Staring Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Forster
A female flight attendant becomes a key figure in a plot between the police and an arms dealer.
In the opening sequence, Tarantino establishes the character of Jackie Brown as being a very confident character. He does this mainly thought the use of camera angles. One example of which is that when she is on the travelator she is standing perfectly still and always looking in the direction that she is travelling. Another example is that when she has got off the travelator, Tarantino uses mainly low angle shots looking up at her to give the impression of importance and stature. This camera angle also shows all the people in the background walking the other way and wearing very dull clothes, which is in contrast to the very smart, bright blue uniform of Jackie Brown. Also the feel of confidence is further developed by the fact that she never looks directly into the camera, always forward - this shows that she is very focused on one thing and is not easily distracted by her surroundings.
In the scene where the character of Ordell Robie shoots Beaumont Livingstone, is is established as a thriller mainly though the fact that it is set mostly in a set of apartments at night, which are both characteristics of thriller films. Tarantino uses the darkness and very little lighting to give the feel of emptiness. Also the last part of the scene, where we see Ordell drive off and then drive into what appears to be a building site, with Livingstone in the boot of the car and then stops to shot him, gives us the impression that Ordell planed this and therefore is a very methodical man and likes to plan things before doing them. Also in this scene he is very calm - this gives us the feel that he is not in a unfamiliar situation.
This is a contrast to the character of Louis Gara. In the scene where scene where he is in the shopping mall he is very nervous and uptight, this gives us the feel that he is very uncomfortable in his surroundings. Also at the end of the scene, when he shoots Melanine, he shoots her after getting annoyed with her. This show us that the character of Louis Gara is very short tempered and does things on a spur-of-the moment basis and doesn't plan them like Ordell Robie does.
Well done Jack for making good progress with research. I'll closely assess during the Xmas break but I apreicate your effort. This research will help your planning, particularly with regard to camera shots, angles and movement.
ReplyDeleteWhoops typing error, "appreciate"...! Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteYou proficiently explain the purpose of camera angles and movement which connote the character of Jackie Brown in the title sequence of the film, your evaluation of the characters of Ordell and Louis are competent, but the long distance shot of Ordell shooting Beaumont in the boot indicates his detachment and cold blooded psychopathic nature. You identified the contrast between Ordell and Louis, Ordell being measured and chillingly calculating whilst Louis is unpredictable and also a psychopath and like Ordell detached from empathy. Well done.
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