Alan J. Pakula directed the 1971 film noir Klute. The film stylistically is what makes the film a success not the content. For within the film, the angles of the camera and the lighting are what captivates the audience and makes it fit in with the Hollywood drama genre. According to Thomas L. Erskine, the film is generically both film noir thriller and a psychological thriller, and the audience identifies with Bree Daniels, a developing character whose inner conflict torments her, not with John Klute, the static and reticent male.
In the beginning, the camera angles create a pattern. The first shot in the scene is an establishing shot then it goes from each individual shot and back to an establishing shot. There are no close ups within this pattern. The first close up the audience sees is when the tape recorder is playing a tape. This was done as a hint to the audience of its importance and its role throughout the film. Another great shot is when Bree Daniels, the main character in the story, walks directly into the camera creating suspense but also engaging the audience. The camera angles within the film were very captivating and creative. One that was really effective when the camera was when Klute was standing and Bree was at the table sitting. The camera was at the height of Klute’s hip so in the scene Klute was visible with his leg and the audience is able to see Bree sitting down. This gives the audience the perception that they are standing right by Klute.
The lighting in the film was very important and what makes this film a film noir as well as creates the drama and thrill from within. In the scenes, eerie music would be playing in the scenes that had dark lighting. Some examples of that are when Bree is walking down the hallway and when she is in the bed and the camera slowly backs further and further away to create more space. A primordial response to darkness and light is a deep-seated element of human psychology that filmmakers have harnessed in order to influence the ways viewers respond to narrative development (http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/Independent-Film-Road-Movies/Lighting.html). With the dark lighting and the music this builds suspense for the viewer as well as the viewer is trying to figure out what will happen next and to whom. One of the purposes for lighting in film is the creation of atmosphere or emotional effect. With the different examples mentioned above, the audience tended to feel worried about Bree and if the killer was going to kill her as well as the sense of wanting to find out who the killer was.
The film’s story was the weakest part. Some areas were very slow and dry. The only thing that kept my attention was the style of the film. I thought the actors were very professional and believable. I was able to figure out who the killer was in the very beginning when they first showed the character who would later be the killer. The rest made it uninteresting because I already knew what was going to happen. Yes, this film was a great thriller in the 70’s and is much better than some of the recent thrillers and drama films but I want something that grabs my attention throughout. I want something that will keep me guessing and wandering who did it and what will happen next, much like the film Fracture.
So all in all style of the film great, story not so great.
In the beginning, the camera angles create a pattern. The first shot in the scene is an establishing shot then it goes from each individual shot and back to an establishing shot. There are no close ups within this pattern. The first close up the audience sees is when the tape recorder is playing a tape. This was done as a hint to the audience of its importance and its role throughout the film. Another great shot is when Bree Daniels, the main character in the story, walks directly into the camera creating suspense but also engaging the audience. The camera angles within the film were very captivating and creative. One that was really effective when the camera was when Klute was standing and Bree was at the table sitting. The camera was at the height of Klute’s hip so in the scene Klute was visible with his leg and the audience is able to see Bree sitting down. This gives the audience the perception that they are standing right by Klute.
The lighting in the film was very important and what makes this film a film noir as well as creates the drama and thrill from within. In the scenes, eerie music would be playing in the scenes that had dark lighting. Some examples of that are when Bree is walking down the hallway and when she is in the bed and the camera slowly backs further and further away to create more space. A primordial response to darkness and light is a deep-seated element of human psychology that filmmakers have harnessed in order to influence the ways viewers respond to narrative development (http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/Independent-Film-Road-Movies/Lighting.html). With the dark lighting and the music this builds suspense for the viewer as well as the viewer is trying to figure out what will happen next and to whom. One of the purposes for lighting in film is the creation of atmosphere or emotional effect. With the different examples mentioned above, the audience tended to feel worried about Bree and if the killer was going to kill her as well as the sense of wanting to find out who the killer was.
The film’s story was the weakest part. Some areas were very slow and dry. The only thing that kept my attention was the style of the film. I thought the actors were very professional and believable. I was able to figure out who the killer was in the very beginning when they first showed the character who would later be the killer. The rest made it uninteresting because I already knew what was going to happen. Yes, this film was a great thriller in the 70’s and is much better than some of the recent thrillers and drama films but I want something that grabs my attention throughout. I want something that will keep me guessing and wandering who did it and what will happen next, much like the film Fracture.
So all in all style of the film great, story not so great.
No comments:
Post a Comment