I think the director, Kathryn Bigelow, did a really great job as well, which can be seen through he actor's realistic expression and the variety of shots in scenes. This film was released in 2008 and is set in post-invasion Iraq (filmed in Jordan) in an area where there are a lot of bombs and where the American troops settled there are looked at by many with resentment (hence the bombs). It is related to films such as "Inglourious Basterds" because of how there is a group during a war in a specific place just trying to do their jobs for their country (US in both cases). Some thematic ideas I noticed in it were longing, resentment, carelessness, pride, and fear.
The visual style I noticed was that they tried to make it look very realistic with the use of shaky shots, extreme close-ups, casual language and a setting that wasn't too clean. In iconography, I noticed that there were a couple of stray and shabby cats in the beginning. I believe they are symbols of the poverty and loneliness these people are living in. For example, one of the cats is limping, which represents the struggle of many people in this area. Another is not limping, so it may represent the people there who are still struggling but may have it easier than others.
The acting was also very good because the foul language suggests the urgency and authenticity of certain situations, such as when they are looking for the bomb in the car. The Production design was also remarkable because, being set in Jordan just miles from Iraq's border, it looked like it was really in a city in Iraq. The marketplace also gave a very good glimpse of everyday life there.
The acting was also very good because the foul language suggests the urgency and authenticity of certain situations, such as when they are looking for the bomb in the car. The Production design was also remarkable because, being set in Jordan just miles from Iraq's border, it looked like it was really in a city in Iraq. The marketplace also gave a very good glimpse of everyday life there. I think it is formalistic because of the slow motion, multiple angles for significant actions, and ambient music. However, it may be seen as realistic as well because of the almost documentary-like way it's filmed. I like the angles because in every scene there is a shot that we've never seen before, such as from directly above.
I also like the extreme close-ups from the side because they really show how focused the character is. I also like the point of view shots when wearing the suit and mask because it isn't like we're watching the action from afar.
The framing is also nice because it is oftentimes not straight on, but to the side, instead (rule of thirds). I really liked the Canon zoom lenses as well because that added to the shakiness to make it seem like the person filming it is just a bystander with a handheld. The camera vs. actor blocking was oftentimes unique, such as when they are filming something very far away. It's like it's hard for the camera to leave the troops because the cinematographer (which is like a bystander) has the fear of leaving protection and getting close to the enemies far away. The dominant imagery is of bombs and camouflage uniforms because those represent the troops and their mission. The dominant color is beige, as seen with the ground, clothing, and landscape. The bombs are also dominant icons because they are what keep the troops moving close to the enemy. What I also like about the territorial design is the vastness of empty space between, whether out in the open rural area or the road between the troops and the enemies outside or looking outside from their houses or shops. I think it's open form because we also see glimpses of the enemies in their fort or running down the stairs. The only significant or special thing I noticed about the light design were silhouettes: for example, when an Iraqi man is running down the stairs after a bomb is discovered.
I like the silhouettes because they emphasize the strength of the sun in the Middle East.
I also like the extreme close-ups from the side because they really show how focused the character is. I also like the point of view shots when wearing the suit and mask because it isn't like we're watching the action from afar.
The framing is also nice because it is oftentimes not straight on, but to the side, instead (rule of thirds). I really liked the Canon zoom lenses as well because that added to the shakiness to make it seem like the person filming it is just a bystander with a handheld. The camera vs. actor blocking was oftentimes unique, such as when they are filming something very far away. It's like it's hard for the camera to leave the troops because the cinematographer (which is like a bystander) has the fear of leaving protection and getting close to the enemies far away. The dominant imagery is of bombs and camouflage uniforms because those represent the troops and their mission. The dominant color is beige, as seen with the ground, clothing, and landscape. The bombs are also dominant icons because they are what keep the troops moving close to the enemy. What I also like about the territorial design is the vastness of empty space between, whether out in the open rural area or the road between the troops and the enemies outside or looking outside from their houses or shops. I think it's open form because we also see glimpses of the enemies in their fort or running down the stairs. The only significant or special thing I noticed about the light design were silhouettes: for example, when an Iraqi man is running down the stairs after a bomb is discovered.
I like the silhouettes because they emphasize the strength of the sun in the Middle East.
The editing style is nice because at intense points there are fast cuts, but at others the takes are very slow to emphasize the action. For example, there are fast cuts when the first bomb explodes, but long cuts in the car in search of the bomb. The fast cuts show how such an enormous thing can happen in so little time, while the long cut shows the frustration of searching for the bomb. I like the slow motion of the first bomb exploding because it emphasizes what happened so the viewer has to suffer the action for longer than they really want to. It's especially great when the car implodes and the ground rises because it makes it a less boring way to suffer.
I like the flash forward to when James is in the supermarket because it provides a severe contrast to life in the war. This is a great technique because we're so used to being in Iraq that, like James, we want to go back. It makes normal life look bland. The parallel action is also good, such as when James is searching for the bomb and the Iraqi man is running downstairs, because it adds another perspective to the film. The montage of the first bomb exploding is amazing because it really sends the message that everything is going to be different now, and it is when James arrives.
I like the flash forward to when James is in the supermarket because it provides a severe contrast to life in the war. This is a great technique because we're so used to being in Iraq that, like James, we want to go back. It makes normal life look bland. The parallel action is also good, such as when James is searching for the bomb and the Iraqi man is running downstairs, because it adds another perspective to the film. The montage of the first bomb exploding is amazing because it really sends the message that everything is going to be different now, and it is when James arrives. For he most part, there is ambient music, which I don't think is all that special. What I do like, however, is that they add some slow Arabic music at some intense moments, such as when James is in search of his first bombs with Bravo company and when the Iraqi man is running downstairs. That definitely helped complete the setting.
A repeated motif was the sounds of breathing, such as when James is wearing the bulky suit with the mask. I think it represents the hard work that goes into their job as well as the intensity of the climate in Iraq. In particular, I liked the sounds in the car when James is looking for the bomb because it is realistic and hearing nothing but that heightens our awareness of the urgency of the situation. There are synchronous sounds that add to the realism of the film and compliment the shakiness and random zooms.
A repeated motif was the sounds of breathing, such as when James is wearing the bulky suit with the mask. I think it represents the hard work that goes into their job as well as the intensity of the climate in Iraq. In particular, I liked the sounds in the car when James is looking for the bomb because it is realistic and hearing nothing but that heightens our awareness of the urgency of the situation. There are synchronous sounds that add to the realism of the film and compliment the shakiness and random zooms.
The narrative structure is that something important happens to change the lives of some people and they have to live with that change, eventually adjusting to that change. From that point we learn about the background of that change and how it influences them in the current situations. There is a climactic moment and then everything is back to normal, until the "change" can't deal with everything being normal again, so they go back to what they are used to. I like this style because at first it seems like the story is about Sanborn and someone new just pops up, but as the story goes on we realize it's more about James. I think the movie is character driven because it's mostly what James does that leads to certain actions, such as chasing after an enemy causes Eldridge to get shot and sent home. The nature of the dialogue is very much how I expected of these army guys. There's a lot of swearing, with adds to the authenticity of it. I like the irony at the end when James is in the supermarket because it's also humorous when not looked at more deeply. James knows exactly how to look for and disassemble bombs, but he can't even decide what kind of cereal to get. It also contrasts highly to his previous living conditions because there isn't as much choice in that poverty-stricken town.
I also think it's funny because of how James is so careless, while Sanborn is very anxious and cautious. At the same time, though, we are worried about James.
I also think it's funny because of how James is so careless, while Sanborn is very anxious and cautious. At the same time, though, we are worried about James. An obvious genre is war because it's about troops and their lives in Iraq. Another genre is dramatic, which can be seen at the end when the man has the bomb attached to himself and he is begging for James to take it off, but James cries that he can't do it in time. Another genre I noticed was suspense because we don't know whether or not someone will die any second or whether or not James will find the next bomb and disassemble it in time. Yelling from Sanborn and others also adds to this because it increases the anxiety. One last genre is action for the obvious aspects of gunfire and violence. This film also subverts the suspense genre because after hearing of James' bomb record (873!), we expect him to find the bomb next time and we put our faith in him. However, this suspense is brought back when the man has the bomb with a timer. I don't believe the war genre is ever subverted throughout the film because "war is a drug" and is therefore always on the mind of James. The dramatic genre is subverted at the end when JAmes is back home because everything seems easygoing and calm at last. The action genre is also subverted at this point because I believe it's the calm before the storm since James decides to go back to war.
Overall, I loved the movie for the shaky camerawork, good acting, Arabic music, irony at the end, and the story line.
