Film Analysis: Sunset Boulevard

Mise-en-scéne is crucial to classical Hollywood as it defined an era ‘that in its primary sense and effect, shows us something; it is a means of display. ' (Martin 2014, p.XV). Billy Wilder 's Sunset Boulevard (Wilder 1950) will be analysed and explored with its techniques and styles of mise-en-scéne and how this aspect of filmmaking establishes together as a cohesive whole with the narrative themes as classical Hollywood storytelling. Features of the film 's sense of space and time, setting, motifs, characters, and character goals will be explored and how they affect the characterisation, structure, and three-act organisation.

These different lighting techniques are applied in the movie to help set the tone and mood for the film scene. The

Lighting is used rather traditionally for the majority of the movie and helps to distinguish the “good” from the “bad”. For instance, the original Maria is shown in soft-key, angelic lighting that casts a halo around her to emphasize her purity and beauty. The fake Maria, on the other hand, is shot in harsh lighting that creates a dark, unsettling vignette around her. This lighting style creates a contrast between protagonists and antagonists and is used frequently in Hollywood cinema.

To represent this low key lighting is used in Charlie’s home to show that the reality of his life is there living in poverty. This pattern continues in the cult classic Edward Scissorhands. The town that Edward is welcomed into is in high lighting to signify that it is the life that he never had. He wants to be accepted and loved and this is the place that his wish comes true. Unfortunately we know that his fantasy is unrealistic and there is no way he can live normally.

The entire room is dark without any lights in the room, and the ceiling skylight window is the only source of light that comes through the room. Jack also thinks that Room’s atmosphere and the actual Room are all that exists in the real world, and everything that he sees on television just exists on television and not in real life. Joy then lets Jack know that there is more to the real world than Room and its atmosphere. Together, they both get a glimpse of the outside world as they leave Room and head to the hospital and start over in a new home. The first half of the film takes place in the tiny shelter named Room, and this first half is filmed in low-key lighting.

Tim Burton 's use of this helps show the contrast of the insider and outsider world. When the viewer is watching they get a sense of suspense and start to second guess whether or not they should trust the outsider. In Edward Scissorhands Burton uses a high-key low-key light contrast when Peg is in her car and sees Edward 's house in her side mirror. When the viewers are watching they get a frightened sense and wonder whether or not Edward or whomever is in the house will

The lighting in Donnie Darko movie is a key component of composition which creates our sense of illuminating for people and things. This movie uses two sources of lighting; natural light, such as daylight, when the scene is in an outdoor area for example, walking from school, at home, waiting at bus stop, or playing outside of the school on sunny days. Another source of light is artificial spotlight which is used in the movie indoors to cut and shape the light at the dining table, in the classroom or in the psychotherapist's house. Also, distinct shadows are used as an essentially smooth surface that reflects hard light in the Halloween party to feature deep shadows and scary areas in function of the plot. Three-points of lighting create ominous shadows in the horror genre for all the actors at Donnie and Elizabeth's Halloween party with lighting from below the cast to create monstrous objects in real life.

For example, when the boys are young, sepia toned lighting is used. This produces a slightly hazy, vintage feel. As the boys grow older, and the memories become clearer, the lighting becomes brighter and crisper. High-key lighting and low-key lighting are also alternated depending on the mood. When out on the river, high-key lighting is used the majority of the time.

Another well used example of lighting is used in Big Fish when Will’s father is dying in a hospital bed and the scene is flooded with low key lighting. This dark and gloomy lighting creates a depressing and darkening mood while also adding to the fact that Will’s father has little time to live. Lighting is a key element used by Burton to help viewers establish the mood and feeling associated with the setting or

In the film Sunset Boulevard many character struggled with wishes, lies and dreams of fame and fortune. The film states the corruption in hollywood and that people will do anything to get ahead. With hope and delusion each character tries to gain happiness, while only being self-destructive and isolating themselves. The characters ultimately deny their problems and confuse those around them. One character in the film who struggles with her wishes, lies and dreams is, Norma Desmond, a washed up actress.

In the movie, Edward Scissorhands, Tim burton uses low-key lighting when Peg meets Edward for the first time in a castle. Edward was sitting in a dark corner and there was just enough light to see his face but not his clothes. This shows the amount of loneliness of Edward and that he was sad and frightened but also willing to make a friend when he approaches Peg. Also, in the movie, Charlie in the

There is a different lighting for every setting.for example Benjamin Martin’s Malita has a base within a swamp and the lighting makes the scene feel dark and gloomy or when Benjamin’s oldest son, Gabriel, gets married the lighting is bright and cheery. The Patriot does a good job at making the lighting realistic and sets the mood for dramatic scenes. There is many realistically lighted scenes with light passing through trees and windows as you will see in this video. I believe that the main theme of the movie is patriotism. Patriotism is defined as an act of support and devotion in one’s country("Patriotism").

The use of background light was an important focus in this picture, there was less attention to lighting the actors faces but in almost every frame there is well placed background light often combined with a moving light source. Repetition was also evident within the visual composition of the frame, the actors were rarely positioned within the center of the frame but always to the left or the right with a light source covering them from behind. Ridley Scott perfectly matches colorful high key light with low key lights creating impeccable contrast, this lighting used could be described as a modern Citizen Kane style. Although this is overall a very dark and low light film, the motif of shadows and darkness allows the beauty of light to truly be

The use of contrast and the play with light and darkness is fascinating. It has a great psychological effect on the audience. The Don Corleone’s office is submerged in darkness and the characters in the scene come in and out of the light, thereby directing the focus onto them. A very large part of the film is shot in low key lighting, to emphasize on the theme of the film which is essentially, the life story of the Mob in

In the film Sunset Boulevard many characters struggled with wishes, lies and dreams of fame and fortune. The film states the corruption in Hollywood and that people will do anything to get ahead. With hope and delusion each character tries to gain happiness, while only being self-destructive and isolating themselves. The characters ultimately deny their problems and confuse those around them. One character in the film who struggles with her wishes, lies and dreams is, Norma Desmond, a washed up actress.