Film Theory – The Cinephile Fix

Film Discussion with Daisuke Beppu

Disturbance in Luis Buñuel’s “Land Without Bread”

In Luis Buñuel’s grotesque, “Land Without Bread”, we are introduced to a small town struck by extreme poverty and disease. The camera does not shy away from exposing viewers to some of the most disturbing imagery you can think of. We see plenty of rotten animals, a dead baby, the mourning mother, and sick childrenContinue reading “Disturbance in Luis Buñuel’s “Land Without Bread””

The Sublime Cinema of Yasujirō Ozu

Yasujiro Ozu expressed grand philosophical ideas through little moments of everyday life. He is in my humble opinion, the most sensitive and disciplined director to ever hold a camera. Ozu disregarded how the rest of the world shot films and created his own cinematic language. He broke every rule there was and did it the most subtle way possible. Ozu’s films exercised the most discreetContinue reading “The Sublime Cinema of Yasujirō Ozu”

Film Analysis: Planet of Human, Animal, and Political Rights

“Film is incredibly democratic and accessible, it’s probably the best option if you actually want to change the world, not just re-decorate it.” Banksy Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is one of the finest entries in the Planet of the Apes saga, for unlike the countless sequels of the original, it follows theContinue reading “Film Analysis: Planet of Human, Animal, and Political Rights”

Film Analysis: Martin Scorsese’s Portrayal of New York

There is no such thing as seeing New York through Martin Scorsese’s eyes, for Scorsese merely projects the light detected by the warped eyes of his lonely protagonists. His signature light-reflected visual approach used to showcase New York City is evident in most of his films, but varies in significance and meaning from one pictureContinue reading “Film Analysis: Martin Scorsese’s Portrayal of New York”

Film Analysis: Michael Mann’s Portrayal of Los Angeles

Los Angeles is an overpopulated city, yet it is depicted as a silent milieu of isolation. Mann provides us with a canvas of the great city, only one we’ve never laid eyes on before. A car driving through an empty highway, flickering city lights of a silent night, an empty apartment reflecting an endless ocean,Continue reading “Film Analysis: Michael Mann’s Portrayal of Los Angeles”

Hitchcock’s Symphony: “PSYCHO” A Shot-by-Shot Commentary

It’s quite easy for someone to enjoy film. Loving film is completely different. For those who see film enjoy them, yet only those who can read film truly love it and understand it as an art form. Hitchcock is probably the most well known director of all time. There is no absolute answer to whatContinue reading “Hitchcock’s Symphony: “PSYCHO” A Shot-by-Shot Commentary”

Film Genres, Actors and their Choices “Would Would You Ask a Heart Surgeon to Operate on Your Teeth?”

To read my article regarding genres, actors and their choices. Go to the excellent ‘Touching From a Distance’ website where I wrote a blog post as a guest. Link to the article: http://www.touchingfromadistance.co.uk/2010/02/would-you-ask-a-heart-surgeon-to-operate-on-your-teeth/

The Merging of Mise-en-Scene and Narrative Style (Run Lola Run and Hero)

Cartoon of Lola Running When it comes to movies, one would find that there are numerous ways for the director to tell his story and just as much ways for him display it on screen. The narrative style of a movie depends mostly on the screenplay of the movie and unlike most people think,Continue reading “The Merging of Mise-en-Scene and Narrative Style (Run Lola Run and Hero)”

The Power of Sound and Editing (The Conversation and Psycho)

When most people think about movies, they usually judge them in terms of acting and directing, rarely does a person judge its editing or sound mixing. The reason for that being is because most editors and sound editors do all they can to make their editing as smooth as possible for the audience. When editing and sound mixing is used correctly there’s a certain flow that’s required in a good movie, the movie seems to fit better, and the truth is without editing and sound mixing most great movies wouldn’t be nearly as good as they are regarded. The 1974 Francis Ford Coppola thriller The Conversation and the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock horror movie Psycho are perfect examples of movies largely depending on the process and technique of editing and sound mixing. Each of those movies can be seen as perfect examples where the editing and sound mixing were used to perfection.