Forrest Gump Mise en Scene Analysis

While playing the part of a person with special needs must be extremely difficult, especially in emotional scenes, Tom Hanks does an amazing job playing Forrest Gump, an adult with special needs. This scene is from the movie Forrest Gump, directed by Robert Zemeckis. In this scene Forrest’s wife, Jenny (Robin Wright), passes away and Forrest has to deal with that and goes to visit her grave. There are many stylish film techniques used to help the audience reflect on Forrest and Jenny’s lives and also feel remorse because of her death.

Some visual design techniques Zemeckis used in this clip are set design and lighting. One big thing that takes up a lot of the set, is Jenny and Forrest’s tree. This tree is important for many reasons. First of all, this Forrest and Jenny had a lot of special moments under this tree so it symbolizes their relationship. However, it also symbolizes life, and since Jenny has just passed, it it symbolizes her life specifically. Also, this scene is set in a large, open field. This makes you feel free, which represents Jenny being in heaven, since it is thought to be very open and free, like this scene. Another visual design element Zemeckis uses is lighting. This scene is set in the late afternoon to evening. At the end of the clip you can see that the sun is going down, and since Jenny has just passed away it represents her going to rest, like the sun.

There are also a lot of great cinematography techniques used in this scene add depth and motion and there are also different shot types used to show different things. There are lots of “over-the-shoulder” shots in this scene that help to give this scene with lots of talking some depth. These are very interesting especially because one of the “shoulders” is Jenny’s gravestone. This makes it seem like Forrest really is talking to Jenny, even though she is dead. These shots help show how close they are, because of how close Forrest is to the grave, but also how far away they are, since she is gone. There are also many close-ups used in this scene. This is to make the audience feel personally connected to the scene, and be able to feel sympathy for Forrest, especially as he begins to cry. As Forrest leaves, however, there is an extreme long shot that shows, the sunset, the tree, Jenny’s grave, and Forrest. This lets the audience take a breath at the end of the scene and take in everything that has just happened. It also makes the audience feel at peace, as Jenny’s grave was placed in such a beautiful, personal place.

Since this scene has a lot of talking, the wonderful editing techniques used in this scene help it to not feel boring, but to also get into the sad mood and feel for Forrest. First of all, the long takes and slow pacing of this scene make the audience feel sympathy for Forrest and really focus on what he is saying. If the scene had quick takes, the audience would feel high strung and would not be able to focus on Forrest’s words. However, because it is slow, the audience is able to listen to what Forrest is saying, see how he is feeling, and is forced to feel that way as well. There are also lots of spots in this scene with voice over narration. These spots help the audience connect on an even deeper level with Forrest because it essentially puts the audience in his head. It also makes the scene less boring because it gives the audience something to look at while Forrest is talking, rather than just watching him talk.

Overall, there are many great techniques Zemeckis uses in this scene of Forrest Gump to help the audience feel sympathy and remorse, and also to help reflect on Forrest and Jenny’s lives. The visual design, cinematography, and editing techniques all put together, create a one-of-a-kind scene that leaves the audience with all sorts of emotions, all the way from freedom to sympathy to sadness. Tom Hanks’ acting is only one small part of the emotion behind this scene, it is all of these thing put together that create true feeling.

Visual Design Analysis

Morgan VanOtteren

Visual Design Analysis

The Great Gatsby, 2013

Directed by Baz Luhrmann
The 2013 award-winning film The Great Gatsby, directed by Baz Luhrmann, is based off the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald and takes place in 1920’s New York. The film follows Nick Carraway (played by Tobey Maguire), a recovering alcoholic, through his memories of what led him to become one. The main plot of the film follows the love story of Daisy Buchanan (played by Carey Mulligan), a now married woman, and Jay Gatsby (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), a millionaire who throws extravagant parties in order to find Daisy, his long lost love. In this scene, Nick has set up a meeting for Gatsby and Daisy. Gatsby has set up a room in Nick’s house with plenty of flowers and snacks, making sure everything is just perfect for his meeting with Daisy. At the start of the scene, Daisy arrives in the rain and goes inside. She is unaware of who is going to be there waiting for her. This scene is particularly good at showing off the spectacular costumes and makeup that show off the 1920’s style, and the color palette that shows how different the characters are.

One aspect of this scene that is interesting is the 1920’s costumes and makeup. In this scene, Daisy is wearing a knee length light grey dress with plenty of ruffles and straps that show her shoulders. During this time in history, women began to wear shorter hemlines and overall began to wear more scandalous clothing. These women were called flappers, and Daisy is a great example of one. Another common trait of flappers was short hair, which before the 1920’s was considered inappropriate for women. Again, in this scene you can see Daisy’s bob haircut, which is very with the trends of the time. Both Jay and Nick have short hair, parted and slicked back. This hairstyle was very common for men in the 1920’s. Jay is wearing a white suit, with a thin lapel. Before the 1920’s it was common to have wider lapels, but as women’s dresses got shorter, men’s lapels got thinner. Gatsby also has cuffed pants which had been also new. All of these things help the film feel more realistic. With Gatsby throwing such big parties, Daisy’s new flapper wardrobe and attitude fit right in and even augment the craziness of the parties. Gatsby’s stylish and fancy clothing and hair show his wealth, and also help enhance the feelings of the parties he throws.

A second visual aspect that reinforces the film is the color palette. The first thing to notice is the many white flowers in the room. On top of that, Gatsby is wearing a white suit, and Daisy is wearing a light grey dress. This doesn’t seem important until it is compared to Nick. Nick is wearing a dark green sweater with dark pants and besides the flowers, everything else in his house is dark. The difference is that colors represent wealth. The lighter the color, the wealthier or more expensive the person or object with that color. Since Jay and the flowers are both white, this shows how wealthy Jay is and how expensive and extravagant the flowers were. Daisy is wearing a slightly darker color, light grey. This shows that she is still pretty wealthy, but Jay is above her. Finally, since Nick is wearing such dark colors, it shows how poor he is compared to the others. This also comes into play with lighting, because Jay and Daisy are much lighter than Nick. This heightens the film because it puts the characters into levels. It tells the viewer who should be considered the best or most important.

The attention to detail when it comes to set design is spectacular. Catherine Martin and Beverley Dunn won an Oscar for best production design and it shows through in this scene. Two things that stand out to me in this scene are the silver tea set and the wooden clock. Fancy tea sets were very common in the 1920’s because when people got together, they often drank tea. The dark wood of the clock and the design of the face and hands show its age and clearly show the the attention to detail the production and set designers put in to make everything in the film seem authentic. Temporal factors play a clear role in this scene: rain. Throughout the entire scene it is raining outside and this represents the renewal of Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship, and the washing away of the old. Social structures and economic factors also play a role, and even though Gatsby and Nick are on opposite ends of the financial spectrum, they can still be friends and help each other out.

Through the careful use of setting, the manipulation of the color palette, and costume design, The Great Gatsby makes the viewer feel as if he/she is in the 1920’s. The techniques also provide a sense of separation of wealth between Gatsby, Daisy and Nick. In the grand scheme of things, wealth will never be able to supply all of one’s needs. Like Gatsby’s parties, fortune can only can subsequent for so long. Overall, The Great Gatsby is a great movie to go see with many interesting characters and scenes. Make sure to watch for the amazing visual design techniques used in this film.

Writing Assignment #2: Movie Blog

Morgan VanOtteren

Film as Literature 1

Mr. Hill

27 October 2014

The Shawshank Redemption: A Must See

“Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.” There is no better way to describe The Shawshank Redemption, directed by Frank Darabont, than this tagline for the film. This is also a quote that Red says toward the beginning of the movie, and is very ironic because of what happens in the conclusion of the film. This film has two main characters: Andy Dufresne, portrayed by Tim Robbins, and Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, portrayed by Morgan Freeman. Andy is sent to prison for a murder he did not commit and sets out to free himself. Red is in prison for a murder he admits to, and is known in the prison as the guy who knows how to get things. Throughout this film Andy and Red build a friendship. Throughout the film Andy is always hopeful of getting out, but Red, because he has been there for so long, is afraid, and tells Andy that hope is a bad thing. In the end, Andy escapes from prison and Red stays in prison for a while longer, eventually getting over his fear of freedom and is released, which is why the tagline is so ironic. The Shawshank Redemption is an amazing film and everyone should see it.

The significance of the title is one reason why The Shawshank Redemption is such an amazing film. The title hints at many things, including the outcome and who the protagonist is. The outcome is hinted at through the title because of the word “redemption.” Redemption is making up for or being forgiven for one’s faults. This hints at the conclusion because in the end of the film, Red is released from prison, showing that he is redeemed from committing murder or that Shawshank has redeemed him. Thus, the title of the film is The Shawshank Redemption. The word “redemption” is also important in identifying the protagonist. As previously stated, Red is redeemed of his faults, which is part of the theme of the film, and is part of Red’s profound mental change. The word “redemption” actually has the word “Red” in it, and gives the viewer a hint when one is trying to identify the protagonist. The title of this film is extremely important because it tells the viewer everything he/she needs to know about the film without the viewer even knowing it. Basically, “The Shawshank Redemption” says that the protagonist, Red, will be redeemed at Shawshank.

The use of plot unification is another reason why The Shawshank Redemption stands out from other films. Its use of foreshadowing and recurring images is what helps make the story so good. One example of foreshadowing is when Red got Andy the rock hammer. Red was worried about buying it because he thought maybe Andy would use it as a shovel or as weapon, but when he sees it he decides no one could tunnel out of the prison with it because it would take 600 years. At the end of the film the viewer finds out that this is exactly what Andy did, tunnel out of the prison through his cell, using his rock hammer. The film also uses recurring images to help make the plot more interesting. One example of this is Red’s three visits to the parole board. This is first seen at the beginning of the film. Red goes to the parole board and tells them he believes he has been rehabilitated and gets rejected for parole. This exact scene also comes later and the same thing happens, Red is rejected. So, when the scene comes up a third time toward the end of the movie, after Andy escapes, the viewer assumes it will be just as it was before, but that is not the case. This time, Red rants about the definition of “rehabilitated,” says he feels bad about what he did, and eventually gets approved for parole. This makes the story more interesting because it helps show how Red has changed throughout the film, and shows how he feels about the prison itself. This use of foreshadowing through the rock hammer and the use of recurring images through the parole board are just two examples of how plot unification is used in The Shawshank Redemption.

There were parts of the movie that were a bit slow, such as the middle when the director is developing the relationship between Andy and Red. However, this did not take away from the film. The Shawshank Redemption is a fantastic film, and although it does not seem relatable on the surface, Andy and Red are very relatable and the viewer even forgets that these characters are in prison for murder. This is a must see film for everyone, I highly recommend setting aside time in your busy schedule to watch it.

Writing Assignment #1: The Letter

8850 Saline-Milan Rd

Saline, MI, 48176

September 21, 2014

Gus Van Sant

9601 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210-5213

Dear Mr.  Gus Van Sant

My name is Morgan VanOtteren and I am a senior at Saline High School. I am writing to praise you for your incredible directing in Good Will Hunting.

The first thing I would like to praise you for is the way you developed the theme through the title. The theme of the movie is that no one is really a bad person, and the fact that the title is “Good Will Hunting” seems ironic at the beginning because Will seems like a bad kid, but by the end it makes sense as he realizes it isn’t his fault. Before I watched the film, I thought it was going to be about a guy named Will who goes hunting. As the film progressed I began to think that Will was going to change his ways and become a perfect person, but by the end I realized it was really about how Will views himself.

Another thing I really liked about your directing was your use of foreshadowing. One specific example is when about three quarters of the way through the movie Will is working at the constructing site and his friend told him that every day as he is walking up to Will’s house he has a few seconds when he hopes Will has just up and left without any goodbye. When I heard this I was a little confused, but then Will’s friend explained to him that he wasn’t using all of his potential. At the end of the movie, Will’s friends get to Will’s house to pick him up and this time Will really isn’t there. Although I did see it coming, this use of foreshadowing was great because it also included a turning point in Will’s life.

The last thing I would like to compliment you on is the development of the theme through the protagonist, or in this specific case, Will. As I stated earlier, the theme is about how everyone can be a good person, depending on how you look at things. Throughout the film you see Will go through the transformation between being a cocky criminal, to a caring businessman. Through the help of his psychiatrist he realizes that the way he grew up and the way he is isn’t his fault and he also finds the capacity to love. This is Will’s profound mental change and also the theme of the movie.

Again, I praise you for your great directing and thank you for your time.

Best regards,

 

Morgan VanOtteren