In Depth Analysis of Director

‘The Keep’ – Michael Mann,

Horror Genre

     



                              

‘The Keep’ was produced in 1983 and directed by Michael Mann. The film is based around a small village in Romania, which is where the film begins. During the first minutes of the film, the camera angle is close up to the main character of the film, and features the eyes of the main character, as well as a slow motioned camera shot of the tanks coming through the mountains and the village people. By introducing the film through the clouds, it gives the beginning of the film an oppressive manner and by focusing on the eyes of the main character, it influences the idea that the army are naive to what they are to unleash, but also the power that the soldiers have over the villagers and why they create such fear. There is also dramatic music to emphasis the fear of the villagers and dramatic nature of the Nazi soldiers arriving to the Keep.

Michael Mann also uses the use of religious characters, symbols and lighting, giving the religious depth to the scene. On certain characters who are inside ‘The Keep’, the light breaks the darkness where other characters are still in darkness, giving the godly appearance. The multiple crosses inside ‘The Keep’ give the impression of protection from something that has to be kept away as a form of protecting the people in the village. In the scene where the soldiers begin to start dying, one of the crosses inside the fortress glows, which gives off a blinding light which when characters who die are cast in this light creating a silhouette affect. In the scene where the cross is removed from the wall, there is a close up shot of the men taking out the cross and ghostly winds released from the hole, which is associated with their deaths. There is a close up of the soldier’s dead corpses. Throughout the film, there is contrasting effects of light and dark, such as the dark sea on the morning sky, and often either a close up shot of characters or a wide shot.

In one part of the film, there is one element of a bright light and the camera angle zooms outwards reveling small elements of light in a dark back drop. A bright light is released causing the death of soldiers.

‘The Keep’ carries the idea of God VS man throughout the film, with the use of a scientist views on the fortress and the religious imagery and characters. Whenever characters come into contact with the creature causing the death of characters, there is a low rumble or a godly choral music in the background. This is usually when a character dies in the next scene

 

Blackhat, directed by Michael Mann drama thriller genre 

In the film ‘Blackhat’ was produced in 2015 by Michael Mann, falling under the thriller and drama genres. This film takes place in Hong Kong; opening scenes start with close up shots of close camera shots of electronics, a system being hacking, travelling through a plant and dramatic music builds up before shots of people come onto the scenes. There is a dramatic use of sirens and a close up shot of explosion and casualties to emphases the fear and panic caused in the shot. There is a slow motion shot passing through, focusing on people screaming and panic.                                                                                                                                                The shot then has a dark lighting and the main character (Chris Hemsworth) comes into shot in a prison cell. In the scene, the background is grey; basic and dark lighting to emphasise the drama and the solidarity that the prisoners are kept in.

In scenes with superior characters Mann uses brighter lighting in contrast to those characters who are under their instructions and control, with lighting giving characters a sense of superiority to the audience. The wide shot usually involves a large group of people who are intertwined with each other or have some kind of link with each other.                                     In a conversation between two or three characters usually involves an over shoulder shot, with the camera diverting between the two or three people involved in the audience the impression of drama and tension. Throughout the film, Mann uses close up shots of coding, in which is the key element of the film as it ties the film back to the beginning, as well as linking the main character (being Chris Hemsworth) to the purpose of his role in the film. When linking back to the coding, Mann uses a close up of one of the main character. When there is a close up shot of the coding, Mann uses the repetition of dramatic music to imply the nature of the incident of the thriller nature of the film.  

Whenever chaos is to be filmed, there is a bright explosion, usually filling the shot, as well as loud sounds filling the shot. Characters having a conversation have over-the-shoulder shots, the camera moving between shots, emphasising the drama in the film, as well as highlighting authority. Usually characters who are in conversation are two or three people, and are the main characters the majority of the time. During the film, characters often have moments of which there are physical or emotional contact between two people. Mann uses little to no dialogue when a dramatic scene takes place, with the dramatic music appearing in the background. Wide shots of physical violence and fights are used, contrasting the close up and intimate shots of sexual activities, using dark lighting and dramatic beating music which demonstrates the mood

Lighting alters in the film, depending on where the character is. In multiple scenes, characters are up high in buildings, which better more natural lighting. However, in other scenes, mainly involving the main characters, there is dark lighting with a dark setting. Mann uses moonlight over one of the main female character and a darker lighting over one of the main male characters.

Ali – Michael Mann         

                                   

 Ali

‘Ali’ was produced in 2001 and falls under the sports and drama genres. The film features around Muhammed Ali’s life as a boxer, and the struggles that he went through. In the first opening scenes, it shows different situations, one is a darkened club which jazz music and another in a mosque, with a preacher, with the shot focusing on Ali in the back of the room. The third scene is of Ali in a studio with a close shot of Ali’s face and the punch bag. During these scenes, Mann uses a dramatic music and a low, inspirational music when in his defeat in a fight. The shot blurs to imply the vision that he would be experiencing. The music gradually becomes more and more upbeat and overcoming the sound of crowd when the fight is being won, representing the pride that he feels. Wide shots are also made of the boxing ring when Ali is to fight. Mann also contrasts this by creating a sense of calm and peacefulness around Ali by using natural light and an outside setting.

Mann also uses slow shots when Ali throws a punch, creating the powerful appearance, and uses closes ups of the main character when he is around a large group of people, to create the idea that Muhammed Ali is the main character, creating the idea of importance to the audience.  When Muhammed Ali is in the ring boxing, the lighting is grossly concentrated on him and his opponent, and the crowds are blacked out around him. The lighting depends on where he is as in a scene where he is arrested, the light is off and is mainly a dark setting, giving the impression of a solitude mood.