A Single Man

After I watched the film “A Single Man” I read an “A Single Man” review by Betsy Sharkey.   The review did a good job at making the movie seem interesting and viewer worthy.  The review mainly offers a plot synopsis and only mentions very little about the artistic elements of the film.  The author tells us about George’s character and the different meanings within the film.  There was nothing negative said about the film in this article possibly because review might be trying to sell the film.  The review does not have the two elements that Susan Sontag says is desirable in criticism.   The author could improve this review by focusing her writing more on the appearance of the artwork in the film. This would do the film justice because in my opinion the visuals in “A Single Man” were beautiful and is one of the main components that make the movie.
      The mise-en-scene element that stood out the most to me was the film’s composition.  The film plays with color throughout the entire movie and uses it to convey messages to the audience.  The director sets the mood of the narrative by using desaturated colors for George’s life. George’s lover has just died and these washed out colors give a feel of no life to the set which how George feels about life now.  When George encounters moments in life that make life worth living for, the colors in the shot become saturated. Whenever George has flashbacks to life with his lover the picture is saturated with vibrant colors. The saturated colors symbolize life unlike the desaturated colors that symbolize lifelessness.  This use of color schemes in the film is linked specifically to how George perceives the world. Such use of color makes it hard for viewer’s not to notice.  The director also uses slow motion in the car scene as well as on the hands of the clock to relate to how George feels about life.  Life is going by so slow and is dreadful without his lover. The film’s composition plays a major role in telling the story.

"Head in the Shark" Commentary

I agree with Marina Vaerst’s opinion that “Shark in the Head” has style.  The movie uses manner as well as setting and props to help tell the story in a creative way creating style.  Mr. Seman is unable to decipher what is real from what is imaginary in the world. Audience sees things from his perspective, making it hard for us to separate the real from the unreal. Marina makes an interesting point when she mentions that the party scene on the street is a pivot point in the movie.  The audience realizes at that moment that the party in the street is in his imagination.  When they show the scene from the young daughter’s point of view, the street is quiet and there is no one there but her.  The camera then shows his point of view where he sees the street full of people dancing and confetti falling down. The streets are full of color in his eyes but are cold and dark from the young girl’s perspective. The difference in perspectives tells us something is wrong and what Mr. Seman has been seeing has been part of his imagination all along. We especially know this when all the people throw their hands in his direction which is unrealistic. Are assumptions are confirmed at the end of the movie when we find out that he has schizophrenia and is leaving to go to a home.  Marina recognizes that movie is doing more than just telling a story but the fact that the director is putting question what we consider craziness. Just because Mr. Seman views the world differently from other people does not mean something has to be wrong with him. Why is it that people criticize others for not following typical norms? Now Mr. Seman will go to a place where he will be unhappy and reproved for his creativeness.