Body Heat (1981): Darkness to Light

Forgive me for not finding the same video our professor made us watch about Film Noir. However, I managed to find a shorter version of it. :)

According to Corin, a filmmaker and film critic, film noir are tales of survival. And I think Body heat tells that tale.

It qualifies to be a film noir because it has the elements of the genre. The film uses shadows and fog to get the desired reaction from the audience, which is, curiosity, and thus, making the audience engage more into the film.

At the beginning of the film, where Matty and Ned first met, it was established that Ned is not a very smart guy, while Matty is a wise woman. Ned’s eagerness in murdering Matty’s husband is a proof that he is under an effective femme fatale’s control.

* Femme Fatale, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary is a seductive woman who lures men into dangerous or compromising situations. The usual antagonist in Noirs are females who trick men into doing things in favor of them, but, it will not be very evident at the beginning for a woman in films, gain sympathy more. Therefore, the audience will think that the true antagonist is the man.  *

I like the scene where Matty is walking toward the boat house where everything was pitched black and she was completely lit. It made a scary-mysterious kind of effect, for me. 

And during that scene, I like to believe that she was really telling the truth, that she loves Ned. But unfortunately, towards the end of the film, it was revealed that she was just in love with the money.

Also, film noirs have crime, sexuality, or violence in them. And Body heat has those.

Trainspotting

One dive into Scotland’s filthiest bathroom and the audience is exposed to the inexplicable world of Drug addicts.

            A film reflecting the society and making the society laugh as well. Trainspotting is focused on Heroin addiction, causes and effects of being addicted to drugs, violence and sex. All in all, it’s a film that probably most people would not want to watch because of its ‘dark’ theme. It’s the kind of film that parents would prohibit their children to see. It may also trigger a debate whether it is anti or pro drugs.

            However, the way I see it, Trainspotting is a film that flaunts the real happenings in our society. It exposes the life of a person under the influence of drugs.

            Also, it is a combination of humorous wit, style, and reality. Yes, it has a dark theme but the way it is presented, it is not dark at all. In fact, it is very engaging because the story plot is presented lightly. The script sounded as intelligent jokes. Another is, I like the way that it is executed honestly. And by that I mean, Trainspotting neither a pro nor anti drug, but a reflection of the real deal between the consequences you get from taking drugs and the pleasures it gives you after.

            I think that a good film makes its audience feel the feel of the characters and I felt that in Trainspotting. Not only in its story, script, or Danny Boyle’s directing styles, but also in its camera angles, as well. The way the camera follows Renton’s hands while injecting the heroin in his veins makes me feel the same excitement, and a little fearful for its consequences. The scene where they were running through their town and the camera tracks them down makes me feel the same adrenaline rush and the non-diegetic sounds contributed a lot in making my heart pound as hard and as fast as Renton’s. 

           And I would not forget my most favorite scene, when he was walking toward the camera with a smile on his face during the end of the film, I felt happiness for him. I felt his willingness to change. I felt his success in overcoming drugs and it was as if I was part of that success, too. And I felt his feeling, too – I felt it is right to choose life.

            During the first parts of studying this course, it was established that a film takes you to an adventure same as the characters’, and I conclude that Trainspotting achieved that. Because in every scene and in every change of camera positioning, I felt I was there, too.

            One dive into Scotland’s filthiest bathroom and the world is exposed to its reality. Hopefully, the world chooses life. 

Getting to know the Hollywood style

The magic chair takes you anywhere – It makes you a part of the adventure of the characters in the film. Thus, films all over the world have been playing a role to most, if not all, people’s weekly routine.

            David Bordwell, Janet Staiger, and Kristin Thompson studied 100 Hollywood films from 1917 to 1960 and concluded the developed cinematic style – The Hollywood style. Because of the global dominance of Hollywood films, it has been a paradigm to other filmmakers anywhere.

            I can’t say if I really have an understanding on films, because I only watch just for the sake of entertainment. And if ever I am asked to critique a movie, I focus on the story itself. This is why, I think, Hollywood films are really effective because they are good storytellers.

            They focus on their characters, setting, and they make it a point to connect to the audience. As they tell the story, they make their audience crave for more. And in order to produce a movie that can carry its audience, they turned the Hollywood style into a studio style. They designed the entire movie. They did it so well that it has become as if invisible. I bet no one has ever noticed a man-made environment on a Hollywood film.

            Because they are storytellers, they made sure that nothing can interfere the audience from knowing everything about the story, No single glitch in editing was ever found or has drawn attention to itself on a Hollywood film - Again, the concept of being invisible or continuity editing.

            By the end of the movie, there was no question left unanswered. Hollywood films made their story concise and free from disturbances; in editing, in acting, or even in the set design.

            Yes it is still entertaining but looking at the generation we have today, it may be predictable. As the society grows, our level of thinking and creativity must grow also. Thus, I think, it will be helpful if Hollywood films would take risks. Their style won’t produce critical thinker audience but only, dependent ones.

           I may not be knowledgeable enough about films yet, but as a Mass Communication student, I wish to make a film different from others, a film that has no pattern. If ever I will have this opportunity, I wish to produce films with different styles.