Preview

Danny Devito's Use Of Film Techniques Used In The Film Matilda

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
684 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Danny Devito's Use Of Film Techniques Used In The Film Matilda
What techniques does the director, Danny DeVito, use in the film ‘Matilda’ to illustrate that the character, Jennifer Honey, is benevolent and sweet?
The film ‘Matilda’ released in 1996, directed by Danny DeVito stars Mara Wilson as Matilda. ‘Matilda’ a film about a young child genius (Matilda) who is born into a family that does not care for her. The movie follows Matilda as she dives into a world of hammer throws and chokeys to prove Agatha Trunchbull the brawny, muscular woman serving as the remorseless headmistress of Matilda's school (Crunchem Hall Elementary School) wrong. With the help of Jennifer "Jen" Honey who is a kind and compassionate woman who takes an immediate liking to Matilda. DeVito uses a variety of different film techniques to depict Jennifer Honey as benevolent. Some techniques used in the movie are the ways her
…show more content…
In scenes with her aggressive and malicious aunt Agatha Trunchbull high angled shots are used to make her look small, weak and insignificant to the scene. In any shots she is accompanied by children the shots are taken from eye level or it is a medium close up these camera angles are used to make Miss Honey look equal with the children as she does not believe that they are any different to her. Many of these shots are also from the child’s eye level giving the impression that she has slightly more power than the child but at many times this is not the case and DeVito prefers to have Jennifer Honey and the children shown equally. Throughout the movie you see a power change, from Ms Trunchbull to Miss Honey and the children during this power change the angles used on characters’ change. For example; Ms Trunchbull’s angles get higher and Miss Honey’s get lower demonstrating the movement of power. Thus, the camera angles used to portray Miss Honey creates an emphasis on the fact that she is a sweet and kind character that shows compassion to

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    English Belonging Speech

    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Use of camera angles was done in a scene where a close-up image of Liz’s face, her bright, over-the-top makeup and styled hair, is followed immediately with an identical close-up of Fran’s simple, plain face. This shows the obvious dissimilarity between the two characters, and emphasises Fran’s alienation from the ballroom world.…

    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    From Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to Big Fish, director Tim Burton has been proving his amazing capability to weave extraordinary, almost dreamlike worlds. Although many directors use cinematic techniques to show or prove something, Burton clearly has a special gift. Burton’s use of cinematic techniques is very unique compared to other directors. Burton uses lighting, characterization, and music to show the mood of the scene.…

    • 823 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Nanny, played by Caitlin Humphreys, was a character who showed up out of nowhere. She also had no idea how to handle a baby and was possibly out of her mind. Caitlin Humphreys’ acting style was also very dramatic, but effective. As the second act opens, the audience is finally hit with the first sign of normalcy, with Miss Daisy and the two mothers in the park. The two mothers in the park, played by Cheryl Ann Gottselig and Caitlin Humphreys, was the first time that the parents were looked upon by some with rational sense. The second sign of normalcy was with the character Miss Pringle, played by Natalie Beisner, who realized that there might be something dramatically wrong with Daisy’s Psyche.…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Tim Burton films, the use of cinematic techniques helps the audience feel a sense of unease contrasted with a sense of comfort and safety. Burton uses techniques such as lighting, camera angles and shots and framing to depict and highlight different emotions throughout his films. Burton’s job working at Disney helped him develop a thing for comfort and safety due to the children’s stories and scripts he worked on at Disney. He also has an interest in peculiar objects and characters. When both of these things are combined and make one story, Burton changes feelings throughout his films and create an almost bipolar type theme.…

    • 537 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tim Burton is an amazing author, producer, artist, and animator. Although he has many things on his plate, he’s also an extraordinary director. Many of his films were nominated to get awards, and many of them got awards. So as you can see, he is a very successful man.…

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In a very far away land, lived a man, a man with a very different life compared to you or me. He doesn’t know right from wrong. He sits by himself all alone, wondering what his purpose in life is. He’s always wondered what’s going on in the town below him. One day something very scary happened, a visitor came. He doesn’t know what to once he was exposed to the town. This is very usual in Tim Burton’s films. Tim Burton’s eerie style is best conveyed through his use of pan, establishing shot, and front/back lighting.…

    • 455 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A camera, a director, an actor is all one needs to make a movie, that may be something the audience believes. There’s a science to this, camera angles, sound, and lighting/color that make up a movie. As a film director in Hollywood, Tim Burton must pay attention to these simple key factors that create his films. Tim Burton, a greatly respected film director, creates gothic, bittersweet films ranging from friendship to young love. As Burton inspired many, he himself was inspired by the author Edgar Allan Poe, whose grim side is reflected in his writing. He was also inspired by the American actor, Vincent Price, who played dark characters on screen since the early 1940s. The dark, unusual crazy, quirky characters and settings are reflected well…

    • 1002 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    2. Steven Spielberg is known for telling unashamedly emotional stories. What techniques does he use in this film to engage the audience’s feelings? What helps to separate something that is ‘sentimental’ from something that is genuinely moving?…

    • 524 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The children show their feelings toward Margot when they are sharing their stories. Margot’s was, “I think the sun is a flower; That blooms for just one hour.” In response, one of the boy's claims that she didn’t write that poem. He didn’t want to believe that Margot had written it because it was so good. This is one example of jealousy.…

    • 438 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tim Burton Film Techniques

    • 1111 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Tim Burton has enthralled the people of today with his movies such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands, and Big Fish. By just looking at one scene in any of Burton's films, one can see that Burton makes films more than just a film. Burton not only makes the movies thought provoking and interesting, but he connects the strangest of things into real life. In these weird and amazing worlds Burton's films create, Tim Burton uses shots and framing, lighting, and camera angles to prove that life is different in every new spark, and one shouldn't put out that spark.…

    • 1111 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Themes In Pleasantville

    • 1340 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Pleantville is David's fantasy and he doesn't want it to change in any way, “maybe it needs to be messed with” said by Jennifer demonstrates her opposing views. This gives the audience the knowledge that things are going to change. These changes are caused when the relationship between Jennifer, “Mary Sue” and Skip, captain of the basketball team, begins to advance. The beginning of change is depicted by a red rose in the alternate black and white world. Colour is very symbolic in “Pleasantville”, it signifies not only physical change of pleasantville but also the inner journeys each character undergoes. The values of Pleasantville also change with the physical changes. Individuality is not tolerated and these changes increases the characters ability to have their own thoughts and beliefs. David and Jennifer have remained black and white, even though they have been the cause of all the changes in pleantville, this symbolises that they are also in need for change. The intolerance for individuality is demonstrated when Betty, mother of Bud and Mary Sue, feel the need to hide the fact that she has also become coloured to conform to the norms of society, “I cant go out there looking like this” the grey make up is juxtaposed with the colour. Betty's personal inner journey deals with her appreciating her individuality therefore her colour. Her values as a housewife are also…

    • 1340 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fever 1793 Quotes

    • 298 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The characters actions and words toward their families change during the book. At first Matilda dislikes her mother because her mother gives her tough love. “‘When I was a girl, we were up before the sun…’” Matilda’s mom is harsh to her but it’s for the better of family. When Matilda's mom contracts the yellow fever, Matilda stays to help her even when her mother wants her to leave and…

    • 298 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Danny DeVito’s adaptation of Matilda depicts the misery of living in a neglected household. Matilda, a young girl with incredible intellectual talents, lives a tragic life as she suffers cruelty from both her parents and her principal, Miss Trunchbull. Despite the fact that Matilda is surrounded by malicious people, she continues to be intelligent and kindhearted. However, she soon develops telekinetic powers and uses them to her full advantage by defending her and her friends from her hostile parents and principal. Inspired by her teacher, Miss Honey, Matilda gains hope that she will not live in misery for long. This analysis will depict the type of family and parenting style that Matilda experiences, as well as the functions of a family…

    • 139 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    How are we made aware of the filmmaker's attitude towards change? Refer to three specific episodes from the film. (excl. concl. stages)In Pleasantville, the filmmaker, Gary Ross, conveys his attitude towards change through the characters of David and Jennifer who are transported into the 1950s sitcom "Pleasantville". He doesn't necessarily demonstrate change to bear a positive result; rather, he addresses that change is essential to the development of society and self and that it is important to understand and accept change. Ross contrasts the ignorance and mindlessness of the unchanged people of Pleasantville with the hunger for knowledge that the changed (or coloured) people possess, communicating to the viewer that change and knowledge go hand in hand.…

    • 2172 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In this excerpt, from A White Heron, by Sarah Orne Jewett, a number of literary techniques were used. All of them contributing to the excerpt's excellent flow. This essay will focus on three literary techniques Jewett used "" imagery, tone, and symbolism.…

    • 586 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays