarchal society.
The one thing I didn't like about this film was the ambigious ending. We are left hanging with absolutely no resolve, and this frustrated me. Although I think it shows a brutal but true message (we always resolve to our ascribed status if we giveup trying to escape it), I wish there would've been something more so that we had closure in the character's stories/lives.
Alfie is a film about a man who is a womaniser. It was a breakthrough film, as it approached many taboo topics that had not previously been explored in British cinema. These issues include casual sex, adultery and abortion. It is very controversial in its frequent mentions of these things, and also it's portrayal of women and typical gender roles. It was released in 1966, during the height of the 'Swinging Britain' era, but shows a contrast to what we usually expect of this decade. Instead we are presented with quite a dark film; with its realistic and gritty settings and its sinister depiction of women's place in society. I thought it an interesting film, especially with its unusual technique of the main protaganist of breaking the fourth wall and talking directly to the audience. However, I found it hard to connect to the character of Alfie because, to be frank, he's not very likeable! I also thought that overall, Michael Caine was quite dry in his portrayal of the role- if he was more charming, I feel that I may have enjoyed the film more so. I also didn't like the way they talked about women. One scene that annoyed me in particular was when Alfie kept referring to his latest lover as 'it' rather than 'her'. I understand that this depiction was made so as to establish the nature of Alfie's character, but I couldn't help but find it offensive. I do think that in some parts, the film showed great skill in how the narrative was presented, which left it with a real poignancy. One such instance of this was after Alfie helped a lover of his get an illegal abortion, and he feels remorse over it. Another element that I did like was the score- I thought it shaped the film beautifully, and was used well and sparingly. In my opinion, this film was good in a technical sense, but wasn't all that enjoyable to me. I'd watch it again, but I don't really feel compelled to.
So. After an agonisingly long wait, The 2nd adaptation of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games series came out last thursday; and me (being the nerd that I am) made sure that I was sat in the cinema that first night. Let me tell you- I was not disappointed. The story kicks off six months after the climax of the first film, back in Katniss' (Jennifer Lawrence) native county of District 12, a place burdened by poverty and corruption. Straight away, Francis Lawrence (the director), has shown us the story in a new life, with larger, colder locations framing our narrative. We are shown shots that emphasise her trauma after the events of the games, and it adds an emotional intensity that the Oscar winner* has played out perfectly. We are then taken back to her home in Victor's Village, where the corrupt and menacing President Snow, played by the legendary Donald Sutherland, is waiting for her. He informs her that her previous actions have provoked rebellious behaviour in the other districts, and that she must defer the people's revolution. This acts as a premise for the rest of the story: Katniss trying to convince the nation that she acted out of her love towards Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), as well as President Snow doing everything in his power, and he has a lot of power, to ensure the fall of Katniss and previous victors. This drive to defeat those who defy him, leads Snow to increase punishment in the districts (by the rule of the new more brutal and terrifying peacekeepers), and also the 75th Hunger Games: in which previous victors must compete. All of the lead up to this is played out brilliantly in the narrative; there is a perfect balance of attention to the politics, romance and character development. The Victory Tour especially, which has many beautiful and moving moments, was a highly emotional retelling of what Suzanne Collins put on the pages. In particular, I found the moment when a little girl says to Katniss, "When I'm older, I want to volunteer just like you," extremely chilling, as it highlights the animosity of a society where children are forced to die for entertainment purposes. Francis Lawrence highlighted this corrupt society in a much darker way than previous director Gary Ross did; and I absolutely loved the choices he made. We are then taken to the Capitol, and we have the lead up to the Games. We are given one or two light-hearted moments (such as previous victors flirting with Katniss), which are refreshing before the actual games. We are also introduced to some new characters such as Finnick, Johanna and Betee- all of whom play important parts in this chapter of the story as well as its finale.
The new additions to the cast were absolutely perfect, and in my opinion, brought very vividly to life these characters I so dearly loved. In particular, I was extremely impressed by Sam Claflin's performance as the charming Finnick Odair. Finnick is a very multi-dimensional character; one minute he's flirty, then he's lethal. One minute he's cryptic, the next he is wearing his heart on his sleeve. Yet somehow, Claflin managed to play every single one of these elements with a truth and a warmth that so accurately represented his heart, and had me desperate for him to have more screen time. Once we finally get to the games (after 80 minutes, none of which were slow or boring), there is only one word to say. Wow! Francis Lawrence made the decision to shoot all of the arena scenes in Imax, and the decision proved to be a great one; as it pulled audiences right into the action. It was completely different to the shaky cam effect of Gary Ross' first adaptation, yet was something much more substantial and moving. You feel as if you can not turn your eyes away for even a second, in case you miss something.
Although the majority of the time in the arena is made up of high- speed action scenes; we are still kept reeling on an emotional level and there are many moments that are so intense that I was left on the brink of tears. Another element in which this sequel has stepped up its game- the use of special effects. To create many of the deadly aspects of this arena, cgi had to be used to create creatures such as the jabberjays and baboons. These all looked absolutely stunning whilst still conveying the realness with which the story needs to be told.
The ending of the film was just as fantastic as the rest of it. It showed us where we were heading next, whilst reflecting the journey of this story, all in one look. It just goes to show how brilliant an actress Jennifer Lawrence is. Other aspects of the film which impressed me was the beautiful and haunting score composed by James Newton Howard. Also, the choices made in terms of setting, cinematography and editing. Even the closing credits were great; with the new Coldplay track summarising the story.
Although, like its predecessor, it cut out scenes from the book which are pretty important- it stayed true to the core themes and the characterisation. It also added some extra hints, that for fans of the books, were a brilliant yet terrifying foreshadowing of what is left to come. All in all though, a pretty faithful adaptation, and a damn good film. I'm already itching to rewatch it, and I'm hoping the year long wait for Mockingjay Part 1, doesn't go too slowly!
(*2013, Academy Award for Best Actress, Silver Linings Playbook)
Recently, I was watching the 1999 film, 10 Things I Hate About You. I absolutely love the film, and was more than happy to watch it, even though I have seen it plenty of times. Watching it however, got me thinking. What are in my opinion the best teen movies? And what does the silver screen so often portray in teen flicks, to achieve box office sales. So this is my list (in no particular order) of my favourite films for teenagers. I couldn't get all of my favourites into ten, but I've taken a good shot at it!
The Princess Diaries (2001; Dir- Garry Marshall; Starring- Anne Hathaway,Julie Andrews)
Most famously known as the film that introduced Hollywood to Anne Hathaway, the screen version of the Meg Cabot book series, was a hit amongst teenagers. The story tells that of an ordinary 16 year old girl, who discovers that she is princess to the land of Genovia. There was the obvious appeal, in the sense that it was your classic rags to riches story, but the film also contained buckets of charm. With all those relatable 'oops moments' (like with the gum), and a brilliant cast (Julie Andrews. Nuff said.), it's a film that resonates through my childhood, and one that I know that I will happily rewatch now.
Easy A (2010; Dir- Will Gluck; Starring- Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley)
This film is, in my opinion, hilarious! As per usual, Emma Stone shines with a fervent vibrancy and genius comic timing. The film narrates the life of Olive Pendergast, whose supposed promiscuity is the hot topic of the school, problem is- none of it is true! What's actually happening is that she is pretending to sleep with various 'nerdy' guys, so as to make a bit of money. The film is fresh, risky and so funny. The adult cast also shine, especially Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci as Olive's quirky, yet supportive parents. It is a definite watch, even if just for the brilliant musical number scene. The narrative teaches the consequences of spreading rumours, but in a fun, light hearted way. It also has references to 80s films. If that isn't perfection, I don't know what is.
Pitch Perfect (2012; Dir- Jason Moore; Starring- Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, Skylar Astin)
Again, another comedy, but this time one with an amazing soundtrack. When Beca (Anna Kendrick), arrives at Barden university, she has one aspiration. Get through college so she can become a DJ. However, as she gets roped into collegiate level a capella competitions, the game is on. The film has more than one brilliant musical number, and that's not even the film's most redeemable feature. Rebel Wilson, of 'Bridesmaids' fame, brings humour to every situation, with her classic stupidity but also her puns. Anna Kendrick is our reluctant protagonist, and she is such a clear representation of most teenagers who hate the education system. Also, the girls' rivals, The Treblemakers- an all-male a cappella group, are brilliant as they contrast so perfectly with the 'Barden Bellas'. A film to make anyone laugh, at any age.
The Hunger Games (2012; Dir- Gary Ross; Starring- Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland)
The long- awaited adaptation, of Suzanne Collins' best- selling novel, The Hunger Games showed a cinematic maturity that most teen films don't achieve. Filmed clearly as an action film, rather than a film about some teenager, the film delivered. As a fan of the book, I should probably dislike its less than faithful adaptation, but what Gary Ross did deliver; is an amazing film in its own right. Jennifer Lawrence shines as Katniss Everdeen, who is entered for 'The Hunger Games'- a fight to the death- in the place of her sister. The narrative follows the lead- up to the games, and the battle itself. The books will live forever and this film definitely will too. One memorable technique, is the use of steady cam/ handheld camera. It was used to immerse the viewer in the action and does just that (well mostly). The film also uses unusual editing; they actually discourage the use of continuity editing, and have a ridiculous amount of jump cuts. Maybe because it reflects the shaky nature of their society. Another creditable performance: Donald Sutherland. He is absolutely terrifying as the corrupt and menacing President Snow. With all these features, its amazing action sequences, and haunting soundtrack- I eagerly await the upcoming sequel. (Since writing this, I have seen it. Phenomenal.)
10 Things I Hate About You (1999; Dir- Gil Junger; Starring- Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph- Gordon Levitt)
The aforementioned 90s flick, is one of my all-time favourite films. The modern take on Shakespeare's 'Taming of the Shrew', was an instant classic, with its great wit and memorable characters. Julia Stiles is very believable as Katarina- the shrew herself. Her dry humour and sarcasm is flawless, and that pitted against Heath Ledger's natural charm means that the couple have great screen- chemistry. Also brilliant is a very young Joseph Gordon Levitt, who plays that hopelessly in love Cameron. The film is clearly a 90s film, yet it somehow retains Shakespeare's charm and wit, as well as feeling new and relevant now. It is one of those rare films with more than one memorable scene that fans like to bring up: Heath Ledger singing in the stands; Kat's moving poem; The fight at prom. It is a feel-good classic comedy, in my opinion.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012; Dir- Stephen Chbosky; Starring- Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller)
Adapted from his own novel, which is a cult classic among teenagers, Stephen Chbosky set out to adapt his novel for the big screen. He did this perfectly. As always, some changes had to be made, and some scenes had to be cut, however i think that the author made his choices eloquently.The story narrates the freshman year of Charlie, a young introvert whose depression makes life harder than it ought to be. What I love so much about this film however, is the realism. The story discusses important teenage issues, but without glamourising them. Everything is very much the reality of it. The film is shot beautiful, with interesting ciematography choices having been made to frame our protagonists journey. Also enhancing what is such an important coming-of-age story, is the soundtrack which makes use of many classic tracks such as David Bowie's 'Heroes' and The Smiths track 'Asleep'. All 3 of the main cast are fantastic, portraying their characters with such believability and depth. This is especially impressive in the case of Logan Lerman, who throws away his usual charming, cocky hero archetype we are used to (Percy Jackson, The Three Musketeers). Also, Emma Watson reestablishes herself as an important factor in the showbiz industry, with her breakout performance after the finish of the Harry Potter series in 2010.
The Breakfast Club (1985; Dir- John Hughes; Starring- Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall)
No 'Best Of' lists would be complete without this, when it comes to teen movies.The 80s hit is considered by many to be THE classic teen movie. For those who don't know the premise, the story details the saturday of 5 teenagers, whose paths have never crossed, who have winded themselves in detention together. It is one of the jewels of the film world when it comes to character development, as we know that every single one of our protagonists leaves the film being the binary opposition of who they were at the start. As well as some beautiful heartfelt scenes, (one of the most famous actually being almost entirely improvised), the film is renowned for its many moments of humour- most of which include the bumbling teacher who is meant to be supervising them. A film that can be crude yet moving within a 5 minute gap, it is a treasure for all teenagers, and adults too. It is one of the John Hughes teen collection, along with films such as Sixteen Candles and Weird Science. In my opinion, it is the best of them. Let's also not forget the memorable climax scene, with Judd Nelson punching the air in celebration of getting the girl. Shaped by the track that launched Simple Minds in the US; the ending is one that everyone will always remember.
Mean Girls (2003; Dir- Mark Waters;Starring- Lindsay Lohan, Jonathan Bennett, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey)
Written by the brilliantly funny Tina Fey, this is probably one of the most quoted films of our generation. It tells the story of Cady (pre-crazy Lindsay Lohan), as she enters school for the first time at 16, after having been homeschooled in Africa her whole life. We see her try to navigate her way with different members of the school, in particular 'the plastics'- the aforementioned Mean Girls of the title. Although, it's not the best piece of cinema, it sure is a good laugh! It's also responsible for bringing light to talent such as Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia, Lovelace) and Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, Sherlock Holmes). The film has many memorable moments and lines, which will probably be etched into teenagers brains for the rest of their lives. Although the film is nearly a decade old, its themes still seem relevant today- with its accurate portayal of teen culture and school cliques and hierachies. Ultimately- it's just a good film to watch when you're feeling down!
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986; Dir- John Hughes; Starring- Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jennifer Grey)
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." the poignant words of Ferris Bueller; which will live forever in yet another John Hughes classic. Again, a film that so perfectly captures the essence of youth and the presence of the 80s, it's as if John Hughes was a teenager himself in writing this. The narrative tells us about Ferris Bueller, everyone's favourite guy- and his wild day off school; into which he drags his girlfriend and best friend. It's fast paced, memorable, and most importantly- it's fun! Matthew Broderick is completely charming as the titular protagonist, and you too are immediately won over into wanting to 'Save Ferris'. At the same time, you feel the frustration of his sister as she tries to get him into trouble. A classic that warms everyone's hearts- Ferris Bueller is one of those iconic teen characters who will never age. I'm pretty sure that nobody will ever forget the enormous musical number in this either!
So there you have it. Some of my favourite teen films! Were I to have more options, I probably also would've given shout outs to films such as 17 Again (2009), Juno (2007), Wild Child (2008), A Cinderella Story (2004), Grease (1978) and many more. All in all, I think the key to a good teen film is something funny, heartwarming, and at the core of all these movies- must be characters that we as teenagers today can relate to.
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