Analysis of how Terry Windsor Develops generic conventions in the title sequence of Essex Boys
Released Date (UK): 2000
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Director: Terry Windsor
Writers: Terry Windsor & Jeff Pope
Plot: Essex Boys is loosely based on the true story of the Rettendon range rover murders that took place in Essex in 1995. A young taxi driver is offered a job to drive for a criminal who has just been released from jail to get revenge on the people who grassed him up. As the film progresses the audience begin to see just what the situation the young taxi driver has gotten himself into.
Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes gave it 17% and its users gave 26%, IMDB users gave the film a rating of 5.9 out of 10
Starring: Sean Bean, Charlie Creed-Miles and Alex Kingston
This was taken from IMDB and it shows the user ratings for Essex boys. As we can see the demographic that rated the film highest were 'Females Aged 18-29' with a rating of 6.9 out of 10, this could be because of the strong female character 'Lisa Locke' (played by Alex Kingston) who deceives everyone at the end and manages to come away fine.
How does Peter Jackson develop and challenge generic conventions in "Heavenly Creatures"?
Released in 1994
Starring Kate Winslet, Melanie Lynskey and Sarah Peirse
Directed by Peter Jackson
Written by Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson
Received highest audience rating from females aged 30-44 (IMDB)
Based on a true story - The notorious 1954 Parker-Hulme murder case in Christchurch, New Zealand
This clip depicts the scene in which the two girls murder the mother in the isolated surroundings of New Zealand.
The film is told through flashbacks and arranged as a circular narrative, this is often used in thrillers (Once Upon a Time in America) to get away from the generic linear narrative and to add a bit of complexity to the plot, this also appeals to the audience because it is as though are actually being told the story (based on true events). The film follows two girls who share and obsessive friendship and one of the girls is being taken away to another country. The girls do not want to avoid being separated at all costs, which eventually leads to the murder of the mother of one of the girls as she won't let her caught move away to another country. Already Jackson is challenging the generic conventions by using two females as lead roles instead of having the film lead by a male role, this will help the film appeal to a wider audience including many more women.
In the cafe scene there is a close up shot of the clock near the beginning. This can symbolise the idea that time is important; perhaps there is too much or too little time? Time could be an issue or could be running out for the girls. Clocks are often used in thrillers to show the importance/issue of time, a sub-genre in which time is often used is crime thrillers. This is because they often involve court cases in which you are requested to state where you were at the time of the murder, therefore time becomes incredibly important and can often make or break a defendants case. The use of the clock presents the audience with a sense of foreboding; the girls may end up in a court very soon having to prove their innocence or guilt. The clock also helps to build tension, the meticulous ticking of the hands creates the impression that time is passing ever so slowly, making the audience on edge and conjuring suspense amongst the girls.
Heavenly Creatures isn't the only film that uses time to signify genre, a watch is used in the thriller film 'Drive' to indicate the time that the driver is available for. This measurement of time helps to add suspense, as it feels real, the audience want to see the driver make it out in time. The use of the watch is during a scene where a burglary is taking place, in Heavenly Creatures a crime is also about to take place; time/clocks could symbolise the imminent taking place of a bad act.
During the conversation taking place between the two girls and the mother in the cafe Jackson makes sure not to break the 180 degree rule so that the audience do not become disorientated or confused, allowing them to keep up with the pace of the conversation. Close ups are a generic convention of thriller films, allowing the audience to connect with the characters and the characters emotions to be expressed with ease. Jackson uses close ups during the cafe scene to show what the girls are feeling, their expressions are stone cold, showing no hint of emotion. This hints to the audience that something bad is going to happen and that the girls have mentally committed to what they are about to do. This is emphasised when compared to the upbeat nature of the mother, who doesn't gauge that the girls are almost expressionless, because the stark difference between the two emotional states shows a sense of foreshadowing.
As the three characters leave the cafe the non-diegetic soundtrack of Puccini's 'The Humming Chorus' begins in the background. This bit of classical music is dramatic but exquisite at the same time; this music helps to build tension amongst the audience although it seems to contradict the action and what is about to happen. Jackson is challenging generic conventions by playing this mellow music amongst the penultimate build up to the climax, it seems ironic but it could be perceived in several different ways, for example the soundtrack seems to create an ideal utopia for the girls, they are living out a dream world within this last scene. During this moment the screenplay is slowed down, allowing the audience see that these moments are the last few for the mother and so adding to the dream world.
This soundtrack plays right through until the mother is killed, this bears similarities to grand opera as the song is played during the death scene of Madama Butterfly and these scenes of death are linked due to their immense tragedy. Elements of the opera can also be likened to the final scene of Heavenly Creatures, for example in Madama Butterfly, the child is being taken away from the mother before she commits suicide and this bears similarities to the way that the child is trying to leave her mother in Heavenly Creatures, it is also similar because both mothers end up dying and both the children are left without mothers. Another way the two could be linked is that in Heavenly Creatures the two girls are waiting for the right moment to commit the murder just as in the way that in Madama Butterfly the woman is waiting for the return of her husband (who has fallen in love with another woman). Lastly, Peter Jackson could be saying that this film is worthy of a grand opera as the ending is so tragic, the story is so good and the ending so tragic almost entitles it to a play at the opera.
Jackson challenges the generic 'claustrophobic' locations that are so often seen in thriller films by using a very open location for the murder scene. Although the location is open, light and outside it is still isolated, meaning that the sense of fear is still present amongst the audience, fear is very important in some thrillers, as this is what keeps the audience hooked. Jackson still tries to create a generic claustrophobic environment by using a very narrow path, meaning that the characters have to work down in single file with the victim sandwiched in between, this puts the audience in her shoes. The fact that one of the girls is either side of the victim reinforces the idea that there is no going back now and there is no escape for the mother as she is completely isolated apart from the company of the two girls.
During the walk down to the place where the murder happens there are a series of close ups (as previously said close ups are often used in thrillers and Jackson is making use of generic conventions to cement the genre), capturing a moment in time that tells the audience how each character is feeling at present, again slow motion is used to emphasise the mothers last few moments alive. The walking down the path could symbolise the girl's commitment but also the diminishing hope that their dreams will really become a reality.
Lastly, Jackson challenges gender within the thriller genre by using two young girls, around 15 years of age, to commit the murder and as main roles throughout the film. This is so different to the generic characters in thrillers as they are usually male led, men do the murdering, for example Travis Bickle, played by Robert De Niro in the psychological thriller 'Taxi Driver' (1976). Heavenly Creatures shook New Zealand when it first came out simply because it was so shocking that two teenage girls could really do this and Jacksons depiction of the tale was quite graphic, challenging the typical representation of the average teenage girls.
Thrillers are much more based upon reality, which is how fear is conveyed as the idea is that it could happen to anyone.
The plot lines are usually complicated and require thought to understand, this however can enrich the experience by providing a more in depth understanding of what messages the film is trying to convey.
Suspense is built up over time to ensure the audience are genuinely interested.
Based more upon the characters and understanding them, rather than action such as car chases or explosions.
Sometimes the narrative isn't linear, it's complex. This means that the plot could be told through flashbacks or be circular.
Audiences are usually males, aged 18 - 30 years old. The age is usually implied as most thriller films have an age rating of 18 to start with.
Some directors have begun to challenge generic conventions and use females for lead roles (such as Kill Bill)
This is the trailer for Fight Club (1999), it has a complex narrative and an interesting plot that has a twist, Fight Club requires thought.
This is the dystopian city location from the film Looper (2012), it is quite futuristic and from this shot looks bright and optimistic but in reality the back streets are still dark, dirty and full of crime. This shows similarities to the cities of today, but in the future the city has become even more undesirable, linking back to the idea of a dystopia.
Although The Dark Knight (2008) is debatable to whether it is a thriller or not, I felt that The Joker (played by Heath Ledger) was a dark character more fitting to the thriller genre. His character could be interpreted in several different ways, cold and calculated but spontaneous and unrelenting at the same time. The Joker provoked questioning from the audience in relation to what his motivation was, this is partially why he appears so ambiguous in the film.
Black and white is used in American History X (1998) to represent flashbacks, this is an example of noir/chiaroscuro lighting. Note that Derek is partially consumed in shadow, showing his dark nature, this is achieved by non-ambient light which gives a spotlight effect. Edward Norton is known for playing characters with dual personalities, such as Derek in American History X and The Narrator in Fight Club.
The character in Drive (2011) is shown first to be gentle and caring, but as the plot develops and the people that are most important to him become threatened he takes matters into his own hands, stopping at nothing to achieve his goal. The line between right and wrong becomes blurred and a darker side to the character is revealed.
This scene depicts the two characters, Jules and Vincent, light heartedly discussing Europe and the metric system. They are on the way to kill some young men who owe money to their boss, Pulp Fiction depicts the demise of society in America in the way that the characters are presented, many have turned to crime in order to survive and don't really show much remorse whilst doing so.
Action/Adventure
Action and adventure films are much less real, they contain characters that seem to break the laws of gravity, therefore the realism runs thin.
Instead of focussing on the development of characters the genre usually focuses on big action, such as stunts, car chases, and explosions/gunfights.
The target audience for this genre are most usually boys at the ages of 12 - 18 as it appeals to the sort of video game market and the fantasies that come with it.
The plot is almost always linear, this allows the audience not to get caught up in it and directs the focus more onto the action.
This trailer depicts some of the cliches of an action film, big stunts, explosions and guns. When the two trailers are compared it is easy to see the differences.
The non-diegetic sound of" God Bless America" being played over the titles and in to the first few shots which Leone could be using to portray an ironic or critical view of the state of America, especially because the femme fatale is murdered with this song in the background. This song is also used at the end of "The Deer Hunter" (1978) and also signifies the poor state of which America is in as it is sung by all of the remaining characters after they have lost practically everything, could this be a message as the directors of both of these films are Italian. Could they be possibly be mocking America? Along with this soundtrack there are also footsteps being heard (diegetic sound) which establishes a sense of suspense, as the audience know that a character is moving somewhere, but they cannot see where or who, this sound anticipates the next scene.
Leone uses chiaroscuro lighting (familiar with early noir thrillers) to show the dark nature of the thriller genre. Non-ambient lighting is used to full effect, creating a spotlight effect on the femme fatale character, showing that she is who the audience should be focusing on and also to highlight the fact that she is potentially a dangerous or vulnerable character. Although it is non-ambient it is done so well that it looks very natural or ambient, so the audience still get the feeling that it's a very real life situation which is what many thrillers use to create the fear and suspense. The tiffany lamp on the bedside table seems to blend with the skin tone of Eve, the lamp could be a visual metaphor for Eve herself representing the idea that she is an exquisite character but delicate at the same time.
The pearls that the femme fatale character is seen to be wearing could be used as a visual metaphor for tears, this gives the audience a sense of foreboding of what is about to happen (her immanent death) or perhaps some of the events that will happen later on in the film. Tears could represent different emotions, pain and suffering is the primary thought when a person is seen crying but the tears could also be attributed to happiness. In the thriller genre it is more likely to be the latter of the two as it is quite a dark genre. A very obvious prop that is seen early is the guns that the bent cops are using to threaten and kill the femme fatale (note that 'Eve' is not dangerous but vulnerable in this scene, appealing more to the weak and obidient depiction of women within film), this is a direct link to the thriller genre as guns are very often used in thriller films, especially because of the nature of violence and death. An example of the use of guns in the opening of a thriller would be in "Pulp Fiction" (1994) where the couple are seen in the cafe, robbing people of their wallets. Another prop or props that are used in this opening scene are the trilby's and overcoats worn by the cops, these are generic conventions for the thriller genre and are very often seen in the more classic thrillers as well as noir thrillers, usually featuring some sort of detective. The way that the bent cops are standing closely together and wearing similar attire suggests a bond, perhaps through work or maybe even on a personal level, and this bond is shown as strong by their presence amongst the mise en scene. These garments don't show the audience what the characters are wearing underneath, adding to the mystery of the character because the audience can't judge the characters nature from their initial appearance.
The low angle shot is used very often when the crooked cops are being shown, this is because this type of shot establishes a feeling of power, authority and their class amongst the other characters (that being higher due to the power they supposedly possess) therefore it allows the audience to immediately see who is in control and who the villains are. Close ups are also used frequently in the thriller genre, this is to portray the emotions that the characters are feeling with the help of facial expression and this helps to make the audience feel connected to the characters.
Scene 2:
There is a quick cut to the second scene, Leone has done this to ensure that the suspense is not lost and the action is still fresh in the mind of the audience. This scene is made up of mostly, if not all, diegetic sound which helps to ground the audience as there are no exterior distractions from the dialogue, it also shows an importance to what is being said in the conversation between the cops and the victim regarding the named 'Noodles' character.
In this scene the most dominant shot types is definitely the close up shot, this is because of all the emotions going on with the victim being beaten and his life being threatened. These shots engage the audience, drawing them in by forming an emotional connection and they also establish the characters. During the conversation between the two characters there is a lot of shot reverse shot, this helps the audience to keep up with who is saying what and also to help the audience feel as though they are taking part in the conversation themselves. This technique is used a lot when filming conversations and it is quite a standard way of doing so, many films make use of the technique whether they are thrillers or not.
One thing that was prominent to me was that one of the cops, the one who seemed to be in charge, was wearing a chunky gold ring with a bull on which could have symbolised several things, perhaps his standing amongst the other cops or his belonging to a club or society? Whatever it meant it certainly seemed to have been made quite obvious so it must hold some value regarding the type of character that the cop will eventually be shown as.
Scene 3/4:
Again chiaroscuro lighting is used to further establish the genre, with dimly lit spaces hiding some shady characters. The non-diegetic sound of a phone appears within the head of the main character, 'Noodles, and this acts as a sound-bridge to the next scene meaning that it carries on through into the adjacent scene. The phone sound also creates a sound of mystery as the audience aren't clear as to where the phone is or who is calling, alongside this feeling of mystery there is also a sense of irritation as the repetition of the noise eventually becomes unbearable until the audience are begging for the phone to be picked up, therefore intriguing the viewers to see who is making the call.
After the cut to the next scene the audience are taken outside into a rainy night, a typical setting for a thriller. The rain makes the streets gleam which symbolises the genre perfectly and bears similarities to noir films and the lighting used in the urban scenes. The use of the rain depicts a gloomy and cold atmosphere, adding to the overall feel of the film and the link that Leone is trying to make to the genre, and while doing so it also adds a sense of darkness to the mise en scene.
