The Other Guys is a comedy about two very mismatched police partners,
Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. The pair are attempting prove themselves as top
cops in the station. In a satirical way, the movie uses generic action movie techniques
and has them play out in a much more comedic way. One scene that extensively
shows this is the first case the two detectives work on together. The former
detectives are given a chance and must compete against other cops for the case.
As in a normal action movie, the camera work contains a lot of fast tracking,
panning, close shots, and medium shots which all act to speed up the tempo of
the plot. Also, the shot duration is very small which makes it seem like there are
many things going on. Different from those two techniques, others are used
in the exact opposite that one would think. Mis en scene is used like this because they
are speeding their way to the crime scene in a Prius. The director purposely
put them in a car which isn’t viewed as a fast, remarkable, or even admired car.
Sound is utilized is a similar way. Normally, a viewer would expect fast, exciting
music in the backgrounds; but as Mark Wahlberg puts on this very type of music,
Will Ferrell turns it off to instead listen something a little different,
Little River Band. The scene shows how film techniques can be used to create
different scenarios from an extremely similar plot idea.
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Recently I also watched the move The Other Guys. Of recent comedy movies this has been by far one of my favorites. To me I think the bar scene is very important and it features all of the literary techniques in one montage. This montage is connected together by a song by the Black Eyed Peas that flows very well with the subject matter of the scene. The montage itself is connected by a series of panning and tracking shots all connected. The camera angle changes gradually as the camera pans at many times it is a high angle to show all the actions occurring in the screen. Many of the lower angles show the importance of the two main characters and how they are the center of attention inside the bar. Inside the bar lighting is low, to keep it realistic. However when a significant image was occurring on screen the faces of the main characters were always in light with shadows always kept on the mostly hidden faces of the people not important to the scene. The last image of the montage I think is the most significant. It features a flat to low angle shot and has the two main characters in the scene centered in a certain pose. The main character that is acting carelessly due to the drinks is higher in the scene and that show symbolizes that his new partner finally got him to let go of his uptight attitude and let loose for the night.
ReplyDeleteI also have watched the "The Other Guys" recently. I loved this movie it was really funny with the 2 cops trying to be better cops by trying to solve the crime. I think the part where the rock and samul l jackson jump off the building is important because it really sets the movie that there needs to be 2 cops that take there spot as the top cops. And will Farell and Mark walberg go out of there way to be the new top cops in New York City.
ReplyDeleteI watcked the " The Other Guys" recently. I thinks that is a funny movie, that is well made. I think the line "anything you do or say can be used as a floation device " is classic and one of the funniest lines in the movie. As well as having funny quotes this movie used oppsites to convey a message. For example having the two cops drive in prius playing little river band while chashing a criminal is the complete oppsite of what we usally perceive which is like a cop driving a dodge challenger while playing ACDC. This emphaisis the point that these cop are different and use very unorthdocs methods. Also they use a montage when they are in the bar. this is a montage because it is series of shots that are similar to each other. in this one it shows the main chartars in a bar getting drunk and having a good time. By using this montage the film makes were able to speed up time and sent the message that the two main charateers are finnally getting along with each other
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