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Explain, Analyze and Critique Cinematography
The invention of cameras and the consequent development of photography marked the beginning of new possibilities in cinemas, which were not realized or foreseen at the time of development. People craved for, and desired to be entertained, and this propelled the growth of cinematography. Cinematography provides a way for the cinematographer to communicate to the audience by using images. During the early stages in the development of movies, the viewers had to contend with the images on the screen. The silent era period was critical in the development of cinematography, since the viewers could only understand the movies using the images portrayed on the screen. There was heavy reliance on photography before the invention of audio and video technologies. The invention of talkies enhanced the popularity of movies. This popularity led to increased research on the technical aspects of film, encouraging development in this area. Many people began using technology to enhance the movie industry, leading to the development of analog and digital technologies. Technological development of cinematography continues, and it currently includes images generated by computers, which do not rely on photographic processes.
Cinematography supports the story lines and helps in its development. It enables the viewer to connect to the story by eliciting different emotional reactions. Cinematographers use photography to develop the characters. In addition, cinematography evokes intellectual and aesthetic responses from the viewers (Pramagglore & Wallis, 2005). By watching the pictures on the screens, the viewers can relate to the story, and the characters. Cinematography enables the cinematographer to control time, by reducing or increasing the recording speed. This not only affects how the viewer perceives the time in the movie, but it also enables the photographer to develop a sense of urgency and speed needed in the movie. Cinematography enables the viewer to have the character’s point of view. This is achieved by using different shots and camera angles. Some of these techniques ensure that the viewers focus solely on the character, enabling them to have a close up view on the characters expressions. Cinematography is closely related to mise en scene, which refers to the arrangement of all visual elements within the film. Mise en scene considers the way the photography takes place, and the way the framing of the elements. It examines the film décor and setting (Giannetti, 2011). Cinematography is important in movies, as it helps in narrating the film more effectively, and making it more interesting.
In the movie, “The Godfather” the cinematographer has manipulated the light and used it to his advantage, to enhance the mood in the film. The mood in the film is mostly somber, and the cinematographer has been able to capture and communicate this mood to the audience by using a lot of darkness and shadow in the images. Many of the scenes are dark, covered with deep-veiled shadows. There are several scenes, which capture the characters in darkened locations, and only parts of their features are visible. It the beginning of the movie, the cinematographer uses low key lighting, as the father is recounting details about his daughter. This scene also shows the high and low contrast use of lighting. Most of the light used is overhead, which draws attention on the man’s bald head. There is low contrast on the use of light, as the man’s eyes seem darkened by this effect. The shadows over the eyes contrast deeply with the light in the room. The overall light in this scene is in high contrast with the light in the wedding scene. The movie revolves around crime, violence, and gangs although there are several happy moments such as the wedding. The cinematographer uses darkness in sad mysterious and vengeful scenes such as the meet between the gang members. This puts the viewers in expectation and suspension, since it means that something bad will ultimately happen. The cinematographer uses light to communicate. For instance, he uses darkened rooms as the godfather is meeting with the undertaker to discuss revenge matters. The cinematographer changes the lighting in the wedding scene, to display the different set of activities. He uses bright light to create a happy and exciting atmosphere, significant in weddings.
The use of color in the movie is symbolic. In most of the scenes, the gang members are portrayed wearing black, or combination of black and white colors. Michael arrives at the wedding scene, wearing a green suit, while the other members of the family are wearing black and white suits. Although this is Michael’s uniform, the fact that he did not change at his sister’s wedding is symbolic of his initial reluctance to join the family business. Michael’s girlfriend dresses in orange, which adds more color to the film. However, the use of the orange color in the movie seems to signify an omen. This happens when the don is shot and when he dies, before the horse is killed, and when Sonny and Carlos fight. Most of the guests at the wedding wear clothes of different colors, most of which are bright and lively, representing the happy occasion.
The movie is fictional and is based on a novel involving the Corleones, a powerful New York crime family. The two main categories of the film are formalism and realism, although many of the films tend to fall in between the two extremes, and are categorized as classicism. Realism is more concerned with the content of the film rather than the art or form. It is concerned with depicting the real events as they happen. The directors will use as many natural situations as they possibly can. For instance, they will tend to use real people with no prior acting experience, and they will use natural light. They are interested in historical accuracy. Formalism, on the other hand, uses the movies to depict the representation of fantasy. The directors tell the story but their story tends to be more expressive and exaggerated. They will use professional actors to display the emotions and action needed in the film. They will also use creative camerawork, making their stories increasingly believable. Most movies tend to fall between the two extremes (Giannetti, 2011).
Directors want to tell a creative story, but they want the story to appear as real as possible. Such is the case with the movie “The Godfather”. The movie involves the powerful Italian mafia family. The directors use the creativity based on the book, but they are able to enhance their own creativity using camerawork. The use of darkness and shadows to communicate the dark message in the movie is not a coincidence, rather, it is a way for the directors to use their creativity, to communicate with the audience, and enhance their attention. The movie was set between 1945 and 1955, a period when the Italian mafia was well known for their violent activities.
There are many violent incidences in the movie, especially between different gangs. There are incidences of realism, as well. The directors portray the gang members as violent, yet at the same time, they portray them as people with weaknesses and emotions. The gangs engage in criminal and violent activities, while, at the same time, they are able to engage in sociable activities such as weddings, baptism, and dinners. The fact that the gangs are able to hold as much control as they can, without any consequences from the law, brings in the elements of formalism. Therefore, the movie is more of classicism, being able to fall in between the two extremes.
The cinematographer uses a combination of different shots. He uses extreme long shots when he wants to show the location. He uses extreme long shots in the wedding to show the location and difference in settings. He has moved from two different settings, and the extreme long shots display this movement. He has used extreme long shots to show the movie location in Sicily. The cinematographer moves from using extreme long shots to using long and medium shots in the wedding scene, allowing the viewer to see the relationships between the characters. Medium shots are from the waist up, and the cinematographer uses them when he wants to focus on the characters. He mostly uses medium and full shots on the main characters. He has used medium shots in the hospital where the don was recovering. Close up shots show the characters heads, and they display their emotions. The close up shots and the deep focus shots, especially in violent scenes involving death, enable the viewer to have different perceptions of the gang members. They display the gang members in their most vulnerable state, as they lay dying, unable to do anything about it. These were men who once strong, and they harassed and terrorized others.
As the camera focuses deep on the men’s faces, it exposes their weaknesses, as they are displayed in agony and pain. The viewer has to decide the emotions to elicit, and this ranges from viewer to viewer. On the one hand, the deep focus allows the viewer to focus on the agony and pain that the men are going through then, while, on the other hand, the viewer knows that the characters deserved to suffer based on the suffering they evoked on others. The cinematographer can use the close up shots when he wants the viewer to focus on the object. There are several such instances in the movie, as the characters are holding guns and preparing them for use. When one of the gang members whispers something to the don, the cinematographer uses extreme close up shots and close up shots, enabling the viewer to see the expression on the don’s face. This enables the cinematographer to communicate to the viewer by only using the images.
The cinematographer uses different angles in the movie. Each of these angles has an intent and focus. He has used different camera angles to show the brutality, horror and violence of the gangs He uses a high angle in some of the scenes during the wedding, such as when the couple is opening the first dance. He has used low angles in the scene where Sonny was murdered. The cinematographer has used an eye level view and close up scenes in the scene where Sollozzo attacks and kills Brasi. This is one of the most violent scenes in the movie. The scene shows Brasi’s dangling tongue and bulging eyes, and the eye level view of this shot serves to intensify the feelings of horror on the viewer. The cinematographer then uses a low angle shot to show as Brasi dies and falls to the ground
In conclusion, the cinematographer in “The Godfather” has helped to narrate the story more effectively. The movie is a form of classicism, lying in between formalism and realism. It contains fictional events, yet the use of aspects such as light and camera shots have created a sense of realism in the movie. The use of color in the movie is not coincidental, and the director has used color symbolically. Most of the gang members wear black and orange seems to be a form of omen. The cinematographer has used different shots in the movie, each of which serves to enhance communication. The extreme long shots introduce the viewers to a particular scene, as they show the location. The long and medium shots serve to show the relationships between different characters and events. The close cuts and different camera angles enable the viewers to focus more on certain aspects of a character or the story. The cinematographer has used all the elements in the movie, to show how images can communicate to the viewers.
References
Coppola, F. F. (Director), Ruddy, S. A. (Producer). 1972. The godfather. [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures
Giannetti, L. (2011). Understanding movies, 12th edition. Suffolk, MA: Allyn & Bacon
Prammaggiore, M., & Wallis, T. (2005). Film: A critical introduction. United Kingdom: Laurence King Publishing
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