Film Genre Research

 

For this assignment, I am supposed to watch the opening of a movie that fits the same genre as the film I will be creating for my final project (crime). I then need to analyze and answer questions regarding what I watched. This will not only help me to get a better understanding of this genre specifically, but it will also help me to practice for the final exam where we watch a film and analyze it. I am choosing to analyze the movie “Deep Water”, (2022). 

   Within the first five minutes of this film, the cinematographer uses a variety of cuts, shots, and angles to establish the atmosphere, characters, and their relationships.  

1. This film begins with an ariel shot of a bridge, that slowly pans up. Then it goes to two open frame shots in deep focus. These help to establish the mood and scenery of the town. There are then a few open frame, medium close-up shots as the man and woman have a conversation, and the camera cuts between them. Then, right before the woman walks away, there is a close-up, deep focus, closed frame shot of her speaking. This allows the viewer to understand the woman and see how she is really feeling, as they can read her facial expressions. Then, the woman runs up the stairs in an open frame, full body one-shot. There is a high angle Dutch shot as the daughter drags her chair across the floor with deep focal depth. This creates a disoriented feel for the viewer. There is then a Steadicam shot through the door frame where you see them mom walk by to yell at the daughter. She then walks into the room to yell at her daughter again. This shows the emotional disconnect between the mother and daughter. It then shows a close-up, open frame shot of the daughter as she continues to sing. In the background, you see the mom get mad, the babysitter walks in the door, and the dad walk past like nothing is happening. This adds to the reoccurring theme of an emotional disconnect and loveless relationship between all members of the family, as well as portraying the chaos within their home. There is a two shot where and woman tells her husband that she loves him, and he turns his head and does not respond. This creates an awkward tension between the characters that the audience can feel. This again, contributes to the common theme that these characters are no longer in love.  
2. The editors only use about fifty cuts in the beginning. The first five are jump cuts, as they show time passing while he rides his bike. There is one fade out where it goes from showing the man to an ariel shot of a river.  The rest are straight cuts, as the editor is just showing the characters going from one scene to the next, simultaneously, without much time passing. Mixed into the straight cuts, there are a few L cuts, when the mom and dad are talking to each other. This enables the viewer to see both characters’ expressions, and how they are reacting to the overall conversation, and what is being said. This was absolutely necessary in this film, because during the L cuts, the woman tells the man, “You know I love you”, and he just stares at her awkwardly. This allows the viewer to feel the tension in their relationship.  
3. The sound techniques used enhance the tone and the dark atmosphere. During the opening credits, there is a song playing that is quick paced but low. This creates the sense of urgency while watching the man ride his bike. This causes the movie to begin with a dark and depressing feel. The next sound is birds chirping in the background while the man and woman speak to each other. This is contradictory, as they speak to each other in a lackluster way, but the world around them is happy. This emphasizes the fact that whatever they are experiencing has nothing to do with the outside world, and it is due to personal issues. Next, you hear the little girl ask her Alexa device to play old McDonald, and she begins to sing along. The mother then walks in screaming at her to turn it off multiple times. This also highlights that the dark and depressing atmosphere is a result of the parents, more specifically the mom, as the child is trying to be happy, and it doesn’t bother the dad. The overall dialogue of the man and woman is very nonchalant. They are not angry when they speak to each other, yet they lack interest in what the other is saying. This contributes to the meaning of this movie, as it is setting the scene and tone with a dull and dim feeling in the home. When the parents get into the car to go to a party, there is upbeat music that begins playing, and carries on into the party scene. This is another example of how it goes from dark and depressing in the home, to bright and lively once they leave. This contributes to the meaning, as the man and woman are putting on a facade that they are happy and in love, when really, this is not true.  
4. The mise-en-scene used includes how the man on his bike during the opening credits is wearing, what appears to be work clothes, and no helmet through the dark. This creates the idea that he must ride his bike often, but he is not doing it for sport or fun. When he arrives home, it is a nice white house, and his wife is sitting out front waiting for him. They both have dark hair/ eyes and speak in a nonchalant tone. As for sound, there are birds chirping in the background. The bright house and singing birds represent the bright and happy atmosphere they are in, while the features and tone of the actors represent that they are not as joyful as the world around them is. Another example of mise-en-scene being used to portray the characters is when the little girl starts singing “Old McDonald”, and the mother yells her name while holding a bottle of wine, no makeup, and wearing pajamas. The man, woman, child, and their house all look nice and put together; however, the way they speak to each other is with a short and agitated tone. Inside the house is also dim and they show the characters from low angles. This adds to the dark and depressing feel of the movie. These constant contradictions between the atmosphere and the characters highlight the idea that the family is not as happy as the world around them, and they lack love all around. When the parents go out to a party, the woman has expensive looking clothes on and her make up done, while the man is wearing a suit. This also contributes to the idea that even though they are messy and lack love, they present themselves in a nice way.  
5. The budget set for this movie was about 49 million USD. Regarding the box office numbers, they ranked 10,931 domestic, 12,864 international, and 16,380 worldwide. These rankings led them to generate about $1,473,524. The production companies involved include Twentieth Century Studios, Amazon Studios, Entertainment 360, Entertainment One, Film Rites, New Regency Productions, and Regency Enterprises. As for distribution, it was in theaters with Twentieth Century Studios and HKC Entertainment. It was distributed for VOB and video streaming via Hulu and Amazon Prime, and Front Row filmed entertainment. It was directed by Adrian Lyne and Eigil Bryld was the cinematographer.  During the opening credits, all the scenes are dark, and the credits are in white, simple font, and all capitals. It begins with an ariel shot of a bridge and the city. It then has a straight cut to a tracking shot through the trees of a man on his bike, then a Steadicam shot of him riding his bike towards the camera. It then straight cuts to a close, closed frame tracking shot of the man's face, still riding his bike. Then back to a Steadicam shot of him riding his bike through the woods, away from the camera. While all these scenes occur, there is a song playing. It is somewhat upbeat, but not exciting. It matches the man who is being shown through these opening scenes, as it is quick paced, but still calm.  
6. I chose to use this movie because it has many positive reviews and was nominated for the 2023 EDA Special Mention Award. It is also very different from the movies I have chosen to do other assignments on, and I am looking to expand my understanding of films and have the maximum amount of knowledge about the different types of genres before completing my final project for AICE.