Film Narrative Questions- The Hurt Locker/District 9

How similar/different is James to other (war) film 'hero' characters that you are familiar with?/Why do you think this is the case?

James does not appear to be such a typical 'hero' (in relation to other, more typical war film characters). One might be able to say he has some heroic qualities, and potentially exhibits some of the traits of the stereotypical 'Lifer' (minus the age). He is quite firmly wrapped-up in being a soldier (similarly to Tom Highway in Heartbreak Ridge), and he is experienced, however he also has various unconventional, more distinctly-human ('Every-man') characteristics that discredit the title of 'hero'. He is reckless and does not work very cohesively with his team, as seen when he goes off alone to a strangers home in the middle of the night looking for Beckham, as well as leading the other soldiers in an impromptu mission, getting specialist Eldridge shot and sent home in the process.

James may have become his job (metaphorically-speaking) as a result of his home-life being somewhat unfulfilling, or her invests himself into his job so much that his relationship is falling apart, and so he uses his job (in a round-about way) to escape.

How similar/different is Wickus to other Sci-Fi, Thriller, Comedy Film 'hero' characters that you are familiar with?

Wikus does not come at all close to being a 'hero' type character. Instead, he comes off as a deeply ignorant, cowardly character who hides behind his job title/position of authority. When one think of a heroic character, James Sawyer (played by Channing Tatum in White House Down)- or even comedic-'hero'-type, 'prince' figure, David (portrayed by Hugh Grant) in Love Actually- likely to spring to mind . However, Wikus Van De Merwe just might be the last person you would consult in any type of 'save-'the-day' situation.

Rather than fighting the injuries that the Aliens are subjected to, her spends valuable time adding to the mess, selfishly trying to get Christopher to clean up his own in the process. Even when he does make a feeble attempt to help Christopher, it is only because [he] is the only one who knows how to return his arm back to normal. Despite Christopher's efforts, Wickus still lashes out at  him, calling the Aliens 'Prawns', and he doesn't show any genuine gratitude towards Christopher.

How well can Propp's ideas be applied to the characters and narrative of the films?

All in all, it seems that none of the characters in the Hurt Locker can be categorized into specific character-types, but Christopher falls fits into District 9 as the (magical) helper/donor, as well as the victimized character, and Wickus fits firmly into the role of the 'false hero', as- even after he fully transforms into an Alien and is never found- the rest of the human race in Johannesburg hold the belief that Wikus was an honourable person, when that really wasn't the case.

How readily can Vogler's concept of the hero's journey be applied to the narratives of the films?

The Hurt Locker as a whole does not seem to line up with Vogler's concept of the hero's journey, as there isn't an obvious, organized layout of events that make up the film. That being said, there are some elements of the film that do adhere to certain parts of the theory, such as the 'call to adventure'- every time S.S.W.J has to step in and defuse a bomb. Sergeant and Sanbourn become allies, however they do clash at first, but they both then become more humble towards each other after putting water under the bridge. There also happens to be an 'Ordeal', where James is unable to diffuse the bombs attached to the 'suicide bomber' in time. In the end, James 'Returns with Elixir', but more in the sense that he has resolved issues between himself and Sanbourn, and is ready for another round of military action.

District 9, on the other hand, follows Vogler's structure much more closely, and is a much more typical depiction of a 'Sci-Fi Adventure' film. At first, Wikus goes about his ordinary life in his (relatively) 'Ordinary-World'- evicting Aliens and kissing-up to his wife's dad.  He then has a 'Ca;; to Adventure' when he is sprayed in the face with an unclassified Alien substance. He has a sort of 'Meeting With the Mentor' and '[crosses] the First Threshold', where he meets Christopher and is thrown about by the Nigerian gangsters. Here, he also faces 'Tests'- being made to shoot Aliens against his will-, 'Allies'- Christopher, who helps him- and 'Enemies'- Koobus Venter, who believes he is superior to Wikus, when really (one might argue), he's just as bad. The structure then strays a little, however, Wikus experiences a severe 'Road Block'; he is still part-alien, and is now also a Wanted criminal, having killed so many people. He briefly plays the 'Resurrection Hero' in an effort to help Christopher to escape, but rather, loses everything he owns and lives as an Alien in District 9.

What sets of binary oppositions can you identify in the films? How do these help to drive the narrative forwards?

In the Hurt Locker, S.S.W.J initially acts as a  (somewhat villainous) foil for Sanbourn, frustrating his plans and disrupting what Sanbourn may consider to be the natural order of things. However, by the end of the film, they reconcile their differences. Compared to Sergeant (who behaves in a slightly more dictatorial manner, Sanbourn is a natural leader, who is stern  (despite being a team member, and not the leader) and reminds him of both of their places, which also reminds the viewer that James is not necessarily a good team leader. When they clash at first, Sanbourn even cryptically talks about blowing him up with an IED during a mission.

Specialist Owen Eldridge is looked after like a younger brother by James- who comforts him after Dr.Cambridge is shot in the line of duty, however, Specialist is rather aggressive towards [James]when he becomes seriously injured as a result of James' reckless actions based on personal motives. Specialist is fairly close with Dr.Cambridge, but does call him out for thinking he and the soldiers were on the same level. Eldridge- quite sarcastically- points out that he seems to have had a costly education at an Ivy League School, and perhaps didn't know as much about being on the field as others do.

The binary oppositions in both films help to reinforce the idea that there is conflict that needs to be resolved in every situation.

The Hurt Locker- Genre

The Hurt Locker may generally be considered a somewhat atypical war film, as it does include

conventional elements, such as violence, heroism, rivalry and a common enemy. On the other hand, there are various typical features missing from the film. For example, even though the Hurt Locker more or less includes traces of each of the conventions, there are few distinct characteristics involved that one might expect from a conventional war film.

Examples of this would be where there are no large scale battles and no criticism of war. Th only prolonged physical act of conflict seems to be during the shoot-out between the British mercenaries, US troops and the Iraqi soldiers. Also, throughout the film, the concept of war is painted as addictive, yes, but not necessarily as a massively negative thing. Instead, it is portrayed in such a way that the viewer may quickly and easily become desensitized to the graphic violent content of the film and perhaps subconsciously see modern warfare as a relatively normal part of life. Evidence of this can be seen in the way in which the characters appear to move on so quickly from the brutal deaths of other soldiers around them. By the time the next scenes roll around, the viewer may also have already started moving on from a previous storyline.

District 9-Film Synopsis

 District 9 (Neill Blomkamp, 2009) is "-- a lower-budget science-fiction film with amazing effects, thrilling action, and, most importantly, emotional and intellectual depth." (James Rocchi, Common Sense Media). It has a heavily stylized, linear structure which addresses clear sociopolitical issues of, not only South Africa's problematic history, but also the more modern world. Right from the onset, the segregated- ('Apartheid' literally being an Afrikaans word for 'separateness')-, chaotic, neglected, nature of the Aliens' environment is unmistakable, as well as the safe, government-protected suburbia that the (mostly white) citizens of Johannesburg are living in. Wikus Van De Merwe (an- obviously under-educated, tactless- Afrikaner bureaucrat) leads a mass forced-eviction, in which the entire Alien community is forced out of their slums upon the order of the SA government, and into their designated area- District 9. The sense of equilibrium somewhat overlaps with disruption, as the different communities and individual situations of both Wikus and Christopher (an alien who tries to help him when his human DNA becomes combined with alien DNA) are rather quickly established. In the end, there is not much of a restoration of equilibrium, but rather a newfound equilibrium, where Wikus has fully transformed into an alien, and has come to accept his new form. The film has had much success, earning a profit of $180.9 million at the Box Office, a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a rating of 8/10 on IMDb and four Academy Award nominations.

The Hurt Locker- Film Synopsis

The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow, 2008) is an award winning war thriller film that- with some flashbacks- realistically depicts life on the field in Iraq for an American bomb squad. Within it's circular structure, the film first establishes the harsh, unaccommodating nature of their environment, then zooms in on the responses of each soldier and how they (struggle to) cope in their own individual ways. From the very beginning, a sense of normality is portrayed through the unspoken idea that being a soldier is an every-day 9-to-5 sort of job; an idea that comes across through witty banter and an almost laid-back energy level. On the other hand, there is also a constant sense of impending chaos that follows the soldiers whenever they go on a mission. Despite this, there does not seem to be a distinct climax in the film, which helps to reinforce the concept that it is a realistic depiction of war, and not a stylized one. The film has had mixed reviews, but mostly a positive response, receiving widespread acclaim and six academy awards, including best picture.

Entertainment Weekly-Lisa Schwarzbaum

"The result is an intense, action-driven war pic, a muscular, efficient standout that simultaneously conveys the feeling of combat from within as well as what it looks like on the ground." -Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

"Undercover Indies: Kathryn Bigelow’s ‘The Hurt Locker’ Blows Up Awards-Season Expectations" - Film Independent

After The Hurt Locker (which is without question the most exciting and least ideological movie yet made about the war in Iraq), everyone will remember Renner's name. -Dana Stevens, Slate

 

 

District 9- The Representation of South Africa

The storyline of District 9, is laden with contextual reference to the South African Apartheid.

The citizens of South Africa in the film are segregated in the same way that they were in real life before the strict rules of Apartheid were abolished. In this case, the people and Aliens (sometimes referred to as 'Prawns', a derogatory term used to describe them in the film) are living in very separate locations in the country, and under very different conditions. The Aliens, essentially living on top of each other among filth and danger, and the white SA citizens living in suburbia, where they are protected by the government and considered superior. This is very similar to the way in which black and white South Africans were separated for 50 years (1941-1991). The Aliens were forced to resettle in other places, very much like how black people had resettlement programs inflicted on them during the 60's, 70's, and 80's, where they were forced to move into their "designated groups" and the mixing of white people with a Black, Indian or any other person of colour was eventually also forbidden.

"...the allegorical overtones are inescapable in the plot about aliens who, their spaceship stranded above Johannesburg, have to endure a daily routine of unemployment, gangsterism and xenophobia in a squalid shantytown. The Prawns – as they are known in derogatory slang because of their vaguely crustacean appearance – spend their hopeless days brawling and getting high on pet food." -the Guardian

Despite there being no official mention of Apartheid and it's legacy in today's black townships, these issues are quite directly addressed by the film in many ways. The government is quite clearly corrupt, the (mostly white) members of the SA community are ignorant of the impoverished lifestyles and brutality that the Aliens face on a daily basis, and they see them as villains who have invaded their space (when, in actual fact, the Alien ship became stranded over Jo'Burg and so, they probably did not end up there by choice.) All of these elements reflect real life too closely for them not be connected. The Alien's are portrayed as the enemy- where there seems to be a role reversal in the depicted society-, when really the attention should be turned to the disinformation on behalf of the government and the ignorance of the people.

The Hurt Locker- Social & Cultural Context

ELDRIDGE: And you know this from your extensive work in the field, right?

CAMBRIDGE: I've done my field duty.

ELDRIDGE: Where was that? Yale?

It is evident here, that Dr.Cambridge has had a very different experience to Specialist Eldridge and the other soldiers; a high-class education for one. People who work in the field in the military tend to be from "lower-class" backgrounds, with less money than those who work less in the line-of-fire and more behind a desk. There also tends to be more young people from ethnic minorities- who are much more likely to find it difficult to pay educational fees- that work in the military as their tuition fees are completely covered for them.

"[It's understandable that] Eldridge might bristle at the suggestion that he should be having fun with the whole could-get-blown-up-at-any-moment experience of working EOD. The doc tries to say that he's done his field duty, but somehow we don't think he understands the constant fear and risk that Eldridge experiences." - Shmoop.com

 “The rush of battle is a potent and almost lethal addiction, for war is a drug.” - A quote from War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning, by Chris Hedges

Chris Hedges is a former war correspondent, who also said in

his book that war is a drug that he,"...ingested for many years." This heavily implies that war can create a powerful addiction for those involved, something that is quite clear throughout the film. The audience plays observer every time each character- mainly S.S William James- enters a particularly life-threatening situation, taking major risks (potentially being seen as reckless) without ever having a second thought.

The Hurt Locker- Conflict in the Film

How does the director use Cinematography to show different types of conflict in the film?

1. "Drop the Phone"

In this scene, the directer has used unstable camera shots and

often visibly changes the zoom to create a sense of paranoia and insecurity in the response to the tense atmosphere of the situation. These cinematographic devices contribute to the build of tension and reinforce the idea that it is difficult to feel safe in a hostile environment such as the field. At the climax of the scene- where the bomb explodes, killing S.S Matthew Thompson-, a series of jump-cuts and slow motion are used to emphasize further emphasize the danger that is being faced in the moment.

2. Battle with British Mercenaries

In this scene, Bigelow uses fast moving- again, unstable- camera

shots to emphasize the chaos of combat, subjective shots with varying zoom to show the audience giving the audience an internal viewpoint, and objective, low level shots with many close-up shots of the  characters and their weapons, reminding the viewer of their location and current situation. The close-ups also contribute to the idea that there may be an addiction associated with combat.

3. Intense Bomb Disposal

This scene uses subjective shots with unsteady, close-up framing to

communicate the uneasiness of diffusing the bomb (it being a life-or-death situation). The use of deep-focus and wide-shots shows how Sanbourn cannot do anything to help, but wait for S.S William James to complete the job. The cross-cut shots are used to show Sergeant's shock at the complexity of the bomb that lies in the boot before him.

4. The 'Baby Scene' (Home & Return to Iraq)

In this scene, there are noticeably steadier camera shots, with more objective shots of him doing

carrying out mundane-activities (e.g., clearing leaves out of the gutter) that tell the audience that the Sergeant has returned to normal life. However, the close-up of his eye next to the shot of his fianceé may indicate that he is not necessarily happy in his relationship, which is further supported by the fact that there are subjective shots and point of view framing of his fianceé preparing food, she is not really listening to him talk about work; suggesting  that, she also, might be unhappy. The deep-focus shot of Sergeant and his son is cleverly framed by the doorway of the baby's room, placing the child in the center of the doorway and Sergeant on the right side (audience-perspective). This suggests that family is an important part of life for him, however the next shot of the military helicopters reminds the audience of his- rather lonely- line of work, and that he can never be with his family 100% of the time.

5. The Suicide Bomber
The use of tracking shots and a series of objective shots,

which show various spectators in the scene, help to emphasize the the fact that Sergeant has a moral dilemma on his hands, where he ultimately turns out unable to help the man who (against his will, or not) has a complex bomb padlocked in several places strapped to him. The use of continuity editing helps the viewer to remain focused, while the increasing number of jump  cuts and zoom-changes indicate that the matter at hand is becoming a more and more chaotic. The various close-up and shallow-focus shots enable the audience to see that this problem is becoming more high-pressure and more difficult for the soldiers to deal with, as they have to think quickly and make life-or-death decisions that someone else's life also depends on. The titled camera angle on Sanbourn holding the gun on the suicide-bomb victim highlights the fact that he is fearful and isn't quite level headed but Sergeant is more in-control, despite the fact that he is of a higher rank than Sergeant and is technically the leader of the team. When the bomb explodes, the shots are cut-together in rapid succession and then contrasted with a hint of slow-motion when Sergeant is thrown to the ground by the impact; the same way S.S Matthew Thompson was at the beginning of the film.

Hurt Locker- Character Entry



Staff Sergeant William James


PROPP'S THEORY He comes across as the 'Every-Man' with some heroic qualities, but also rather reckless at first. He is the main man when it comes to actually diffusing bombs, but he initially comes across as lacking in charisma and takes a few dangerous risks. He also acts as a father figure to Specialist, who he looks out for when Dr.Cambridge is killed in the line of duty. However, because of another reckless decision, Specialist is severely injured, and for that, he turns on him. By the end of the film, one may be more empathetic towards him.

BINARY THEORY He acts initially as a (somewhat villainous) foil for Sergeant Sanbourn, frustrating his plans and disrupting (what Sanbourn may consider) the natural order of things. However, by the end of the film, they reconcile their differences.

 Sergeant Sanbourn


PROPP'S THEORY Could be seen as a 'Hero', as well as an 'Every-Man', however considering the context of the film, there seems not to be just one specific heroic figure. He sets a good example for the other soldiers.

BINARY THEORY Compared to S.S.W.J (who is more of a dictator), Sanbourn is a natural leader who is stern and reminds him of both their places, which also reminds the viewer that they are not of equal ranking, as his job description technically makes him S.S.W.J's boss. They clash at first- and Sanbourn even cryptically talks about blowing him up to Eldridge during a mission- but get along well later on.

Specialist Owen Eldridge

BINARY THEORY He is looked after by S.S.W.J- who comforts him when Dr.Cambridge is shot in the line of duty, however, Specialist is rather aggressive towards him when he becomes seriously injured as a result of the Staff Sergeant's reckless actions and personal motives.

PROPP'S THEORY Is portrayed as the 'Innocent'. He is younger and seemingly less-experienced. Eldridge is naive, and takes it the hardest when a friend of his dies as he does not yet seem to grasp the concept that one should not necessarily get too attached to the people you enter the field with.

Colonel John Cambridge (Doctor)

BINARY THEORY Specialist calls him out for thinking he and the soldiers were on the same level. Eldridge- quite sarcastically points out that he seems to have had a costly education at an Ivy League school, and perhaps didn't know as much about being on the field as the others do.

PROPP'S THEORY Another 'Every Man' with some (false?) heroic qualities he only appears in the film a couple of times- and briefly, at that. He is seen to patronize the Iraqi locals by being falsely polite, quickly becoming impatient with them.

Kathryn Bigelow

Fact File

Director of:

"Philip Krauss: You don't talk about this to anyone ever. You understand?"

"Staff Sergeant William James: And the older you get, the fewer things you really love."

Captain Mikhail Polenin; "They'll send you to the Gulag, just like your father."
Captain Alexei Vostrikov: "Well, it's a family tradition, isn't it?"

Bodhi: "We're all going to die. The question is how." (Point Break)

Eugene Hunt: "Death is the best kick of all. That's why they save it for last."

Jeriko One: "You know what? You've pulled over the wrong black man, Officer Steckler!"

"Hell hath no fury."

Maya: "I'm going to smoke everyone involved in this op and then I'm going to kill bin Laden."

Personal Quotes:

"I don't like violence. I am very interested, however, in truth. And violence is a fact of our lives, a part of the social context in which we live. But other elements of the movie are love and hope and redemption...It's not that I condone violence. I don't. It's an indictment. I would say the film is cautionary, a wake-up call, and that I think is always valuable."

Blade Runner 2049

Premise

A young blade runner's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former blade runner Rick Deckard, who's been missing for thirty years.

Director:

Denis Villeneuve

Writer:

Hampton Fancher (screenplay by), Michael Green (screenplay by)
  

Stars:

Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas

Summarised Review

The cinematography was of an incredible quality and intensified the immersive experience. The storyline, on the other hand seems to have been somewhat divided, and didn't allow for an entirely smooth viewing experience. It seemed evident, to an extent, that there was more than one person involved in the creation of this film, and it was not as seamless as it could have been. The high-level cinematography in this movie was appropriate for viewing at the IMAX cinema, as it helped to maintain my focus.

Themes explored: Mind control, consequence, dystopian future, humans vs. technology, playing God.

How it was watched: Cinema, 3D
Platform: IMAX - Pros- The viewing experience was particularly pleasant due to the extremely HD   quality of the screen. Multiple, well-spaced speakers created thorough, unmistakable surround sound.
                            - Cons- It is probably better to sit futher back to avoid back and/or neck ache, versus in the middle or at the front, due to the incredibly large screen. The 3D glasses do not allow you to tilt your head comfortably without giving you double vision.

Further Experimentation

DSLR Camera: Trial and Error

Aperture- F/11 ISO-6400 Shutter Speed- 1/500



Aperture- F/11, Shutterspeed- 1/320, ISO- 6400




Aperture- F/4, Shutterspeed- 1/320, ISO- 6400



Aperture- F11, Shutterspeed-1/320, ISO-6400

Aperture- F/4.5 , Shutterspeed-1/80, ISO-100



Aperture- F/11, Shutterspeed-1/100, ISO-6400

Aperture- F/16, Shutterspeed-1/80, ISO-6400



Aperture-F/16, Shutterspeed-1/60, ISO-6400

Aperture-F/16, Shutterspeed-1/25, ISO-6400

Aperture- F/5.6, Shutterspeed- 1/80, ISO- 6400

Aperture- F/8, Shutterspeed-1/80, ISO-6400



Aperture- F/11, Shutterspeed- 1/80, ISO- 6400

Aperture- F/11, Shutterspeed-1/20, ISO-6400



Aperture- F/11, Shutterspeed-1/20, ISO-6400



Aperture- F/18, Shutterspeed-1/20, ISO-6400

Aperture- F/18, Shutterspeed-1/500, ISO-6400

 

Aperture- F18, Shutterspeed- 1/80, ISO- 6400



Aperture- F/18, Shutterspeed-1/250, ISO- 6400