This is how to analyse film

1. How do we analyse film?
Introduction
Genre theory is where you can categorize each film into their own section by giving off by their
theme or setting of the film. For example, Daniel Chandler said ‘Conventional definitions of
genres tend to be based on the notion that they constitute particular conventions of content (such
as themes or settings) and/or form (including structure and style) which are shared by the texts
which are regarded as belonging to them’. As well as that Steve Neale said ‘One way of defining
genre is a set of expectations’
Laceys Repertoire of Elements has key concepts in the Media Studies. Nick Lacey defines genre
elements as involving 5 key areas. Setting, Character, Narrative, Iconography and Style. This is
how he analyzed film.
Steve Neale’s theory of Repetition & Difference. He said “Genres are instances of repetition and
difference” Steve Neale is saying that a film and its genre is defined by two things:
How much it conforms with a genre's stereotypes and conventions.
In most films, film annalists identify the protagonists and antagonists of the film. This means that
they are the Good and the bad guys of the film. For example, for Leon the bad guys were the
police what is a plot twist. This is a good way to get a understanding of the film and its narrative.

2. Leon and James Bond
This film has the colours Red and Black to
represent danger, blood and death.
The film Leon is about an Assassin called Leon, and a girl called Mathilda appears, and her
family gets killed, so therefore she seeks revenge. So when Mathilda finds Leon and she finds
out he’s an assassin. She starts to practice and learn the ways on how to kill.
This film has a plot of Protagonists and Antagonists. As the film is corrupt and the bad guys of the
film is the Police. The leaves a plot twist of confusion. You can identify the genre by looking at the
mise en scene there is lots of props like guns and more violent equipment. The editing is fast
paced when Leon and Mathilda are in danger from the antagonists. The character himself Leon is
not exactly appealing ‘role model’ in the sense of a movie assassin. His physical appearance is
nothing like James Bond. Therefore James Bond is more known as the more attractive one who
attracts more girls. As Leon as a young girl by his side. James Bond wears better clothes such as
Suits and watches. From this you can tell James Bond is a much more Rich character than Leon.
Leon has a much more ragged look. Not appealing to females as much . Good thing about this is
that’s it different leaving the viewers left in excitement and confusion giving it a unique feel to the
way it was directed. Making the Director Luc Besson a more unique director.

3. Mean Girls and Napoleon Dynamite
The movie Mean Girls is a Teen Comedy what is directed by Mark Waters. This film was
produced in 2004.
The Mean Girls narrative has a clear start middle and end. Throughout the film the character’s
exposition has been established. Within the film, there has been an inciting incident. This is
where this informs the narrative what happens within the film. A certain scene where the girls
bring out the year book, a rising action revolves around the book. This is where the story slightly
has a twist. Even more, when it approaches the winter show, the new girl saves the show by
singing, making the audience join in. This foreshadows the new girl gaining popularity. Meaning
the original ‘Most Popular’ girl slowly starts to lose her popularity. As the story continues there’s
a point of rising action where the new girl ends up feeding the most popular girl these bars to put
on weight... But when really the new girl said she would make her lose weight. So overtime the
bars made the most popular girl fat. The climax is where there is a common convention where
there was a prom at the end of the film. Basically to
summarize the denougment of the film is where they all
make friends and life goes on as normal.
Within the mise en scene American High School, Mall and
parties. They were the basic settings within the film. With
this, these are iconic things that often happen in America.
The camera angles used in this film are, Split Screen,
Group Shot, Canted Angle, mid shot, POV, Close up. With
this film it had an internal monologue from Cady.
Napoleon Dynamite’s narrative is very similar to Mean girls narrative. So for example, both films
have a school. It’s based on the students that are popular and unpopular. But the twist is, the
main character in Napoleon Dynamite, is that he is the unpopular one of the school. Throughout
time of the film the main character tries to gain popularity. Eventually
Napoleon finds a friend. Once that had happened there is a girl that has
an interest in Napoleon. There is a opportunity opening for Napoleon that
he takes. That is when there is a show off to perform talents. Napoleon
therefore decided to do a dance which leads to impress the audience.

4. Auteur Theory
The term ‘Auteur’ is a film director who influences their films so much that they rank as their
author.
How do analysts apply auteur theory on filmmakers?
Tim Burton: This directors style is known as quite wacky in a sense. What
I mean by this is Tim Burton’s films are weird in such a way. For example,
in the Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a Fantasy. The
children that acted in this film had these ‘abilities’. Tim Burton follows this
style with many movies such as Charlie and The Chocolate factory and
Beetlejuice.
Luc Besson: This director is well known for his unusual sense in action films. What I mean is, the
film Leon: The Professional, is very similar in a sense to James Bond. But
it’s not at the same time. In the film Leon: The Professional, Leon is not
the ideal man to be a hero in a sense. He’s not exactly good looking. He’s
not surrounded by loads of women as for James Bond is. But Luc Besson
did this for a reason. His films made the audience question themselves.
Leaving us in confusion on the whole plot. This made his style popular as
for his films.