alasdair

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Representation of disabilities in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (MAJOR SPOILERS)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OReFR-2rmQc

(major spoilers)
(if you're reading this without watching the film watch it first it's worth it)

James, played by Peter Dinklage, is looked down upon in the small suburban discrimination filled town throughout the entirety of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. After Frances Mcdormand, a single mother estranged from her only child after her second kid was murdered, sets fire to a police station for their lack of answers on the who the murderer is, she discovers one policeman is still inside of the station, she had assumed it was empty due to it being late. The officer comes screaming out of the station while on fire and Peter Dinklage comes to his heroic rescue putting out the fire and contributing more so than Frances Mcdormand who has gone in to a state of shock. This subversion of stereotypes of what the discriminatory idea of what dwarfism is to a lot of people could be perceived as discriminatory due to its entire leverage being based on the perpetuation of that original stereotype. In other words, subversion of a discriminatory expectation is still grounded in a discriminatory expectation. However, I would argue that Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri handles this far better than a lot of other films. There's no dramatic music, no low angle shots of Dinklage and definitely no triumphant moments for the character. The emotional weight of the scene is not based on Dinklage's rescue, but about the officer and Frances Mcdormand and the relationship between them, if you were to notice Dinklage saving him and be surprised the film prompts more ideas of how you should maybe introspect on your own deep-rooted discriminatory views as supposed to shoving a message down your throat while beating you in the head with a social justice hammer and stealing money from your pockets under the pretense of a "positive message".

I would also argue that the cinematography focuses far more on the emotional relationship between Frances and Dinklage, which is a way more tasteful way of presenting disabilities. The way Martin McDonagh uses camera angles and blurs to present this scene to boost emotion and messaging is very detailed. You may notice the camera following the file the policeman was holding as it slides across the ground, followed by a shot of Frances Mcdormands reaction, while Peter Dinklage was actually blurred out and presented as more of a human than a plot point. Presenting him as a character who out of instinct would try to help any human without it being a decision to be made makes him a lot more human and not a paper slate to push an agenda.

Not to say there's no focus on Peter Dinklage's disability in the film, there's a scene where he vents about feeling judged by the town, which isn't too out of usual for the film which deals with a lot of discrimination based on class, gender and disabilities. However, this scene is not based in the subversion of a negative stereotype and so I would argue that it handles that tastefully also.

Overall, I would argue that the presentation of disability while not a main plot point in the film is handled tastefully and well, encouraging the audience to introspect and also connect with a character they may have preconceived negative connotations towards.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

SUBMARINE Cinematography

SUBMARINE

Jordana, the love interest of our main character, Oliver Tate, played by Craig Roberts, is his ideal image of a woman. He is completely willing to change himself for her benefit, and does so whether consciously or not through out the course of Submarine. In this specific frame, Jordana, played by Yasmin Paige, is shown in a close-up that emphasizes a warm orange glow across her face, the spectator or audience's eyes being immediately drawn both her saturated red coat which is used as a symbol of Oliver's love for her and her uniqueness contrasted to the bland school uniforms of every other character, and her face. Just like Oliver, we are exclusively focused on Jordana, as the background has an intensive blur of black white and orange lights.

Focusing specifically on the close-up element of this shot, the detail we see Jordana in compared to the rest of the frame is an effective technique that focuses all eyes on the point of interest, Jordana. We see her in the same way Oliver does, we see the entire film through his eyes, and he sees his entire life as a film.

The shot is also a low angle shot, the camera is literally looking up at Jordana, just like Oliver does in his weird little brain.

The colour of the shot, orange, black. white and red, despite all being warm colours (aside from black and which are neither warm or cold colours) show passion, love and hopelessness. Despite that being something of an oxymoron, it represents Oliver's feelings throughout the film. Red, his burning passion for Jordana. Orange, his dream-like perception of her. Black, his lack of understanding and hopelessness in actually talking to her or any other female, he doesn't know what to do, but he tries his best, even though he may be completely helpless. White, showing a gleam of possibility for their future. In general, Jordana is shown as very colourful and brings light in to Oliver's life.

Now let's look at the less interesting aspect of Oliver's life which, as for many people, is school. The blue, grey, dull setting emphasizes the depression and feeling of being underwater Oliver Tate faces on a daily basis. In this specific wide-shot, you have a foreground, background and middle-ground. Unsurprisingly, our awkward lead character is in the middle-ground. He stands out while fitting in, he's not so exuberant and loud in his differences to others to stand out, but not quite normal enough to fit in.

To really hammer in the dullness of everything in his life at that moment, the eye level short makes for a stiff, non-dynamic scene. This sounds like an insult or critique, but given context, it makes complete sense. Oliver feels unimportant and small, so he's shown as just that. It almost looks like we're looking through the eyes of someone else in the class, looking back at Oliver. Despite the camera being very obvious with it's visual representation of Oliver's feelings of averageness, we still see him stand out from everyone due to the camera being blurred on some other faces, possibly showing Oliver's self obsession with himself and his peculiar movie world.

Looking at the shapes in the room, they're all squares and rectangles with all negative space filled to the brim with detail. If you were to think of a boring shape, you would think square, everything, the tables, the doors, the windows, the posters, the boxes, the walls, everything is square and uninspired. Oliver finds school and academic activities to be menial and boring, so what better way to demonstrate that than the setting being all boring and menial.

The school uniforms are identical, but the way characters wear them gives us insight in to their personalities. Look at Oliver for example, with his neatly presented tie, blazer and jumper presented with pride. Then look at his friend, Chips, who has his blazer off with a poorly tied tie. He is shown as a slack, rebellious character which cares little for school rules. The teacher is just grey, dull, mid-toned, grey.

In conclusion, Oliver Tate is shown as depressed and lost in his drowning world, a common theme in the film, made to be bland and hidden.