Maltese Falcon (film noir)

-
This movie review will discuss about the black and white film which is Maltese Falcon. This movie has used the Film noir theory. This theory has been used in long time ago and nowadays still many films has used this theory to make.


Film Noir was style of filmmaking characterized by such elements as cynical heroes, this genre was mostly used  in American crime dramas of the post-World War II era. According to French film critics, is called Film Noir. This movie has a lots of shadows and influenced by German Expressionism. Film Noir films are always having high contrast and low key lighting that create shadow. These films are always film at locations like small house and alley. The characteristics of  film noir which  includes alienation, disenchantment, pessimism, ambiguity, moral corruption, evil, guilt, desperation and paranoia. These films has a lot of plot twisting.

Synopsis

ThIs movie is starts from a woman named Ruth Wonderly which is cast by Brigid O’Shaughnessy who always looking for her sister. However, Brigid is just trying to change Sam. There is another scene that a rich man named Gutman who is trying to get a valuable things called “Maltese Falcon” from Cairo and Wilmer's help. The movie ends with Brigid fails to change Sam and Gutman fails to get the real Maltese Falcon.

Analysis

The film Maltese Falcon has lots of semantics of Film Noir films. One of it would be the shadows in the film. Many scenes from the film contains lots of shadows to create a mysterious environment (Archambault, 2015). For instance, The lighting foreshadows some kind of  danger, although the lighting on Sam Spade does not put the pressure on him. Some of the scenes also uses shadows to tell stories.

Also, the film has some camera angles in Film Noir films, which are the arresting angles and unusualangles. In the film, most of the scenes are shot in a tight frame, giving a feeling of claustrophobia which means fear of confined space. The further triggers moods such as panic and anxiety (Barbradozier, 2013). For example, when the camera moves to capture Sam Spade, it is placed in a certain angle which orients the viewer to see the character as if she’s looking up to Sam Spade, creating Spade’s image as more powerful and dominant. 

High contrast images and extreme close ups are used in most scenes of the film for a dark and mysterious effect. For example, it also had most of the scenes is set at outside and night, adding to the atmosphere. The outdoor scenes tended to be set in dark house or rainy streets, while the indoor scenes were very dimly lit, often by only one or two lamps, which results in scenes with  dim shadows. ( Carter McCoy, 2016)

In conclusion, Maltese Falcon has successfully show us that this theory can explain that what we need in this film. The consequences is many director also use this theory for their film.It defines itself through unique visual cues, experimental narratives, and antihero. With a little bit of plot twisting, the film noir style can always be applied in modern movies to create an inventive style of film.




References:
Barbradozier. (2013). Analysis of The Maltese Falson in the eyes of Huston. Retrieved from: https://barbradozier.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/the-untainted-falcon-an-analysis-of-the-maltese-falcon-in-the-eyes-of-john-huston/

Carter McCoy, 2016. In depth: The Maltese Falcon is classic film noir. Retrieved from: https://wm-hs.org/in-depth-the-maltese-falcon-is-classic-film-noir/


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

But I'm a Cheerleader (Queer Theory)

-
Today, in this movie review I will discuss a romantic comedy film named But I'm a Cheerleader. This is because this film have give us a homosexual feelings when we watch this film. The theory that they use in this film Queer theory. Theory Discussion Queer theory is an approach to literary and cultural study that rejects traditional categories of gender and sexuality, it proposed by Feminist Theory. It can be a critical response to the numerous discourse surrounding AIDS and homosexuality. There are some approaches in Queer theory which includes the audience reception. Many films are open with the homosexuals characters in a narrative film. Other looks or visual exchanges between the participants is mediated on a "narrative" visual discourse in which the look of of the subject. The next approaches is the actors or actress have captured by the straight audiences but sometimes they also captured by the non-straight audiences. It examines queer work. making and writin...
Read more

Corpse Bride (German Expressionism)

-
In this movie review I would like to discuss about the animation movie named Corpse Bride. This movie is directed by Mike Johnson and Tim Burton. The theory that they use is about German Expressionism. This theory that have been used in nowadays life. German expressionism has the themes that included revolt, self-analysis, madness and primitive, sexual savagery. This theory had start in within first world war which is in year 1919 to 1926. It started from the paiting and change to film productions and it also spread into the cinema in narrative and mise-en-scene. For example, the film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari which is which also using the German Expressionist theory. This film had showed us the fantastic, nightmarish sets with twisted structures and landscapes with sharp-pointed forms and oblique, curving lines. This theory also spread around Germany and Northern European states. The Expressionist movement today is considered as one of the artistic movement. Synopsis This...
Read more

Movie Review - Bicycle Thieves (Italian Neorealism)

-
Image
In this movie review, I would like to fall backward to the old times, old movie which is the Italian movie named Ladri di biciclette. In the English name is Bicycle Thieves. This movie have used the Italian neo-realism method to produce this movie. Theory Discussion What is Italian Neo-realism? Well, for the neo-realism is known as the low budget movie and always have the negative thoughts. Therefore, there are many bad habit or things happens in the movie. Cesare Zavattini was the founder of the Italian Neo-realism. The form the Italian cinema is using real people and locations that established with social reality. For example, Zavattini can form the plots as the fake structure of everyday life.  Italian Neorealism has contains a lot of characteristics such as they used grainy film stock in order to giving it its newsreel look. That was the new era after the silent film era. Next, they mostly shot on-location. For example, Antonio's neighbourhood and the visit of the ...
Read more