Do You Know About The Four Lenses Of A Movie?
Posted: Monday, October 26, 2009
by William Farrand
The Problem That Most Movie Producers And Film Directors Face
A good movie review is so much more than the number of stars after the movie title. I know that's what most people want to see, but think about it. A movie producer has just invested $60M and the director has given two years of his life. Do you really think they want to see that reduced to a casual two second glance at the number of stars following the title? I know the internet has turned us all into ADD consumers that have lost the ability to process through written information thoughtfully, but really! Think about the art forms and how they blended together to bring the film to life. Consider this before passing your "two star" judgment. In this article I will attempt to describe four artistic lenses that craft a movie so that when you see your next blockbuster epic or quiet romantic comedy, you will have a greater appreciation for what the film makers have attempted to do.
This is the start button for every movie. The pitch to the studio money people begins, "It's a __________ about ..." The blank is the genre. Romantic comedy, drama, horror, action/adventure, buddy movie, coming of age movie, etc. Genre is the first lens we look through in unpacking a movie. It defines how the story will unfold, the pace of the editing, the musical theme as well as the incidental music, even the costumes and lighting will be determined by the genre. Each genre has its own set of rules, but genres also are reinvented and redefined successfully by Hollywood's more creative movie makers. Barry Levinson's "Rain Man" broke several genre rules but successfully told a very dramatic and engaging story about two brothers setting out on a cross country journey of discovery. Being able to identify the elements of genre in the movie will clarify why the movie is what it is.
Story
The next lens is story. When story is combined with genre the filmmaker's intent and purpose in making the film becomes clear. Look carefully at each character as they are introduced and trace their arc. When and where do the arcs cross? When do they run parallel? The length of the arc indicates the character's importance. Is the character introduced to set something up later. When the movie is over, remember the main characters' introduction and story arc. Was it resolved or left open.
Morality
Every movie has a moral message. It is impossible to tell a story and not have a moral. The message of the film maker will be seen through the moral lens and remembered as we leave the theater. Moral messages include: Good always wins over evil. Nice guys finish last. The bad things you do in secret will be publicly exposed. The morality of the movie can be positive or negative. Horror movies usually end with everyone getting killed except for that final one who either defeats evil or escapes to fight evil another day.
Art
The artistic lens will reveal a movie's longevity. If care was taken to creatively tell a story by expanding its genre, and revealing well formed characters with developed arcs, the film will become a classic. Every year the movie "Somewhere In Time" is celebrated on Mackinac Island, Michigan at the Grand Hotel. When the movie was first released in 1980, the box office was disappointing. But, when it began showing on cable TV, the artistic beauty of the well told romantic story captivated thousands of viewers. In 1990 the International Network of Somewhere In Time Enthusiasts was formed to plan the Mackinac Island event that became an annual celebration. In 2010 they will celebrate their 20th anniversary when the movie turns 30 years old. Its moral theme of timeless love still causes the movie's fans to celebrate.
All That To Say...
...While we often are fans of particular movie stars, when you decide to go to a movie, look to see who's directing the film. The film is their vision and the actors are only playing out the parts.Three movies later, they've usually established a moral history that will be repeated in future movies.
Revisit your movie experience through these lenses. Don't be quick to pass judgment based on your personal opinion. The movie is over and the credits are rolling. Think about everyone who worked on the movie and how they contributed to the genre, story, morality, and art of the film. Do you think the director was able to accomplish what he and the producers set out to do? Read through the films reviews. Do you agree or disagree? As you look through these lenses, your experience at the movies will become far richer.
--------
Each week Wink Farrand reviews three new movies through the lenses of genre, story, morality, and art. He only reviews what he's interested in, but those are the films he also recommends. Wink's favorite movies include: Somewhere In Time, Searching For Bobby Fischer, The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, and Waitress. Wink's Movie Blog welcomes all visitors and their comments.
This Article has been viewed 45 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.