Donnie Darko Mise-en-scene evaluation

When I was watching this film i specifically looked at the mise-en-scene of the opening couple of minutes.

Right at the start of the film its very dark with a person lying in the middle of the road

This has already shown that the film is unusual, as you wouldn't normally see a body lying in the middle of the road in an action film. Especially as its seemingly in a valley somewhere which means it will be hard for someone to find the person. Also when the camera starts to pan in on the actor and hes moving, this shows that he wasn't there from a crash. He's there from a dream, this can be shown from costume he's wearing, of which are pyjamas. But at the side of him was a a bike which will lead you to believe he fell of it, but the way he smiles shows that this can't be the fact either. So at this point the audience are completely confused about whats happening, even though there are various mise-en-scene hints all of which you think of are wrong as it goes on.

The way the lighting has been used in this shot is important as it has little light so it feels as though its dusk, because the view in the sky is orange. This also fits in with his colour scheme of pyjamas as they are dull colours too. So it's not as though he has been abducted during the middle of the day whilst wearing day clothing and taken to a different country or galaxy. This has all been given away by the way he has a huge smile on his face, which wouldn't be present if he was scared. So the only reasonable idea could happen is he has something mentally wrong with him.

The non-diegetic sound during this small clip is a light droning sound which makes you as the audience think whats going to happen. Also the sound of crickets mean its the early hours of the morning. When the piano starts to play this shows the person has started to think properly and walks away, so this could represent his heart rate or his thought process.

So from this beginning part the tension has been built using the mise-en-scene and non-diegetic sounds, the use of cliff hanger is a typical part of the thriller genre so that the audience can peice together various parts of the film on their own. This also allows them to think of their own little narrative whilst being told how it actually happens.

Memento Anaylsis

The opening to Memento when the photo was shaken, until all the blood has disappeared. Already the audience are wondering what the narrative is about. Also the blue thumb on the photo could show that Lenny is already dead, as the blood flow around his body is poor. The mise-en-scene of this opening shows it could be psychological, also straight off you could interpret this film as a documentary of how Lenny lives his life.
The sound is non-diegetic as its music playing in the background, at the start its slow tempo music. This creates tension, increasing the audiences suspense as they are wondering what will happen next.

As the film is in a non-linear format, this again shows that the film could be classed as a documentary. The reason for this is the use of flashbacks, which occur in documentaries to show the audience how they coped with day to day activities. Lenny is in the same position as he cant remember any new memories since he saw his wife get killed. When Lenny has a backlash the sequence will be in a dark colour, this resembles to the audience that Lenny is remembering what happened in the past. The editing between the back flashes and reality are successfully executed with various techniques, some are straight cuts that go straight to the next shot. Others are fade to the next shot, these are useful for when Lenny is on the phone talking and in the middle of him talking it goes to the back flash.

Lenny could be classed as a typical character in a psychological thriller the reason for this is because he's relaxed and reserved. Whether the reason for this is because he can't remember long enough ago to be cautious is another matter. The intertextuality of this film could be reffered to with The Butterfly Effect, as the main character in that film will randomly blank out. When Lenny can't remember what happens for example when he talks to the Discount Inn Owner, he can not recall speaking to the owner before. As a result he repeats himself, but his whole life is about repetition and sequence.
As he can't look after himself without all these notes around his room, and tattoos for information that he never wants to forget. He lives in a Discount Inn as the audience at the start of the film you think that Lenny isn't very wealthy or rich. But the reason for him living there was because he is too scared to live on his own. He probably wouldn't be able to cope with the daily chores of the household, as he wouldn't be able to remember to do all the jobs.

Pyscho Analysis

Psycho analysis, of shower scene

In Psycho when Marion Crane is having a shower. It’s an iconic psycho scene as the sharp change of cameras and various close ups make the sequence iconic as it uses first person shots. There is very frequent use of omniscient views; this is because the overview of the whole bathroom shows everything that is going on. This makes the audience feel as though they have a full understanding of what’s going on.

The scene starts with the character called ‘Marion Crane’ de-clothing from her bath robe. At this stage the viewers don’t feel as though anything extreme will happen as it could be a very innocent scene. Then there is a close up of the shower head;
This is and extreme close up of the falling water coming from the shower, this is effective as it sets the scene of what’s going to happen. The way that the water willdrain away, exactly what happens to her, when she gets killed. The close up also makes the audience feel as though they are the character, so it’s already connecting to the viewers. This also made me think as though she is trying to wash away any sins which she has committed. The shot doesn’t show much background of the room, so the producers only wanted the audience to feel the suspense and are wondering what is going to happen next. The mise-en-scene is obvious, that she is in a shower as it’s a picture of a shower head, the camera focuses into this frame for quite a while.
The camera angle is clever as it is looking up at the shower, from a very low angle this again emphasises the view of the character.

After this shot there are a couple of seconds were she washes herself, then the camera angle changes again, it is from the side of the bath looking out towards the bathroom. This camera angle uses the rule of ‘golden line’ as the two main actions are in the same shot. In a diagonal line The shot is also at eye level of the attacker, the reason for this is because the audience are wondering who this person is. From this shot the producers have made the audience feel as though they are personally the person who is outside the shower. But the use of a distorted shower curtain also helps to stop the identity of the attacker.
This makes suspense as there are a lot of questions being asked. The camera followed the attacker whilst he/she approaches. The transactions from the shot before was a straight cut, which made the camera face the curtain but then it slowly pans in on the other character to ensure that all the viewers were informed someone had entered the room. The sound which happened in this still picture was diegetic as both the actors could hear it.
The lighting in this shot is coming from the top right; yet again this fits into the ‘golden line’ as its spreading the lighting upon both of the characters. So this is an unexplained part of the scene, as a consequence this produces tension.




The next still is very important as it shows what the murderer did to a seemingly innocent woman. This shot is interesting as so far in the sequence of events in this shower scene, there have been no high angled shots. This shot is omniscient, which means that it’s an overview, almost like a view which god would see. So this makes the viewer feel as though they understand everything. There are various sounds during this shot; they consist of the women screaming and the running water from the shower, the most notable one is the tense music which screeches in time with the heart beat of the women. The one which caught my eye the most was the sound of the air resistance when the knife is drawn and moving towards the women. These are all explains of diegetic sounds apart from the music which is non diegetic as the actors will not personally be able to hear it.
The editing during this small sequence of events from when she realises someone’s there until this shot. The camera angle and shot changed at least 2 or 3 times, each time it has been a straight cut. The producers have done this as they are creating tension successfully, not only that the audience are kept informed about how each of the characters are reacting, as a result of this the initial stabbing. There is some crucial evidence being uncovered here, as it shows that the attacker is a woman. So for the audience the idea of who it might be has changed already.
The use of the camera changing frequently in the stages before creates tension; this is frequently used in thriller films so they can show both characters reaction in detail, instead of having to use a two shot. The mise-en-scene is obvious as she is in the bathroom with no clothes on having a shower, and being killed at the same time. So this shows where the scene is set and also what’s happening.
When the attacker was lunging the camera switched, and this effect made the audience feel as though the attacker had stabbed her with brute and speed.

The next shot I chose is an extreme close up of the dead women’s eye. This is effective as the audience have been told indirectly that the woman has died, as the when pupils expand. This normally means that someone has died. In duration of the close up the audience see the exaggerated sized eye.
This shot is in the perspective of the women, who got killed. The speed at which the camera changed between her being stabbed to focusing on the eye was minimal. This lets the viewer know straight away what has happened to the women. The rule of 3rds have been used as the most important part, the enlarged pupil is directly in the middle.
The sound is non diegetic when the music is playing the background; it’s a continuation of the backing music from the stabbing. This has a good effect as it’s fluent, as though the killing is actually happening. The editing speed was fast, this also added to the realism. Also the blackness of the pupil is could outline the rage of the character who killed the women, and the blue part could be the clouds. As though there was a storm which struck, and did all the damage. After killing the women swiftly making an exit so no-one can catch the killer.
The lighting is on the right hand side, this is more than likely from the bathroom light. Or it could be from the open door of which the killer has escaped from, that would be indirectly telling the audience that she’s on her own. The camera position seems to be next to the side of the bath, from the position where the killer would have been standing. The effect of that makes the audience feel as though they were personally the person who killed the women.

The whole sequence in the shower was cleverly edited as the producers used so many different techniques. All the rules which should apply when making a movie are met, for example the 180 degree rule. When each camera angle changed it was edited so well that the audience could still understand what is happening. In the process of that the tension also grew as the audience could see both the characters in full detail, with all the different expressions at each stage.
At the same time as the audience understanding what is happening, it all happens so quickly that the audience may have to think twice about the events that just occurred. For this reason, the scene in the shower has become iconic. The thriller genre has evolved after this film as it bought a new dimension to the cinema. Almost 60 years on the film is still widely watched by a huge audience throughout the whole world. Without a doubt the film will continue to sell more copies in the years to come.