Introduction
The film making industry produces a huge number of movies every year. It goes without saying that each of them has its own plot presenting the main idea and the moral. The aim of this report is to analyze three films: Late Spring by Yasujiro Ozu, Sicko by Michael Moore, and The Aviator by Martin Scorsese.
Late Spring by Yasujiro Ozu
Late Spring is the film of the Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu. The film encompasses the traditions of the Japanese film-making and has rather symbolic meaning. The author of the film masterly depicts the complicated relationship in the Japanese family and touches upon the issues of loneliness, care for children, and family values. Noriko and her father are the central characters of the film. The traditional Japanese family relationships have been perfectly presented by the actors.
“Despite Noriko’s self-reliance—an Ozu earmark from the thirties that became an axiom in Late Spring—the acquiescent, ever-smiling heroine’s desires are never considered; she explicitly asks why her contented life cannot just go on as it has been” (Atkinson 2013, par. 6)
The shooting techniques used in the film are the following: the static camera, “false” eyeline-matches and the use of 360-degree shooting space (Wood 1998). All of them are considered to be the typical features of Yasujiro Ozu’s movie making. The discussion of the black-and-white films can be found in the Chapter I of the Film Art: an Introduction. “On a black-and-white film strip the emulsion contains grains of silver halide” (Bordwell & Thompson 2003, p.5).
I think the film Late Spring is interesting from several points of view. First, it depicts the traditions of the Japanese culture and the family relationships, in particular. Second, it is unique in context of the shooting techniques applied. And finally, its meaning is not straightforward and the plot of the film makes us thinking about the message which the author tried to send us.
Sicko by Michael Moore
Sicko is the documentary film made by the American director Michael Moore who is famous for his bold and provocative films depicting the realities of the American society and politics. Moore uncovers the weaknesses of the medical insurance system in the US. He clearly shows that the system requires changes as it does not achieve its purpose of taking care of nation’s health.
“Narration is the process by which the plot presents the story information to the spectator”(Bordwell & Thompson 2003, Chapter 3, p.74). Moore uses the interviews with people to uncover the plot. Essentially the interviewed are the narrators in the film.
In Sicko, Moore touched upon the problems of the healthcare system in the US criticizing it for its inefficiency creating the inequality in the access to healthcare. “Even if you disagree with Moore, this film is worth watching for its chilling and disturbingly accurate portrayal of the failings of healthcare in America” (Montgomery 2007, par.2).
I think the film is very interesting. I like Moore’s style as he does not say his own views only. He tries to bring his point of view through the interviews with other people and communication with them.
The Aviator by Martin Scorsese
The Aviator is the bibliographical movie by Martin Scorsese presenting the life of Howard Hughes, the passionate aviator and businessman. The film is rather interesting not only for its historic plot but also for the captivating subject and the brilliant work of actors. “Because of the contract between the filmmaker and the audience, the promise of something new based on something familiar, genres may also respond quickly to broad social trends”(Bordwell & Thompson 2003, Chapter 4, p.99).
Leonardo DiCaprio played Howard Hughes, the main character of the film. DiCaprio masterly featured the character of Hughes, his passion for aviation, mentality and style. Kate Beckinsale played Ava Gardner, the Hollywood start of the beginning of the XX century who had a long relationship with Hughes. Cate Blanchett played Katharine Hepburn, the American movie star of the XX century and a close friend of Howard Hughes.
The film is valuable for its beautiful representation of the style of 20s and 30s, the manner of behavior of people, their habits, language, and emotions which are very different from those which characterize modern people. The special attention should be paid to the settings and costumes used in the film. They perfectly match the atmosphere of the presented period of time.
The screenplay of the film is consisted of five main points which seem to be confusing for this genre of film but give the deeper structure to it and make the film stand out in the movie making (Carter 2007). “These discrete story points include the ‘Inciting Incident’ in Act 1, ‘Turning Points 1 and 2′ in Act 2, and the ‘Crisis Decision’ and ‘Climax’ in Act 3” (Carter 2007, n.pag.).
In my view, The Aviator is one of the best Hollywood movies of the last decades. It is not only interesting but also valuable from the standpoint of the creative approach the director applied in the structuring the plot and shooting.
Conclusion
In summary, the film making is a sphere of art producing a large number of works which are worthy to analyze and compare. Each film is unique in its genre and each director uses their own shooting techniques which make the film stand out.
References
Atkinson, Michael (n.d.), Late Spring: Home with Ozu. Web.
Bordwell, D., & Thompson, K. (2003). Film art: an introduction. New York: IDP McGraw-Hill.
Carter, S. (2007). Movie analysis The Aviator 2004. Web.
Montgomery, K. (2007). Sicko movie review. Web.
Wood, R. (1998). Sexual Politics and Narrative Film: Hollywood and Beyond. New York: Columbia University Press.