Film analysis

Films were considered to be the first of the modern “supermedia” because they engage not only one, but two of our major senses. Is it not true that when we watch an interesting movie, our eyes are glued on the screen? We hate to be disturbed because we do not want to miss anything. This is the way films work on an audience. And if the movie is excellently done, it will surely keep the audience on their seats.

The five-point model being used in the analysis of films is basically the same elements found in literary texts, namely: plot or story, character, setting, theme and style. (I will expound on these elements in my succeeding column.)

Films usually become successful when they have an interesting plot coupled with suspense and action. Such combination makes them click. Of course, the character also has a great deal of importance. A powerful character can build up an unknown actor into a well-known and bankable star.

The element of suspense and action is what makes the film Conspiracy Theory interesting and riveting. Added to it are two powerful personalities in the person of Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts who portrayed the two main characters in the story.

Mel Gibson is Jerry Fletcher, an eccentric cab driver who was a former war veteran and an involuntary participant in a mind control program, which the government eventually calls off. This technology controls the mind of the person and programs him to become an assassin. Fletcher becomes the target of a relentless pursuit by the author of the program in the person of Dr. Jonas (portrayed by Patrick Stewart). This is where the suspenseful action starts. Caught in the midst of the action is Alice Sutton (Julia Roberts), a government lawyer who becomes a friend to Jerry after saving her from mugging attempts. Together, the two of them thought of clever means to get rid off their pursuers.

Jonas convinces Alice that it was Jerry who killed her father. Alice allows herself to become bait so Jerry could be captured. The moment of truth comes when the pursuers closed in on them. Alice finally realized that it was not Jerry who killed her father, and that Jonas meant to eliminate them both.


Conspiracy Theory makes an interesting viewing not only because of the element of suspense that makes the plot riveting but also because of its fast-paced editing and continuity of shots. Not to mention the presence of these two actors (Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts) who are both well known for their convincing performance.

Although the five elements are important to make a great film, seldom it happens that all five are given equal weight in the production of movies. There are films that have very thin plot yet turns out a commercial success because of well known stars that portray the lead role. And there are movies with great stories that employ unknown actors and yet turn out to become award-winning success.

Media Values

Back in high school, I spent hours and hours reading pocketbooks. I was a regular client of the school library. I would bring home a novel everyday and start reading as soon as I got home. My mother was so proud that I was so studious. She always saw me buried in a book. She did not realize her studious daughter was hooked into romantic novels.

That kind of addiction continued until my college days. Mercifully, I graduated from reading silly romantic novels to a more mature and serious type of reading materials.

I am really amazed to notice that a good percentage of the reading public (mostly women and teen-agers) are hooked into pocketbooks. It explains very well the proliferation of romantic pocketbooks. There is an audience for it. They really sell. Understandably, Filipino authors ride in the bandwagon. There are a lot of romantic pocketbooks in Filipino now. In Manila, it was a common sight to see teen-agers reading romantic pocketbooks on jeepneys. With traffic jams to reckon with, I guess reading pocketbooks becomes a welcome respite for commuters.

Pocketbooks can become a sort of escapism. It is a convenient form of forgetting (even temporarily) the numerous problems that hound our day-to-day existence. Just like the soap operas seen daily on TV where viewers can easily identify their lives with the heroine of the story, readers of pocketbooks experience the same affinity with the characters of the stories they read. For an imaginative person, printed word becomes alive and powerful.

It is very important to know why we read these particular pocketbooks or why we view certain films or TV programs. Knowing will eventually lead us to become critical reader or viewer. In this way, we can control or shape media instead of media controlling us and molding us according to its image.

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In media, women are often portrayed as weak, subservient and unintelligent human beings. This is true in pocketbooks, in TV programs and most especially in advertising. Watch critically those soap operas on TV and you will understand what I mean. See also those TV commercials on cigarettes and drinks where women are treated like sex objects and decorations.

Aside from this offensive portrayal of women, media also sell distorted values. In media, beauty, riches and power are like gospel values. This is the good news secular media communicate to us.

Some movies are too predictable

I have a confession to make. I am a sucker for love stories. I believe in happy endings. However, when it comes to viewing movies I have a totally different attitude. For instance, I do not always believe in perfect endings. I would prefer movies that leave me thinking afterwards and allow me to make my own conclusion. Tough? Not so.

Some movies are too predictable. There are films, which by their title alone, you easily can tell what kind of a story it has. You do not have to finish the movie to know how it would end.

The film Till there was you falls under this category. It is the story of Gwen and Nick fated to love and marry each other. Both experienced failed relationships in their individual lives, but eventually they lived happily ever after. It is a feel-good movie, you might say, along the line of While you were sleeping, Only You, It could happen to you, etc.

If you go for romantic dramas, this movie might appeal to you. Otherwise you will find the plot too simplistic and the acting a bit corny at times. There are beautiful shots though, which really convey the mood of the scene. Examples are shots of the younger version of Gwen’s parents on the lake. Others are various scenes in the garden of La Fortuna. There is a continuity of shots which shows the relevance of one action to another.

The sub-plots help in the development of the story. At least, they give some twists and turns in what appears to be too uninteresting narrative.

La Fortuna is an old but beautifully designed building which developers wanted demolished so they could build a modern one. Gwen rents one of the flats on this building while Nick is the architect of the modern edifice which the developers wanted built.

One good point worth reflecting on in this film is the subject of preserving the historical value of buildings and places that speak eloquently of a rich and meaningful past. Modernization is always welcome but not to the point of sacrificing places or architecture that has historical value. Gwen is right in saying that there are things in our life that we should not do away with, simply because they connect us with our past. This connection with the past tells us who we are. It gives us our identity.

Another point is coming to terms with our past experiences, albeit painful. Nick had an unhappy childhood because of his irresponsible father. He is able to accept and forgive his father eventually because of the trust he received from Mary, the elderly resident of La Fortuna.

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I was reflecting on how in other countries, environmental causes include the preservation of edifices and places of historical importance. In Australia, for instance, old buildings are being preserved because they speak of history. It is against the law to tear down or renovate a building (even if you are the owner) that has historical value without the approval of city council. That is how strict they are. I wish we could apply the same method here in our country. In that way we will not lose our sense of history and those who follow us will learn to appreciate more deeply the richness of our past.

The Saint

Seeing movies in the big screen is more exciting and involving than viewing films on videos. The life size image projected on screen and the quality sound that is heard contribute to make the viewer more interested and involved. Eventually, the person becomes absorb of the events unfolding before his/her eyes that he/she feels as if he/she is part of what is happening.

A technique that one can apply to be able to evaluate a movie objectively is to detach oneself from the story. Be a distant viewer.

I guess common to Filipino psyche is that we easily identify ourselves with the protagonists of the story, especially if the heroine is the underdog.

It is typical to see viewers shedding copious tears after seeing a dramatic movie (I must confess, I also shed tears sometimes). When asked what they can say about the film, they would readily exclaim: “Beautiful!” “Why did you think it was beautiful?” They would answer: “It made me cry.”

There was a popular television series way back in the 60’s that I used to watch. It was called The Saint. The movie was shown in Manila a month ago. Understandably, it was shown late here. I saw the movie last week.

I had trouble looking for a good movie to watch. There were not much choices. Either too violent or too bold. So I finally settled for The Saint.

The movie is action packed and violent scenes are very minimal. Nothing extraordinary in the story. It is the usual stuff of action sprinkled with love scenes here and there. Val Kilmer as Simon Templar or The Saint (he uses names of Saints as his aliases) is as suave as any secret agent can be. Only in this movie he is not really a secret agent but a professional thief for hire.

Elizabeth Shue as Dr. Emma Russell does not appear too convincing in her role as the inventor of a scientific formula that could produce limitless energy. What she projected more was the persona of a naive woman very much in love with a mystery man.

Nonetheless, the movie entertains if only for its fast-paced editing. Some bed scenes could be eliminated, though. They are not really that important for the development of the story.

There is a saying that art imitates life. What we see on movies is just an imitation of what could possibly happen in real life.

Looking at American movies, one has to expect that bed scenes are inevitable (albeit unnecessary). A friend of mine who saw the same movie commented that those bed scenes are unnecessary. I agree with her wholeheartedly. Then why include those scenes? Your guess is as good as mine. They are added as an attraction. American movies, whether they are action or dramas, usually have a scene or two of lovemaking. That is part of the package they offer. If you notice, Filipino movies are gearing towards that direction.