Write a review about 'The Shining' What did the critics and the audience say about it? In your opinion how good were the actors performances? Give specific examples of innovative or unusual cinematography and mise en sceneThe Shining is a Psychological Horror Film made in 1980, set in the 60's. It is a very successful film therefore many of people have watched and reviewed it. Here are just a few:
Deeply scary and strange. - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian [UK]Essential viewing. Prepare to be disturbed. - Ashley Clarke, Little white lies Kubrick has made a movie that will have to be reckoned with on the highest level. - Richard Schickel, TIME magazine
Despite the films success there are still some people out there that aren't that satisfied:
Kubrick is after a cool, sunlit vision of hell, born in the bosom of the nuclear family, but his imagery--with its compulsive symmetry and brightness--is too banal to sustain interest, while the incredibly slack narrative line forestalls suspense. - Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader.
My opinion on the actors are that I thought they were very believable and realistic. I think this because the Wife showed genuine fear when Jack went off the rails. The actors performances must of been good or else I wouldn't of enjoyed the film as much as I did. The little boy in the film was really creepy and he was expressionless for most of the film (Minus the parts where he was screaming) but even then there was little expression on his face. Jack was great. His portrayal of a guy slowly descending into madness was really scary and probably quite realistic.
There were so many unusual/innovative uses of Cinematography and Miss en scene. Here are some:
At the start the camera angle was way high up in the air to show how in the middle of nowhere this place is that they were going to be staying at. I think that the director did that to create a feeling of isolation.
When they showed Jack sitting on the bed he had a much paler face than usual, this is indicating that he was starting his slow descent into madness. It was making the audience think that there was something wrong with him, and the hotel.
The camera angle was facing the scene, head on to the action when the elevator doors were opening and blood was pouring out. I think he did this to create a sense of panic and confusion.
When the little boy was travelling down the corridor he started in the background then ended up in the foreground, this was probably to show how far he had travelled and how long a corridor it was.
As the film went on the lighting began to turn into quite a low key dreary setting. This was to continue the narrative and to show how much things have changed and how the atmosphere in the whole hotel has gone from this quite nice big family friendly hotel to some really unwelcoming, cold dreary place. It created a sense of tension and fear in the audience.
When Danny was in the corridor the angle of the camera was overhead. This is quite weird for a hotel/house setting as you would usually assume that the camera angle would be from eye level and that Danny would be in the lower half of the frame which would make us feel like the adults. But instead we were usually at eye level with Danny making us feel a bit intimidated and like a frightened child most of the time.
HOMEWORK
1. To listen to the sound and editing tracks on Steph's blog.
2. Pick an Auter you would like to study for and begin to find research on the bullet points in the ppt
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