In order to further study and analyse the filmmaking technique which both of these directors use, we must study their films in great depth, this includes watching a range of their films over a course of at least a decade. This is used to show how their style of directing has progressed, it allows us to further understand the way in which they make their films.
Spike Lee:
(Born March 20, 1957. American writer, producer and director.)
On top of studying ‘Miracle At St.Anna’ (2008), I also looked at two others.
He Got Game (1998) - Directed by Spike Lee Starring: Denzel Washington, Ray Allen and Milla Jovovich
This film is a Sport/Drama based on basketball. The protagonist Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington) is a convicted felon and is temporarily released from prison in order to convince his son, Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen), of which university he should attend as a favour to the governor. This dynamic of betrayal and misleading perception perfectly allows the film to create suspense. As the film is based around a time limit, whereas the protagonist has a limited amount of time to complete his task, it means that the audience is constantly wondering how long Jake is going to take and whether or not he will succeed. The use of the popular sport basketball serves in order to create a connection between Jake and his son, this allows for a quick way to relate the two and to connect their interests. A key technical aspect of the film, also shown in Spike Lee’s other films is the use of cutaways and constant flashbacks/flash forwards. These elements are used in order to immediately inform the audience and link a piece of information to a future or past event. This technique is often used in television as it is difficulty to revise and key piece of information or joke at a later time with such a short run time of television episode. However, in order for the audience to remember each crucial fact, cut-aways are used in order to create a direct link in the audiences mind. Another trope shown across the entire film is Spike’s constant use of film references in his dialogue, this is used as an homage to other directors and other pieces of popular work that fit into the story of his film, for example, when referencing Jake’s possible escape from prison, a character references ‘The Fugitive’ (1993). Spike tries to create a fluid world between his films separate timelines, when referencing past events, he seamlessly integrates them into the world, allowing his present characters to watch the scene along with the audience, giving a much more surreal effect. The film explores themes of family, trust, crime, values, faith, corruption and pride.
Oldboy (2013) - Directed by Spike Lee Starring Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen and Sharlto Copley
The film ‘Oldboy’ (2013) is a Mystery/Drama based around Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin) as he is kidnapped and imprisoned for 20 years for seemingly unknown reasons. Upon his release, the antagonist Adrian (Sharlto Copley) sets his plan into motion, this takes use of a classic mystery trope, where the antagonist’s identity is hidden and is slowly revealed either through the course of the narrative or by the discovery of the protagonist. This is used in order to build an image in the audiences mind, all the small details and pieces of information that are given are used in order to construct the image of the true identity of the villain. Often this is used to develop un-natural or even maniacal behaviours in the antagonist and even though he is hidden for most of the film, the audience is fully of aware of Adrian’s existence and role in the film. The narrative and conclusion of all the events of the film are only met in the last few minutes, nothing about the leading events causes the audience to realises what is going on, slight hint drops and narrative elements upon a second screening would allow the audience to see what they were missing the first time around, this again is a common convention in the mystery genre and is used in films such as ‘Fight Club’ (1999). Features that cross over between ‘He Got Game’ and ‘Miracle At St.Anna’ and this film help to solid Spike Lee’s technique as a director and the way that he constructs his vision. A key element that is present across each of the films is the use of fluid flashbacks, this incorporates the present-day characters in the situation, having them look in on the situation and evaluate it before the audience eyes. This again brings the audience closer to the world of the film and creates a surreal experience. The use of facial expressions and body language of the characters as they ‘imagine or remember’ past events also gives the audience a deeper insight into how the events in the film effected their life. This is also quite easy to film in a technical aspect, because younger or even separate actors can be used in order to shoot the scene at the same time as the ‘present-day actors’, meaning that the entire scene can be shoot in a fluid and realistic way. This film explores themes of unknown, punishment, revenge, conspiracy and discovery.
Quentin Tarantino:
(Born March 27, 1963. American writer, producer, actor and director.)
On top of studying ‘Inglorious Basterds’ (2009), I also looked at two others.
Pulp Fiction (1994) - Directed by Quentin Tarantino Starring: John Travolta, Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson
This film is a Crime/Drama with several elements of comedy and thriller. The film uses quite a chaotic narrative, based around the intertwining lives of several people, each section of the film is included as separate, made in reference again at a later point in the film. The opening scene in fact actually takes place quite far down the road in the chronological order of the story, this confusing story is symbolic of the chaotic mess that the film represents, each event as absurd and over the top as it may be all contributed to every other events, the film also represent in that sense as large butter fly affect. Tarantino tells the entire story however selects key different pieces and scatters them all of. The film’s satirical nature and exaggerated scenes contrast with the mundane realism that the film tries to portray in scenes in between each section. The purpose is to inform the audience that this is in fact a living breathing world, rather than a large set up and coincidence as most film narratives seems to be. The large power struggle across all of the characters intertwine them with each other in order to create a much more vivid world with a society that influences every action that happens. The style of the film represents how each action has a reaction or even reproduction, it is used to demonstrate what happens when a protagonists kills somebody, most artificial film tropes dive under this and gloss over the fact that anything happened, this element of mundane realism mixed with unfortunate circumstance makes the film interesting and engaging for the audience especially on a separate screening due to a better understanding of the plot devices. The film explores themes of power, chaos, violence, addiction, harassment, approval and coincidence.
Django Unchained (2012) - Directed by Quentin Tarantino Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio
This western/adventure film is a twist on the classic genre, basing the traditional cowboy role, made famous through films starring Clint Eastwood in the mid-20th century, the film is based on a freed slave Django (Jamie Foxx) who teams up with Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) as bounty hunter, killing criminals for rewards in the old west. The film takes place in 1858, throughout various states in the south of America. Django after helping Schultz murder 3 of his former owners, joins him in the business in order to rescue his wife from a plantation owned by Mr. Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), the dynamic of the classic western is turned into a gruesome and powerful peace, with a twist delivered through the director, Tarantino’s own style. A key feature of the film is its soundtrack. Periodically throughout the film, various tracks written specially for the film re played, they are used in order to help inform the audience about the characters, through the lyrics, the audiences gains information about their personality and characteristics. The film opens after the credits, with a song about the protagonist Django and then later about the supporting-protagonist Schultz. These forms of characterisation are important because it avoids needing to use arbitrary dialogue or scenes in order to help give necessary information. The film uses various cinematography techniques that are unique to Tarantino’s directing style, his films use these specific camera movements or technicalities, these are a staple of his films and helps bring his closer to being a true auteur in his art form. These forms of cinematography include fast pans between characters when in a discussion, this usually happen in a conversation with multiple people and over a horizontal plain, motion blur in between pans and each character gives the illusion of immediacy and helps create a more fluid feel to the film. Another technique, also common to films in the western genre, is quick zooms, both in and out. When focused on a specific character or object, the camera can quickly zoom in or out in order to give an emphasis on the subject matter. This is often used to introduce characters and is used in this film to establish wide open spaces, therefore showing the audience that the protagonists are quite isolated. The film explores themes of crime, revenge, hate, return, passion, friendship and slavery.
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