Rushmore: Revenge Scene

In Wes Anderson's Rushmore, two characters Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) and Mr. Blume (Bill Murray) are two characters pitted against each other after being friends earlier in the film. This scene is especially interesting because of the humor used and the juxtaposition of the shots on the screen and the music used.

In this scene, Anderson showcases the two characters and the spiteful attempts at revenge each of them use to get back at each other. While utilizing humor, the scene is dependent on the diegetic music for it to work correctly. In the scene, the main sound used is The Who's song "A Quick One, While He's Away". The songs main chorus states "you are forgiven" while it's clear the two characters are clearly mad at each other.

This scene is a pivotal part of the film and utilizing the juxtaposition of the two characters helps progress the plot.

Dance Scene from Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook is one of my favorite movies and this is one of the most pivotal scenes of the movie. Before this scene, Pat and Tiffany get into a major argument that we think is going to end the movie and cancel the dance. Then we see the competition they're up against in the background of the drama and it solidifies the fact that this couple doesn't really have a chance. When it comes to Pat and Tiffany' s dance number, Pat is stressed and Tiffany is drinking. The way they film the scene starts out by focusing only on the facial expressions and following only the couple as they move about the dance floor. Pat and Tiffany just staring at each other as the music starts to play. This gives us the audience the chance to see the lack of hope in Pat's family's eyes and the look of determination in Pat's and makes us root for this couple even more than before. With this way of shooting, you can tell that Tiffany starts to try once she sees Pat trying. The music doesn't quite fit the scene at first , then by the end of the number the intimate music fits the mood and you can see that the two feel the same way about each other. All this is done without words. The audience finds themselves rooting for this team with only some music, choreography and facial expressions.

Opening Scene: Legally Blonde

The aesthetics of the opening scene of Legally Blonde operate to inform the viewer of just what type of movie this is going to be and what the protagonist is like--all without words. Right away, the viewer sees a girl brushing her perfect blonde hair to the tune of a light and whimsical pop song. The credits begin to pop up on the screen--written in hot pink cursive lettering. This viewer instantly knows that this is going to be a light and airy chick flick. The aesthetics of the scene also inform us about who the character of Elle Woods is--throughout the scene, the camera slowly pans around her bedroom and sorority house, focusing on her nail polish, sorority paddle, hair dye, Prada shopping bag, girls exercising, someone shaving their legs, Elle doing her makeup, and her glittery pink shoes. From these camera shots, we can infer that Elle is someone who is glamorous and beautiful, cares a lot about her appearance, and is an upper class sorority girl--completely without any spoken words. 

Scattering Donny's Ashes

One of the final scenes in the film The Big Lebowski comes when the dude and Walter go to a California mountaintop to scatter the ashes of their departed friend Donny into the Pacific Ocean. The scene is meant to have a twisted humor to it, which the aesthetic dimensions tries to highlight. This starts with the first shot of the scene which tries to set a tranquil scene, where the only noises are the ocean waves and nearby seagulls with a shot of a California coast. While you think this is a serious scene where you think Walter will show emotion and compassion, you can see more and more of the vessel in which their dear friend Donny's remains are contained in; a used Folgers can. The timing comes when Walter turns to being more like the character he was for most of the film. To add to the dark humor of the scene, as Donny's ashes are released, the camera pans to the dude, whom immediately is hit with a face full of poor Donny's ashes. In a way, it gives the film a calm ending, without being too sad, and still light hearted. 

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dakx97gRCx0


The music and narration of this clip from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button add a dramatic effect to the scene. It makes it more emotional and more impactful on the viewer. It focuses on the importance of little things by zooming in on them (the alarm clock, the boutique, the shoelace, etc.). This scene emphasizes the impact of small events and how they can lead up to and contribute to a bigger life event. There is a hidden lesson in this clip and it is that life is out of our control. The writers of this scene/movie want the viewers to learn this when watching this scene and they want them to actually get something meaningful out of it. The aspect of color is also very important in this short clip. For the most part everything is gray colored except for Daisy (the main character with the red hair), she is wearing bright yellow. This puts the focus of the scene on her and makes her stand out more to the viewers. The writers of this film do this on purpose to center the attention on Daisy because of the fact she is about to be hit by a taxi. It also starts off the scene by zooming in on Brad Pitt's shoes then his whole body. Simply from his body language, his tone, and his outfit the viewers can immediately understand that he is sad and that something bad has likely happened.

Inglorious Bastards, Bar scene

Inglorious Bastards, Bar scene




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dpLBM4rBPM

The reason I choose this scene is because first I am a huge Quentin Tarantino fan. In my opinion he is one of the best film writers/directors out there. The way the aesthetic dimensions were created in this scene is great in my opinion. Tarantino puts wide view and a up close shot in one shot so people can get the full effect of what is going on. When Lt. Hicox was asked how many shots of scotch the table wanted and he put up three fingers, pointer, middle, ring finger. When he did this Major Hellstrom then realized he was an imposter because the way real Germans hold up three fingers is thumb, pointer, middle finger. At this point the tension escalates in the bar and a standoff begins. The way Tarantino showed this was phenomenal. instead of panning in and out he got it all in one shot showing everyones expressions around the table which made it that much better when tensions rose.

'Big Kahuna Burger' / 'Ezekiel 25:17' from Pulp Fiction

'Big Kahuna Burger' : https://youtu.be/Mnb_3ibUp38

I chose this scene because it is one of my favorite scenes in the film Pulp Fiction. The characters played by Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta are hired guns and they go about their business in a very relaxed, casual and nonchalant manner. The setting is in a very average looking apartment that is untidy, and unorganized. The other characters are having breakfast when Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta come to their door. For breakfast the men in the apartment are having hamburgers, which is quite unusual. I think the aesthetics of the setting and background in the scene are secondary to those of the facial expressions of the characters. Samuel L. Jackson is confident and beaming throughout most of the scene and the faces of the men in the apartment tell you as the viewer just how dire the situation actually is. When Samuel L. Jackson gets down to business after chugging Brad's Sprite, his tone changes dramatically.

'Ezekiel 25:17' : https://youtu.be/x2WK_eWihdU

The scene 'Ezekiel 25:17' which follows the 'Big Kahuna Burger' scene, concludes the interaction between the hired guns and the men in the apartment. I figured I would include that scene too for anyone who has not seen the film. 'Ezekiel 25:17' has the same basic visual aesthetics as 'Big Kahuna Burger', no music, only voices. The filmmaker used a fabricated bible verse in 'Ezekiel 25:17' that became one of the most famous scenes in the movie, and one of the most famous movie monologues of all time. The simple setting, absence of music and loud preaching-like vocals from Samuel L. Jackson allow the viewer to experience the scene (both scenes) for themselves and interpret the scene without any music or visual interference.