Uni Works 5 | - Freelance Writer
May 23, 2018 | #1
Outline of Analytical Response
The film selected for this analysis is Nightcrawler, a 2014 psychological thriller directed by Dan Gilroy, and starring Jake Gyllenhaal. The plot of this film focuses on a sociopathic drifter, Lou Bloom (played by Gyllenhaal), who arrive in Los Angeles looking for work, and discovers that no one is willing to hire him. However, when Bloom happens to walk by a gruesome car accident on evening, and observes a photojournalist snapping pictures of the accident without trying to help the injured victims, he senses a business opportunity. Bloom then goes into business himself as a freelance crime photographer, and drives around Los Angeles at night listening to a police scanner. When he receives news of a violent crime or a horrific car accident, he rushes to the scene and takes pictures of the carnage, which he can then sell to local newspapers at a high price.
Ultimately, Nightcrawler comes across as a dark social commentary on the voyeuristic nature of American society. Bloom is able to enrich himself rather quickly with the gruesome pictures that he is able to present to the public eye, and it is clear that the reason that these pictures are able to sell for such a high price is that Americans like to witness each other in pain and agony, without any empathy or a desire to help people in trouble. From a cinematographic perspective, Nightcrawler is shot using a large number of extreme close ups and medium close ups. The overall effect of the film is that the viewer initially gets a sense of being able to "bond" with Bloom and the other characters of the film; yet, on closer inspection, it is obvious that Bloom is completely devoid of empathy and compassion, and so is incapable of bonding with anyone.Analytical Response
In this "job interview" scene, Bloom has decided to hire an assistant to help with his burgeoning freelance photography business. Accordingly, Bloom has posted "Help Wanted" advertisements in local newspapers and Craigslist venues in an effort to find someone who is willing to drive him around Los Angeles at night, looking for crime scenes and car accidents to photograph. One of the individuals who responds to Bloom's "help wanted" advertisements is "Rick," a young homeless man who meets with Bloom in a local diner. In this scene, Bloom meets with Rick in the diner to interview him for this very strange position, and the majority of this 3:47 minute scene is comprised of extreme close up and medium close up shots that are intended to display the facial expressions and emotional reactions of both Bloom and Rick as they discuss the particulars of the job with one another.
As the scene opens, the viewer observes Bloom sitting in a cheap motel room, ironing a shirt in preparation for the interview. One of the most striking aspects of this scene is that one is privy to the degradation of Bloom's own life, and one is led to wonder how he could possibly think that he is in a position to hire anyone. The scene then cuts to Bloom sitting in a Los Angeles diner, and the majority of the scene thereafter is comprised of extreme close up shots, of both Bloom and Rick. Overall, Rick comes across as desperate for work and as extremely sympathetic. Bloom does not disclose the full details of the job to Rick, but simply states that his major responsibility will be to "drive" for the "successful business" that Bloom claims to have established. When Rick asks how much he will be paid for this job, Bloom coldly informs him that it is an "internship," and that he will be paid nothing. Rick states that he is in no position to work for free, and Bloom relents and offers him a sum of $30 per day, a pittance for which Rick is exceptionally grateful.
Overall, the "job interview" scene in Nightcrawler serves the wider plot of the story by illustrating the predatory nature of American society. While the viewer is initially inclined to interpret Bloom's mercenary behavior as reprehensible, it quickly becomes clear that he is simply operating within the current norms of American society. Overall, Gilroy's extensive use of extreme close up and medium close up shots make it clear that the characters are alternately desperate and soulless.
Sample Movie Review - "Death From Space"
The following short film, Death From Space, is a horror-science fiction movie. This short film incorporates elements of both the horror and science fiction genres.
However, this film highlights editing conventions from the horror film genre. The film was designed to showcase the shock cut editing technique. This technique is composed of three basic types of shots: the shock shot, the reaction shot, and the revelation shot. The shock shot is a situation that included elements that begin to induce fear in the characters who encounter the situation. The reaction shot reveals the rising fear felt by the character or characters confronting whatever is shown in the shock shot. Finally, there is the revelation shot, which shows the full extent and significance of the shocking scene or situation.
Death From Space uses shock cuts, and employs all three of the shots mentioned above. The use of shock shot followed by reaction shot is used repeatedly. Some kind of alien space craft is shown from a variety of viewpoints. These are the shock shots. Then numerous characters are shown reacting to what they see in the sky. The final reaction shock is of a woman stepping back from the alien craft. The revelation shot is of a demonic alien creature that shows itself from withing the spaceship. Ultimately film concludes with the Earth being destroyed.
The clips used in Death From Space were taken from stock footage and public domain films found on the Internet Archive. Three different sources were used: footage of hydrogen bomb tests, several clips from a film called Teenagers From Outer Space, and a clip from another film called White Zombie.