1. How to analyses a film
There are different ways to analysis a film Genre Analysis and Auteur Theory are two of
them. A generic film is a film that follows all of the codes and conventions of its genre for
example,horror. A horror film is typically dark and has a villain/killer and the victims there is
also usually a lot of non diagetic music and blood. A typical horror film that matches up to all
the codes and convention of a horror film is Halloween, it has the cliché villain and the cliché
characters a group of unsuspecting girls. Whereas an Auteurs director usually likes to breaks
these codes and conventions and mess things up a bit which can make a film more
interesting. A good example of an auteur director is Quentin Tarantino who directed pulp
fiction. The genre analysis looks for patterns in a scientific, objective manner for example
codes and conventions. Whereas the Auteurslook for creative quality in a subjective manner
they usually like to break conventions.
The 7 key areas of genre analysis are Codes and Conventions, Settings, Character, Themes,
Narrative, Iconography and Ideological message. A film I recently studied called Quantum of
solace. Which is the direct sequel to Casino Royale. This follows the codes and conventions
of the action genre. Such as the props they use guns etc. fit in with the genre of action.
There is also a good looking wealthy hero and a protagonist. They are all dressed very
smartly and look very wealthy they have the stereotypical sports car or where as in most
James Bond films they have anAston Martin. Like in most action films there are a lot of
women treated as sex objects and dressed in very little clothing. This is usually how women
are represented not just in the James Bond films but in most action films. They are often
portrayed as victims within the narrative.
It also fits snuggly into the action genre because of the way it is edited. It is fast paced
edited with a lot of quick cuts. They also used a lot of wide angle shots to establish the
location and to catch all the action that’s happening in every scene. A wide angle shot is first
used in the opening sequence which throws you straight into the action with a car chase and
they used a wide angle shot to establish the location and then lots of fast pace editing to cut
between the hero and protagonist and show you who they are. The iconography they have
used in the film is the Aston Martin which is iconic of British dominance. The characters
clothes and drinks in the film are always branded; this is to show off their wealth and power.
This emphasises male power in contrast with the negative power that they show females to
have.
Whereas another action film that I have looked at breaks the usual codes and conventions
of a film in the action genre. Leon directed by Luc Besson is seen as an auteur director.
Instead of there being a good looking and wealthy hero, the hero is shown to be quite low

2. maintenance and not very good looking. This film shows the story of a young girl whose
family is killed by a man that her dad was storing drugs for. Matilda the young girl is
extremely affected by her little brother’s death but finds out about her suspicious
neighbours job as a hit man and he reluctantly sets out to help Matilda avenge her little
brother’s death on the men that killed him. They become very good friends as they go up
against the corrupt police officer to try and hunt him down and kill him. Another code and
convention they break is the females they show in action movies like in quantum of solace
are shown to be sex objects and are attractive where as in Leon the main female is a 12 year
old girl. So I personally think that Luc Besson the director of Leon makes him an auteur
director. I think that based on this it makes the film very different and unique and definitely
breaks the codes and conventions of all action films. Although though are more difference
than similarities between Leon and Quantum of solace there are a few similarity’s such as
the use of guns and there are plenty of wide shots and fast paced editing.
Another popular film that is directed by an auteur director is Pulp Fiction by Quentin
Tarantino. He is well known for his non-linear style and unique story lines. Pulp fiction is
about two hit men, a femme fetale, a boxer and two diner bandits. Whose lives all cross
within the film. The scenes are not shown in chronological order therefore the narrative is
non-linear.
I honestly think that Quentin tarrantino made this film so unique so that it would cause a bit
of a stir in the media industry and so that people would criticise it, this will give the film
more attention. Quentin really exaggerated a lot of things during this film for example the
cuts jump for no reason. And the genres are all mixed together, for example comedy, action,
tragedy and crime. The fact he did this makes the film unique and puts him under the auteur
category. All of the over exaggerated parts of the film are what were criticised. But the film
does have some typical codes and conventions for example the two main characters in the
film who are seen as thugs wear the stereotypical blacking clothing and they also do drugs.
The settings they use are more urban and when they are indoors they are set in big houses
indicating that they have a lot of money. They also include props such as guns and other
weapons that are typically in a film under this genre.