English 225 Film : Concept Assessment Answers

Answer:

The Departed:  A Brief Analysis

The use of the concept of mise-en-scene in a movie deserves special mention in terms of ensuring the success of the concerned movie. A proper use of mise-en-scene has the potential to transform the appeal of a movie into a universal one. In the movie, “The Departed,” an appropriate use of the element of mise-en-scene has obviously paved the way for the emergence of the movie as one of the symbolic and representative one in the domain of gangster movie genre. The mise-en-scene has been thoroughly complemented by an exuberant cinematography, infusing new life into the body of the movie and into its plot frequently.

Though a typical embodiment of the gangster movie genre, in the movie, “The Departed,” the characters are not projected as prototypes having typical ideologies and performing typical actions. Rather, in the movie, the director, through the proper implementation of the concepts of mise-en-scene and cinematography has paved the way for the characters’ development as unique individuals having unique aims, objectives, and needs (Swift, 2006). The immaculate and eye-catching setting of the movie has also helped the characters in the movie to evolve and to remain active. Set in Boston, the movie’s use of surroundings and its synchronization of the environment and actions have helped the director to turn the movie into a legacy in the sphere of gangster movie genre (Murray, 2013). The blending of fierce force, violence, raw dialogue and thrilling and chilling experiences has rendered the movie a uniqueness that has helped in the showcasing of the movie in the hall of fame. Scorsese’s dauntless direction when amalgamated with an excellent cinematography does give rise to a movie that has, till date, remained an icon in the realm of gangster genre of movies.

The mise-en-scene in the movie has to be understood especially from the perspective of the projected love triangle. Though the incorporation of the love triangle into the main plot of the movie can be considered to be redundant by many of the film’s critiques; in reality it has actually enhanced the drama on which the entire infrastructure and progress of the movie has been based. The love triangle, emphasizing the proper utilization of the mise-en-scene, has contributed to the process of enhancement and increase of audiences’ interest in the progress of the movie’s story and plot, and such interest should be considered among the key elements that triggered the movie’s box-office success in a thorough manner. Moreover, it must be said that the brilliant cinematography in the movie has helped the central plot of the movie flourish justifiably. The backdrop of blue sky that can often be observed to be used in the movie adds to the movie’s charm (The Delegate, 2010). The perfect use of light and shade to complement the action, situation, and moods of different scenes has contributed to the proper utilization of the elements of cinematography. Furthermore, the amazing infusion and utilization of the mise-en-scene though the projection of violence and brutalities and through relating such aspects with the actions taken by the police in terms of controlling the riot, and in terms of devastating properties (The Delegate, 2010), has turned “The Departed” into an immortal artistic creation depicting the turmoil through which human societies across the globe often have to go.

One must also take into account the fact that the rich cinematography in the movie should be attributed to the richness of the use of the close focus of the camera (The Delegate, 2010). The zooming of particular sections of the city (the main setting), though a part of the mise-en-scene has also enriched the movie’s cinematography and has provided opportunities to the audiences to predict where the next action in the movie is going to occur (The Delegate, 2010). But there lies the twist in the movie and there one can find the need of proper blending of mise-en-scene with an exuberant cinematography. In this respect it must be taken into account that though the thorough use of mise-en-scene has paved the way for the audiences to gain the knowledge of what is going to happen in the movie in the future course of time, an excellent infusion of an dauntless cinematography has casted spell on the audiences, forcing them to watch every scene until the same ends and the new one begins. And it is through the generation of such interest that the director has been able to bring about alignment between the mise-en-scene and the cinematography, and this alignment has helped the director to transform the movie into an epitome of the gangster genre of movies that is so popular in the context of Western entertainment industry.

In conclusion, a proper use of mise-en-scene has the potential to transform the appeal of a movie into a universal one. In the movie, “The Departed,” an appropriate use of the element of mise-en-scene has obviously paved the way for the emergence of the movie as one of the symbolic and representative one in the domain of gangster movie genre. The mise-en-scene has been thoroughly complemented by an exuberant cinematography, infusing new life into the body of the movie and into its plot frequently.

References

Murray, R. (2013). ‘The Departed’ Movie Review. Retrieved June 11, 2017, from https://movies.about.com/od/thedeparted/fr/departed100506.htm

Swift, T. (2006). Review: The Departed. Retrieved June 11, 2017, from https://toddswift.blogspot.in/2006/10/review-departed.html

The Delegate (2010). Martin Scorsese’s The Departed is a highly effective dramatisation of classic gangster genre and narrative elements. Do you agree? Retrieved June 11, 2017, from https://thedelegate.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/martin-scorsese%E2%80%99s-the-departed-is-a-highly-effective-dramatisation-of-classic-gangster-genre-and-narrative-elements-do-you-agree/