Jackie Brown (1997)Director: Quentin Tarantino
Explain how Tarantino establishes the character of Jackie Brown through camera shots and movement.
The first introduction of the main character, Jackie Brown is a low angle, medium close up. Jackie is in the forefront of the screen shot which stands out in the film. We can see by her uniform that she is an airhostess. The angle of the shot as she walks through the aiport is a low angle which signifies her status and moral superiority, the background is blurred out which means that no-one compares to her, they are un-significant and do not need to be shown.
The shot then cuts to the introduction of Ordell and Louis as they sit on the sofa watching American women shooting guns. The low angle shot of them slouched on the sofa shows their lazy personalities and contrast between Jackie Brown who is walking tall and elegant. The title sequence to the programme that they are watching is of the Statue of Liberty shooting a gun, this shows the corruption in America.
The shooting of Beaumont Livingstone by Ordell Robbie
a) Explain how this clip reflects the thriller genreb) What does the camera angle connote about the character of Beaumont Livingstone.
The introduction of Beaumont we see that he is not wearing much clothing, almost naked, which shows his vulnerability, whereas Ordell has a flashy, vulganity about his outfit, it is all black with gold chains and necklaces- which shows the thriller convention by his iconic dark and proud outfit. The lighting is very low and non-ambient. The low angle shot as Ordell and Beaumont stand over the boot of the car shows power, and his fairly threatening. Ordell's body language as he holds the gun is very intimidating. The boot of the car is a generic signifier of a thriller. Ordell then persuades Beaumont to get in the car with junk food, this shows the obsession with unhealthy and 'greasy' junk food that America has. This is linked to Essex Boys where Jason pushes the victim into the van.
The next shot is a medium close up of Ordell putting black leather gloves on. Black leather gloves symbolise that something menacing or bad is going to happen. You would usually put black gloves on if you didn't want your hands to get dirty.
As the shot pans out, we see Ordell driving down the road. We see a vanishing point, Ordell is going into the unknown which adds enigma. The street is wet and dark with non ambient lighting. Ordell then takes Beaumont into an industrial site which is very concealed and dingy. Ordell opens the boot and shoots Beaumont, this shows Ordell is very detached from his emotions and quite ruthless.
Dont go shopping with Robert De Niro- The shooting of Melanie by Louis Gara. What does this action in broad daylight connote about the character of Louis Gara?
Louis character in this scene is very cold and fierce, his attitude towards Melanie is very dominating, we can see his fear and his need to control her. The music is very 'light' and 'airy' it is almost sounds patronising or the sort of music that would stress you out after a while. When Louis kills Melanie in an open carpark in broad daylight it shows his sadistic personality. He is a complete loose canon, compared to Ordell who plots his murders and is pretty clever about his killings, Ordell hides his crimes by doing them in the dark.
Articulate and well organised. The more inter textual references in your analysis the better. You could add another post discussing the use of noir lighting in the sequence where Ordell shoots Beaumont. Note that the long distance shot of Beaumont's killing signifies Ordell's lack of empathy, cowardice (inability to look his victim in the eye), thus strongly connoting Ordell's psychopathic nature. Louis' outrageous and unpredictable shooting of Melanie also indicates his psychopathy. Well done Ruby, some proficient analysis though you could develop your ideas rather more.
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