Film studies paper

Source A)
Why is Film Franchises important for producers and audiences?
Film franchises are important for producers because it’s were they get all their profit, and it’s important to keep interest within the franchise to the audience as they are the ones who can increase ticket sales and merchandise sales. Film franchises have a long history as the first film of the franchise sends of a cultural trend as it may involve a new style, interesting storyline or even something just plain innovative. So the audience would be excited about this new idea and as word of mouth increases, more people will watch it, then the production company will produce merchandise such as t-shirts, video games, and sort of like a fashion trend if the character has a certain trademark like a coloured top, audiences will want to buy that same styled top to be like the character which makes the film more realistic in a way. After the big success of the first film, the production company will come out with a sequel and given the response by the audience and the ticket sales, they will decided whether to make a trilogy or even more into a saga. Most sequels to film franchises talk about the story in another way or from a different point of view. For example in ‘The Godfather Part 1’ the protagonist, ‘Vito Corleone’ dies near the ending. This would hint to the audience that the film is not going to have a sequel because how can they if the character is dead. But then ‘Part 2’ shows the characters origins as we see the growing up of the character ‘Vito Corleone’ so in some way the story lives on and a new character rises (Michael Corleone). The same is in ‘Batman Begin), as the famous ‘Batman’ franchise shows the character’s origins in the film and explains to the audience how it happened. The way franchises work is that the first film was a great critically acclaimed success and the production company have to keep interest but also same story style to maintain the audience’s relationship with the characters. In most cases they would keep the same characters but different motives. For example the ‘Die Hard’ films have the same plot in every film, Bruce Willis stays where he is but the villains always change. Just like in ‘James Bond’. But also most franchises come from books. For example, ‘James Bond’ written by Ian Fleming has been made into 23 films all based on the books as it was greatly written and was something innovative.  Also ‘The Godfather’, ‘Twilight’, ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Lord of the rings’ are all books turned into films which makes it easier for producers as they don’t have to think of new ideas as they are all already written.  On item 1, the table shows the overall gross total of income for 4 franchise films, ‘Harry Potter’, ‘James Bond’, ‘Star wars’ and ‘Batman’. The films reach a gross amount up to $6.3 million. The reason why they reach such large numbers is because of the merchandise, DVD sales and alongside the reputation of the film. People don’t like risking things and especially not money, so when going to the cinema they want to see something they know they’ll enjoy and then is not a waste of their money. They also want to buy merchandise such as clothes wear, objects, games and DVDs as they follow and like their franchise. People seem to find the franchises more safe and easy as they know what they’re expecting because of their reputation and the film doesn’t have to fight to get the audience’s attention. The ‘The Dark Night Rises’ viral marketing campaign is an example of how being a franchise helps marketing a lot. The website for the 2012 film was initially just a black screen with some unusual chanting. As fans had to find a hidden hyperlink, it revealed a second website which was then used to share on social network sites such as Facebook and twitter. This technique allows fans to be more than fans and actually get involved as the company’s websites allowed them to try and find links and share them to the world. When they shared it over the net, the website revealed a picture of the film’s villain, Bane. Again this technique gives the fans a sneak peak about the film whilst not revealing too much. Film Franchises are all about the money, that’s why it’s so important to producers. Producers aren’t too fussed if their franchise of films go to the Oscars or gain any awards, what they are fussed about is starting a trend, a financial trend where kids, adults and everyone pays to see the movie, buys the merchandise, get the DVDs and repeat this after every 2 years as franchise is the easiest less risky movie investment that is guaranteed increase in overall sales.

How far do the endings of the films you have studied for this topic confirm their messages and values?

For the two films I have studied, key messages and values are crucial. Both films are set in a certain chosen location, social dome and state of mind that gives messages and values to the audience to understand. The endings of the films and in any film are important as it wraps up everything we’ve learnt or missed out and is revealed to us.

‘Get Carter’ directed in 1971 by Mike Hodges starring Michael Caine follows the character of Jack carter as a wealthy London gangster finding himself in the poverty of Newcastle to seek answers and vengeance for his brother’s death. The message of cynical darkness and ugliness of the North is dramatically shown by the poverty and social realism of Newcastle in the late 60s at the end of the film, as the protagonist is located in a muddy, dull wasteland of a beach chasing the man whom he thinks murdered his brother. As we get several wide shots of the rainy grey sky and dirty sand we are sickened by the surroundings we are witnessing and where Jack is lost in. As beaches and sea sides are conventionally known to be somewhat happy and bright, the beach the scene is set in is the complete reverse and contradicts the happiness of the beach. The wide shots also give this over giving sense of enormity in the situation as the dark sea seem never ending alongside with the troubled, muddy and over lapping hills of evil sand. The audience understand how poor and gritty Newcastle is as we’ve witnessed nearly most of it with Jack and to end in the hell beach hints to the audience that something significant and not good is going to happen. The darkness in which Jack finds himself internally is now external as everywhere he looks is wasteland and horror. This could suggest his mental darkness and cynical ways have met him at his last moment as the beach could suggest the way he has lived his life, in crime, darkness and in the shadows. The audience see the horror of the beach as sort of a purgatory for Jack as he has met the end of his life and is where he deserves.

‘Ill Manors’ Directed in 2012 by Ben Drew is an intertwining tale of different kids and adults living in crime in South East London. Redemption is a key moment and message in the film, especially in the ending as the character of Aaron rides in a cab to his parents after his best mate died, along with many other characters as well. As he rides in the cab his facial expressions seems as if he is in peace and not running anymore. After his mate Ed died he closes every tail leading to crime as he returns a gun back to the owner, symbolising he is ending his crime life, he also helps out a young teen girl in a fight, suggesting he is in the good side now and no longer the bad side, and choses to see his parents after many years of foster care. His facial expressions in the cab could suggest that he has also changed his state of mind and has had an epiphany where as everyone in that location has the same negative state of mind but he has learnt now.  Also redemption is seen when Chris stands by the river Thames over viewing the o2 and throws his gun in the river symbolising that he is maybe finished with the criminal thug life, as the gun falling in the river could symbolising he is throwing in the towel in crime. The message the audience get in the end is positive as redemption can come at any time and to not feel like you’ve lost it. Also the reflections of the Olympic stadiums in the cab suggest the values of life, as under all that dirt, filth and crime, is a happy, safe and healthy environment suggesting you shouldn’t ever give up.

Another message that Get Carter gives to the audience at the end of the movie is the continuous and conventional moral of the gangster/crime genre that authority always wins. In most gangster movies the ending is justified by the police, FBI and any source of authority winning and taking over the criminals/bad figures. This is shown by the Newcastle police breaking in Kinnear's, the main criminals house and finding drugs,prostitutes and arresting the character. This message is important because it shows to the audience the consequences of the criminal life. The audience throughout the film are being made to witness Kinnear's wealthy, exciting criminal life as he indulges himself in drug business, pornography and excess, and to show the audience that life isn't this easy, they have to add the realism of authority breaking in and making arrests. The audience also enjoy seeing authority win in the end of movies as it has been for the past decades because it makes them feel safe that the criminals are put behind bars at the end of the film. 

The message of change is shown in Ill Manors in end as most situations and characters change right at the end leaving the audience a lot to think about and question. For example the young teen girl that helped Aaron take care of the baby gets herself in a fight, as she did earlier in the film, but this time she stands up for herself and fights back at her enemies. The audience could think that she's brave now as she fights back and stood up for herself as before she would just take the beating. But the audience could also argue that she fights back because of all thats happened leading up to that point, that the death of her best friend, Ed, and the madness of the baby and the prostitute has made her not afraid of life anymore. The young kid that Jake walks with to score the bag of weed in the beginning of the film was beaten and humiliated by infact Jake as he betrayed him to enter a gang, but at the end we see him holding up another kid asking for his money. This shows us that the bullied turns into the bully as he is repeating what had happened to him to others. The audience feel sympathy towards him as he is insecure and the only reason he is acting this way is because he was treated so badly by his best friend. As he lifts his head up we see that he still has a black eye from the beating that he had taken, this shows us how quick things can change given any situation. It also shows us the delicate matter of how something tragic and scarring can change someone for every which is the whole theme and meaning of the film as Ben Drew shows the audience the tragic early lives of the main characters.

Location is not only the place where a film is set but it is also the time, date and age in which the film is set. In just one cut in a film it can transport you from one location, day and time, into another. The location of a film is the platform of every movie, as soon as the audience understands where the film is located; they understand the characters involved and typical situations. Get Carter directed by Mike Hodges 1971 and Ill Manors, Ben Drew 2012 have both various significant locations and are in fact the locations which impact the lives and situations of the main protagonists in the film.

Get Carter opens up with a wide shot of the protagonist, Jack Carter (Caine), as he gazes outside a window of which seems to be an apartment in London. Carter is dressed in a nice black tailored suit which shows us that he is wealthy and with one hand in the pocket and the other holding a glass of scotch, he gives the audience a James Bond kind of vibe as he comes across as a stereotypical London spy or some sort, also the non-diegetic music in the background reinforces the crime/spy genre. Few moments later we see the interior of the apartment and the mis-en-scene shows us that  it is luxurious, expensive and classy as we see different shades of gold, marble tables, scotch and bourbon bottles of crystal accompanied by crystal glass, which reveals us that Carter is wealthy, classy and sophisticated. But it also shows us that London is a place of wealth and class as the apartment is located there. The audience understand that Jack belongs in this environment as it is his comfort zone and if he is distanced away from his location, he is out of his comfort zone.

Ill Manors opens up with a time lapse wide establishing shot of the chosen location of the film which is south east London. The shot slowly zooms in as the frame is in fast motion which reveals us that the location of this film is key for the narrative of the characters in the film. Having it in fast motion simply dramatizes the location itself and lets us live in the location for a day as we see cars zooming past and people buzzing away until the sun slowly goes to set and darkness invades the screen. In the shot we see the multibillion dollar Olympics investment already half way through development as it contrasts the council estate high rises next to it. We also see a peaceful area of large suburban houses with a gentle park opposite, and the city on the top right which contrasts the estates again as it is a place of wealth and business. Having the establishing shot of the location, Ben Drew shows us that in London everything is un balanced, as you can have a rich big mansion and in the next road you can have a block of gritty flats, and next door to it you can have big business buildings. Ben Drew shows us this through his establishing shots but also by his lyrics later on in the film where he says, “David Cameron’s broken Britain”, the smart alliteration explains us that what Ben Drew is saying, we are seeing it.

As Carter arrives in Newcastle we get a different opinion to it than of London as we get a few establishing shots of the industrial working class of Newcastle along with the grey, cloudy wet weather as it all seems so negative. The establishing shots dramatize and enlarge the enormity of the tightness and limited space of the community in Newcastle as all the houses are small and tight with each other which give the audience a sort of claustrophobic feeling. The interior of the house where Carter arrives in Newcastle is the exact opposite and it some way contrasts the interior of the London apartment as it is gritty, grey, ugly, and dirty and nearly falling apart as wallpaper is ripping off and the materials of the house are all refusing to stay together. All these things about Newcastle scares the audience as it isn’t pleasant to view but also we feel scared for Carter as we know he is out of his comfort zone as he is use to the high life of London. Newcastle seems dangerous and should not be explored which is why it intrigues us more as Carter explores the rough streets of Newcastle for his ultimate motive to find out what happened to his brother.

Ill Manors has a lot of locations in which are stereotypically known to the gangster/crime genre, and one of them is the abandoned warehouse which young Jake is accompanied by his ‘older’, Marcel. Ben Drew uses the power of juxtaposition as the sun is shining, birds are tweaking and the sky is blue and right in the middle is this grey, rusty dangerous abandoned old warehouse. Abandoned locations is ideal in gangster genres as it hints danger as it is abandoned for a reason but also because no one ever goes there so anything can happen without supervision.  Inside the warehouse is a man tied up to a pole with a cloth wrapped around his mouth. The torture scene is typical in the gangster genre as characters torture over characters to get certain information or because they have crossed the line someway. Ben Drew reminds us that even though technology is moving on and more different people are getting into the world of crime, e.g - kids, the old tactics of gangs such as torture still live on.

In Get Carter, we know that Newcastle is a place of crime, grittiness, dullness and poverty, but if you pay the right price you can still live the high life. Kinnear’s house is a massive mansion with a trophy girlfriend, American style Cadillac’s, and throws big drug, sex parties.  This shows us that anywhere, any location, even if it is poor, if you break the rules and do things your own way and lead a life of crime, you can have big houses and indulge yourself in vast parties. This shows that to live how you want, you have to break the law and hurt people. This also shows the motivation of the people up north wanting have a better life and live as if they are in London.

In Ill Manors, along with Get Carter, the location of the pub is ideal and significant in both films as it has turned into the British gangster hangout spot in Crime movies. In Ill Manors the pub is the location for the drug dealing and prostitution of the young woman. The pub in the film is known to hold criminals and bad people as Ed goes in there to offer the men the young woman to prostitute. The pub is significant in the British culture to be a relaxing place to have a drink and a laugh, and similar to American movies with their bars, Ben Drew uses the location of the pub as a stage for the violence and grittiness we see, as it is always there, even until the very last scenes of the film when it is burned down. 

Location in the two films is important as it conveys meaning to the audience by explaining different situations and different aspects of community and society. Location in both films is also a state of mind as many characters in the films want to achieve something and reach somewhere, for example Carter wants to live with a peaceful mind at rest in South America as he keeps saying it throughout the film. In Ill Manors, many of the characters want to live and be somewhere with aims but it is their current location that drags them down from their dreams. 

How important is location to the films you have studied for this topic?
(Get Carter)

Key location is ideal for any movie with any genre. Location sets the scene and the rest of the film and is what supports and sustains the whole film. Location is not only the setting but the time, day and age as well. Location can create deep meaning and also question the audience which creates over all interest in the film.

Get carter (1971), directed by Mike Hodges and starring Michael Caine as "Jack Carter", talks about a British gangster from London travelling to Newcastle to find out what really happened at the time of his brother's death. The film opens up on a wide shot of Jack Carter gazing outside a window of what appears to be a luxurious  apartment. This directly gives the audience the impression that London is a high society place filled with luxurious apartments and as Jack Carter is dressed in a well tailored suit, it suggests that people from London are pretty wealthy as well. As the scene goes on we see the interior of the apartment, the mis-en-scene reinforces the wealth of London as we get a close up of Jack pouring scotch into a crystal glass from a crystal bottle. The chosen materials and props show the audience that the protagonist is wealthy and that London is a wealthy city meaning that it is also Jack's comfort zone and if he is taken away from London, he is out of his comfort zone.

The first impression of Newcastle on the other hand is that its a city filled with poverty, violence and grittiness as we get several establishing shots of the industrial sceneries in Newcastle. Also the colours in the shots are much more grey and bland as its gives the audience a negative atmosphere but could also symbolise the ugliness and grit of Newcastle. As jack enters the house where he is staying, he talks to the landlady, we get a low angled shot of the two walking up the stairs. As she is the first woman from Newcastle we have met in the film and the way she is introduced is through her backside shows how men thought about women in the late 60s and early 70s. The house were he is staying is as gritty as the outside of Newcastle as the walls are of a dirty grey with ripped wallpaper and tight small rooms, this shows the audience the vast difference in economy north England has rather than in south as poverty affects most charcters in film.

Although criminals in the film such as Kinnear have advantages and a certain amount of wealth that other characters don't in the film. The film shows us that although set in a poor place, the criminals and gangsters with the money are still able to live with luxury  and differently than the orthodox working class. Kinnear owns a massive mansion, american style cars and has big parties, which shows the audience that in the north you have to break the law to get what you want and to live a single inch of luxury. Woman again are seen as trophies and objects as they are ordered to fetch drinks by their gangster boyfriend which refers back to the time this film was made and how women were seen and portrayed in films and in real life up north. 

The final scene were Jack chases Eric through the muddy dirty wasteland of a beach really shows the audience what north of England really is. As seasides and beaches usually symbolise happiness and summer, in Get carter it symbolises the end, death, and ugliness as the beach is filled with rubbish, industrial items and is covered in trash and muddy dirty sand. The audience understand that Jack really is in a hell hole as he has to run through mud in the fake beach. Also ironically the two men both wear fine suits which contrast the unattractive wasteland beach they are running through. The scene uses a lot of establishing shots to show the enormity of the dirty seaside but also to show the never ending leading grey sea which symbolises the never ending search that Jack has but is now about to end. The scene also uses a lot of shots of the sea water rolling in to refer back to how his brother was killed and left in the water. But it could also refer to the last bit of nature as something bad is about to happen. The shots of the sea is also a juxtoposition of the two men wanting to kill eachother as they run through a peacfeful yet dirty beach. 

Overall location is important in the film chosen as it signifies meaning and shows the audience the context of time and setting of the film. It also lets out different styles of atmospheres and feelings and emotions for the audience. 

How authority figures are represented in the films Get Carter (M.Hodges 1971) & Ill Manors (B.Drew 2012)

 Authority is the power or right to give orders, make decisions and enforce obedience. The theme of authority is on-going in most crime/gang movie as it shows the limits in which the gangsters and criminals can operate, for example if there weren’t the obvious authority of the police, the gangsters wouldn’t have to downfall and would automatically win. But authority in gang/criminal movies also comes as the criminals themselves, as most gang movies include a hierarchy in which the gang leader has the power and gives the order.

In Get Carter, Jack is straight away represented as an authority in film as we open up on a wide shot of him dressed in a dapper suit with a glass of whisky, glaring out the window. By opening up on Jack straight away it shows the audience that Jack is the main source of attention as all our eyes are on him which shows he is already above us and does have authority. Also by having him dressed in a well-tailored suit, shows us he is of a high class which again reinforces his authority as he is wealthy enough to have a suit like that, and wants people to notice his wealth to stand his authority out. Also the shot has quite low key lighting as it makes Jack’s figure stand out more and tells us he is the one we should be focusing on and he is the one the story is about which gives him the authority of attention. As the scene moves on we enter the interior of the building in which Jack is in and we see other men dressed similar to Jack with trophy women sitting by their sides and glasses of whiskey and champagne. The rest of the men also have authority as they are dressed just like Jack so are obviously wealthy but Jack stands out more in the scene as he isn’t sitting down and is walking around, which shows he holds the most authority as it seems he doesn’t need to sit down and his tall standing figure gives him that dominance that the others lack. Having the women in the scene lounging around wrapped next to the men show that the men and Jack have succeed somewhat in life and their trophy is that of beautiful women that everyday middle class working men don’t get, which shows his and the other men’s authority as they are superior to other people. The props such as big Cuban cigars, whiskey and champagne are typical clichés of gangster movies or also film noir style movies were the men who have the most power and money have the ability to treat themselves with such things, as they were expensive. The opening scene explains the origins of Jack’s environment as he associates with men of authority and his own dominance and superior power as well, which is shown by the opening shot, the props and the nature of the trophy girls.

 In Ill Manors, authority is also shown in the crime life as in Get Carter. In one scene in Ill Manors, Kirby leaves prison and shows us he has authority which is somewhat ironic as he holds the most power and authority whilst he is leaving a place of well-known authority which is the prison. In a way this scene defeats the stereotypical moral that police always win as Kirby has survived through prison and still holds authority or has even boosted his authority because of his time in prison so has automatically won. Ben Drew edits the mid shot of Kirby walking out of the prison in slow motion to let the audience see him very carefully as he exits a place of authority with more authority. The performance of the acting makes him look even more superior as he smiles and smirks as if he is “too cool for school” as he is walking out which shows that he is mocking the authority of prison and shows he doesn’t care and gives us the impression that he has more important things on his mind which lets us believe he has quite high authority. As Kirby walks slow motion, Drew puts on of his own rap song in the background which keeps repeating the words “Mr drug dealer”, which fits the scene as we basically understand the song is addressed to Kirby as he is a drug dealer. This shows us his authority as people know he is a drug dealer and people know of him, he also wears a long trench coat as he looks like a 60s pimp which again reinforces his authority as he is dressed superior to others.

In Get Carter, authority is also seen in an obvious way in final scene were Jack is face to face with his brother’s killer and chases him through the beach. Jack is seen as the man with the most authority in the scene as the killer is running away from him using all of his strength just to get away from him. This shows us Jack’s ultimate power as the killer is actually trying to get away from him which shows us Jack has the ability to do anything and the fact that people like the killer fear him, it shows the authority he has over him. The audience start to wonder and ask questions about what will Jack do when he catches him, and as the audience realise that Jack has this huge power and authority, it just shows the audience that anything can happen at this point. We then also get a low angle shot of Jack ordering the killer to drink the bottle whiskey, as he shouts "drink it, drink it!". By using the low angle shot with Jack looking down at us seems as if he is talking to the audience which shows them he has the authority and as the audience are looking up to him they understand he has the most dominance. As Jack shouts and orders the killer to drink it, it shows the audience that he really does have authority as he is ordering someone to do something and not getting no for an answer which is the basic definition of authority.

Authority in Ill Manors is similar to the authority in Get Carter as ordering and pushing around confirms to the audience that authority consists of that. In a certain sequence of scenes, Aaron and Chris order and push around a young woman in to different kebab shops and takeaways to pay back for a lost phone by having sex with the owners. The fact that the two men are ordering this young woman to go in and sell herself to these strangers gives them the authority over her as she follows them and does whatever they say because she fears them. Fear shows the audience who has the most authority as who ever fears more has less authority. As the young woman tries to defend herself and refuse to go in the random shops, Chris violently pushes her around and really shows his ugly side which makes her fear him more which ultimately downgrades her status more and helps his authority stand out as the audience understand who has the power in the scene and in the storyline in the film.

In conclusion,  the two films show us that authority is held in the hands of the characters that show the most power and dominance, and ultimately in the gangster genre authority is mostly shown through violence as the characters have to show their status through their actions.

How far do the narratives of your films dramatize the problems facing key characters?
The narratives in the two chosen films, Get Carter and Ill Manors, dramatize a lot the problems facing the key characters. Drama is a genre which is built on tragedy and situations that involve over exaggeration which makes the audience feel mixed emotions. All the key characters in the two films have their own personal problems, and the way the films are shot and the way in which the narratives are shown, dramatize those problems to the audience.

The key significant character in Get Carter (1971) is Jack Carter himself. Throughout the film we know and we see Jack’s struggle in searching the murderer of his brother. The death of his brother is the main strand of the narrative which is in his mind and is the main problem in which he is facing as he has dived into a sea of trouble, gangs, and violence just to seek justice for his brother. A significant scene, in which the audience have been waiting for the whole duration of the film, is the final scene where a crazy Jack chases the restless murderer of his brother in a secluded northern beach. As we get a wide shot of the two men who are the only ones in the scene, faded music invades the beach as Jack gets closer to the murderer. The audience are relived that they are witnessing this showdown as it is the most significant scene in the film’s plot which is the search for this secret intelligent man who is now powerless, dropping on the floor with sand in his mouth. The way the scene is shot in a wide shot to describe the secluded setting, the music fading in, and the significant relentless chase, all contribute to making this scene dramatic which ultimately makes the problems that Jack is facing even more dramatic as the audience doesn’t know what will Jack’s reaction be. The drama in the scene at this point affects the audience as they feel mixed emotions for the two characters. They would feel scared for the murderer as Jack’s reaction is not clear yet, but they would feel a bit uplifted as Jack has reached the end of his aim and found the man he and the audience where searching for, but really the audience would also feel excited and on the edge of their seat as the dark lonely setting in which the scene is set dramatizes everything as a whole. 

Another main strand in Get Carter is that Jack is out of his comfort zone. As we know Jack is a well-known London gangster who has travelled up to Newcastle for the search of his brother’s killer. In the film we see that Newcastle in the early 70’s was very different to London as it was much more industrial, tight and much more poor than the city. We understand that Jack feels as if he is in a strange land in a particular scene when he walks into a local pub and the locals start to stare at him. Jack is wearing a fine black suit as he walks through a bunch of northern blokes and locates himself in front of the bar. As he does this we get a series of shots of different men taking sips of their drinks and following Jack with his eyes. Jack feels out of his comfort zone because if he was in London no one would have stared at him because they know of him, but up north the locals aren’t familiar with him and get a feeling that he isn’t from around there so they stare to understand who he is. This dramatizes the situation as the audience expect either one of the men or Jack to react towards each other because of their differences. At one moment in the scene, Jack asks the barman for a pint of bitter, the barman goes to prepare it in a round glass but Jack clicks his fingers and demands it to be in a thin long glass. This shows the difference between Jack and the locals of Newcastle as we get a shot of the men looking at him drinking from round glasses as he wants to drink it from a long glass to try and show that he isn’t from around there. As this happens all the diegetic music, laughter and chatter starts to decrease as it promotes that something might kick off or happen between the men and Jack. This makes the audience prepare themselves for violence or conflict as they understand that Jack is not in his comfort zone and is surrounded by men he does not know at all.
A main problem in Get Carter is also family ties. Jack faces a main problem in the film which is his niece Doreen. Doreen has lost her dad and has no mother which Jack feels he is responsible for her and wants her to be treated well. This is significant to the sub-genre of the film which is gangster, as family is a very big theme in gangster movies which shows that even violent gangsters come very emotional and destructive when it comes to family. In a certain scene in the film, Jack lays alone on a woman’s bed as she takes a bath upstairs. Out of boredom or pure sadism, Jack finds a pornographic tape and chooses to watch it on a projector. As he sits up with interest, we have a mirror behind him with the tape playing in the reflection. As he watches it he gets excited, gives nasty grins and smokes a cigarette. Suddenly he sees a familiar face in the tape, and as he does, so do we exactly the same time in the reflection. We the audience and Jack both realise that his niece Doreen is in the tape. He continues to watch it but starts to feel angry and disgusted with himself. This scene is very dramatic as its almost a bad karma for Jack and his evil ways as he was first getting excited about the tape but then realising Doreen is in it made him think about what he has done and how disgusting he feels. The scene was dramatized also by how it was shot, as we get a long mid shot of Jack on the bed with the mirror and film playing in the reflection without any cuts or transitions, so when he sees his niece, so do we, and we also get his candid disgusted expressions and his mood changing as the film goes on. This makes the audience feel nearly the same emotions as Jack feels which is disgusted and surprised, but also makes them feel scared as they’ve only seen one side of Jack Carter which is the cool gangster side, but now they’re being introduced to this angry unstoppable Jack which the audience don’t know how he will react. The scene doesn’t share much sounds as it indulges the audience in this dramatic life changing moment for Jack and doesn’t get any distractions from any other noises. The performance which Michael Caine gives and the way the scene was set up dramatizes the situation a lot as we see a scary and different side to Jack, but also it involves us the audience by letting us watch the tape and receiving Jack’s reaction at the same time which helps it be more dramatic but also more realistic.

Ill Manors (2012) has more than one narrative as it shares a whole bunch of different storylines with different characters who have different problems but somehow all intertwine with each other. One character in Ill Manors, Aaron, faces a personal problem when an unstable woman leaves her baby on the train and he is the only one at the scene at try’s to help her get it back but fails which leaves him with a baby in the pram. Aaron is a character who is involved in South East London crime but with a sense of morality. As Aaron is about to get off the train, he looks out at the station and sees a bunch of armed police men waiting. As he is carrying a gun, dressed as an urban thug and paranoid about getting caught, he takes his hat off, sorts his clothes out and hides the gun with the baby. As he gets off he walks through the policemen with the pram thinking he is going to get stopped but doesn’t. The fact that Aaron takes his hat off and sorts his clothes out gives the message that the police and authorities tend to search and stop young lads with a certain appearance without any particular reason. Also by putting his gun in the pram with the baby dramatizes the situation as no one would put a weapon with a baby as it is dangerous and outrageous but at the same time it shows how messed up situations in the film are, as characters have to do certain things to reach certain things. As he walks through the policemen the scene goes in slow motion and high tempo music starts to fade in. This dramatizes the situation as the audience are expecting him to get caught or asked to stop, but with the slow motion it also expands the tension as the audience are waiting for him to get passed the police without getting stopped. The music adds to the drama as it starts getting more tense and serious and the audience are at the edge of their seats because they don’t want him to get caught but are excited and intrigued to what will happen next. Aaron’s baby problem is dramatized through the slow motion and the music a lot as it builds up tension and suspense for the audience to watch because it gives Aaron a 50/50 chance of either getting caught or getting through.

Another main problem/theme in the film which affects the characters and is over dramatazied in the film is the ugly nature of prostitution which affects two main storylines. Ben Drew explains to the audience that prostitution is a daily habit in the lives of some of the characters and is a daily consumption of the local area in which it is set. In one particular scene, Aaron and Ed prostitute a 'local whore' to a range of different shops, kebab takeaways, in order to reimburse money for Ed's lost phone. Ben Drew really dramatises the situation as we get a long sequence shot fast forwarded of the two young men and the woman walking in and walking out of shops. By Drew having the characters walking in and out of the shops and edited in fast motion shows the enormity of the situation as they are visiting more than one shop and the woman is being forced to perform certain things to more than one person. The audience also feel very sympathetic towards the young woman as she can't escape the situation she has fallen in, and also like the 3 fallings of Christ carrying the cross the audience can see the tiredness and fear that the woman is feeling as she moves slower and slower every time the shop visits increase. As the situation isn't enough, Ben Drew adds his own rap music in the background to add tension as it refers to the tough and rough life that the characters each live in. This all adds to the drama in the situation as the audience feel disgust towards what they are seeing as they understand how significantly horrible the scene is, as this poor woman is being forced to have sex with a load of different shop owners as the fast motion doubles the effect on the audience, and the music score in the background excites the audience as it fits the violent ugly genre.

In conclusion, the narratives in the two films dramatize the problems the key charcters are facing a lot by the way the scenes are shot and also the dramatic nature of the situations. By over exagurating the drama in the films the audience feel more emotionaly connetced.

Get Carter

What social scenarios are explored in get carter?
The industrial side of northern Newcastle sets the scene as a lot of exterior scenes have big fields and industrial factories to show that the north is a hard working class and not as wealthy as London which as a city has a lot of financial buildings and deals with stock market rather than building things in factories. Poverty is a theme in Get Carter as the area in which he finds himself in doesn't consist of big suburban house such as in London, and the lifestyles set seem limited as people go to work, go to the pub then go home which shows us that they cant financially support a better luxrious lifestyle. Family is a big theme in the society shown in Get Carter as families seem very close and very explosive if touched by anyone else. Also being in a run down industrial area of the north tightens the respect of the family as people get to spend more time with their families and are more happy with the little they have. Friendship starts off in the begining but becomes broken with disloyalty as enemies comes with smiles.
Like in Ill manors, family is also a significant theme as all the film's characters have a disfunctional past which reflects the way they act in the film. The film centers on the foster kids and how it effects them mentally as they've been grown up around violence and deglect and the lack of pure parental affection which soon builds their lifestyle to be full of violence and drugs. Loyalty, concience and moral decisions are main themes which come in and out of the movie as charcaters always get the chance to do right but turn to do wrong because of peer pressure or because they have sunk too deep in the violent lifestyle that it would be some what unorthadox to suddenly come out of it. As in Get Carter, when a family member is touched or in the film killed, the characters reach their breaking point and go on a rage frenzy, which shows how family is significant in gangster films and how delicate the situations are.
How is crime potrayed in Get Carter?
Crime in Get Carter is potrayed as less luxurious as possible as the film doesn't want to show the pros or cons of the gangster lifestyle but just wants to show the protagonist's adventure through the gangsters and nasty business to then gain closure for the death of his brother. Crime is also shown to be respectful and thoughtout as Carter doesn't storm in and shoot his gun at the enemies but has to go through different things and plan very presisly. The reason for crime in the film is for family, as Carter isn't a gangster but will go through anything and do anything to find out who killed his brother and why, this shows how important family is in the film. Unlike in Get Carter, crime in Ill Manors is much more street and without any flashy features which makes the audience  not want to be like them. In Ill Manors crime mostly functions around drugs and prostitution which reflects the society we live in as the two easiest ways that thugs can get money is through that, whereas in Get Carter it was mostly pornography. Crime seems unorganised in Ill Mannors as a situation starts off some way and ends in an unexpected way, this shows how youth that is involved in crime in our day and age havn't go the motive to succed and win because otherwise they would plan more but infact they just want to be involved, and as soon as their involved they feel powerful and part of something. This also reflects the mantal damage that the lack of parental love has on youth as they never receive that love and have never been accepted in anything so when the charcters join a gang they feel accepted and part of it.
What oportunities are avalibale in the characters in the film?
Jack Carter is able to leave all the nasty business and retrun home anytime he wants as it was his choice to get involved but doesn't because his aim to find out what happened to his brother and why is far to important for him.
How are criminals potrayed in Get Carter?
Criminals in Get Carter are seen as sleazy and secret as the death of Carter's brother was in the fault of no stranger, as enemies come smiles. In Ill Mannors criminals are firstly shown as how they are which is street, scummy and violent, but then Ben Drew shows you them through their pure feelings and emotions through flashbacks of how they were rasied and the lack of love they also wanted. The audience feel sympathy towards the characters even if they have been involved in crime as they feel it isn't their own fault and don't see them as the hooded thugs they are today but a poor sad innocent child they were. Most criminals in the film such as the prostitutes and illegal immagrant havn't got the choice to do what they want, as they are trapped in the crimnal cycle and can't get out. As almost as slaves they have to do what their supiriors say as life isn't anything else but that. 
Can the protagonist escape the situation they are in?
Mental escape from the gangster life through sex drugs and drink. Like in Get Carter, the charcters of Ill Mannors turn to drugs to escape the nightmare they are living in and give them a short times break.
What punishment do the criminals pay for the crimes they done?
Living in paranoia, fear of trust and lack of love are punishments for the criminals. They live the morals of the gangster lifestye.
How does Get Carter reflect aspect contempory society?

What about woman in Get Carter?

realist film
traditional narrative linear.
Carter stands out from the poverty of north.
first film shot out London.
human curiosity is the determined factor of audience participation.

British crime in movies

In the classical british crime movies such as Get Carter, all the stereotypical gangster sub-genre convetions are used such as big houses, big use of alcohol, cigar smoking men, dapper clothing, and the ultimate prize of a beautiful woman depending on your success. 

In the more modern adaptations of the british crime culture in movies there is a difference in the gangster conventions that show the audience the flashy life side of being part of a gang. In the modern takes on gang life, characters arn't going to high class parties, or dressed in dapper suits, or own big houses with beautiful women walking around as if owned by Hugh Hefner. They show gang life in the negative way by alot of violence, robbery and crude motives. But the same conventions that run through the classics and the modern british crime movies is the theme of revenge and respect. In the classical movies revenge is the main motive for the protagonist to battle through a road of other criminals to gain personal justice, and it is also shown in modern gang movies as charcaters may kill because it happened to someone close to them. This also links in with respect as in classical movies the crime was organised and reasons to kill or get rid of someone were 'reasonable' and usualy had something to do with disrespect, and is also similar in the more modern movies as characters who arn't seen as the mental violent ones have their own breaking point if someone crosses the boundaries of respect and cause harm to their familes. The theme of respect is used in the modern gang movies but sliding away and the characters are starting to forget what it is but it still exists also by the ladder of success as a certain lower status criminal charcater would look up to the more higher statused criminal as they worked themselves to the top. I think the theme of respect is starting to fade away as more characters in modern movies kill with no actual motive and it's sort of a dispointing for the classical movies as it shows although crime was in play, respect was above it, and everyone knew if you would harm someones family then it would be fair play if something happens to them back. Another theme is that is used in modern and classical is the stereotypical character or protagonist that has a moral eptithany and gains a different scope to view world and understand the negative aspects of the crime he is doing and living in. This usually happend when something happens to themself or to something or someone they love, which reinforces the consequences of getting involved in crime. It also reinforces the idea that you die how you began, as you can't hide from your past in a big mansion or behind an expenisve suit, and when you reach the pearly gates of heaven your fast car, big parties, and your three girlfriends cant help you un-do you sinfull past.This also contrasts the different functions of society of the two different ages, for example the gang culture in the 60s and 70s shown in Get Carter, and the gang culture that we live in now shown in Ill Manors. Society in the 60s and 70s England was more controlled and functioned more not in a good way but everyone had their own place. For example crime was for adults, not children, not many movies in the 60s and 70s show children of the age of 13 carrying knives and killing other children for the envious reason of stealing their trainers or their phones or belongings. Adults were much more mature and completely understood the defenition of respect and the boundaries of respect and to not touch another man's family. But in modern England crime starts of at a young age and mostly throughout their teenage years are involved in crime. This shows the society we live in and a sort of metaphor how everything is falling apart due to the lack of government, poverty and community segregation of different classes. Crime in british modern movies is pursued not for the outcome of money or the flashy life, but to survive and because children are living in the crime and cant do anything not to be led in the world of crime. Audiences react differently when watching the modern gang movies as they are shocked and are glad they are not involved in stuff like that as it doesn't drag their intrest in any way. Whereas in the classical gang movies crime is an advertisment for 'the sweet life' promoting all the wonderful things you could have like fast cars, beautiful women and dominating power.