There are two main ways to analyze a film: genre analysis and auteur theory. Genre analysis looks at how a film follows or breaks conventions of its genre, like how Halloween adheres to horror tropes. Auteur theory examines a director's unique stylistic choices that break conventions, like how Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction uses a nonlinear narrative. The document then discusses using genre analysis to examine the James Bond film Quantum of Solace and how it fits action movie conventions, before contrasting it with Leon by Luc Besson, an auteur film that breaks several action norms.

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 aAston 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 of 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 Bessonis 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 similaritys between Leon and Quantam 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, this will give the film
more attention. Quentin really exgerated 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. 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.