Loretta Price
Level 3 Extended Diplomas
Creative Media Production
Unit 26 Film
Studies
Film
Analysis
The script for If I
stay movie
The movie that will have you in tears and going through a
joinery that I will be telling you will be if I stay. Staring Chloe Grace Moretz as the main
character called Mia who has been in many film such as kick ass 1 and 2. Jamie
Blackley as Adam, Mireille Enos as Kat and Joshua Leonard as Denny. The director of this touching film is R.J
Cutler who has directed other movie and documentary one nation under dog and
Nashville
Chloe Grace Moretz as Mia Jamie Blackley as Adam
This movie is about a young cello player called Mia who
has to diagnose if she will stay or not in outer body experience after a car
accident put her in a coma. This is also not just about young love no it also
about a girl deciding what she want to do with her life and finding out who she
is and is stronger enough to stay. In this coming of age movie we will se young
love, hard times and decision that will change life. This movie is hybrid,
which is for everyone. The garner of the movie is drama, romance, thriller and
even music. The only thing that it doesn’t have is action of the gun and
explosion type. Even thought it is entertaining it however makes you stop and
make you think if I stay
The actor that they have used I think have done the film
justice as well as the book. With the talented Chloe you could see she believed
in the film. She takes on a different role with this movie whereas her previous
roles have been in comedy action, where she is a tough hard -ass. In this one
we see she can play a girl struggling with change and that this actor can do
anything.
Prop’s character theory will show the closeness of a real
family during the film. The main characters are the young couple that are musicians;
the girl Mia is classical where as Adam is rock and roll. Two completely
different people whose love of music joins them together. Mia seems to be in a
rock and roll world with parents who used to be in a band, a brother who loves
rock and a boyfriend who is also in a band. Yet she seems so different and
happy being the wallflower that no one notices.
In this is the use of Barthes – enigmas, will she stay or go?
If she stays how would she live? And is it worth it. You will be like you are
the one in the coma or the family member who is given this puzzle and having to
deal with all that comes with it.
The music
that is used is classical, rock and acoustic. Each time thee music is being
played always match the emotion shown on the screen. The classical music has
mostly been used for the sad parts. There has even played the song say
something by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera
It has a wide range of examples of Strauss’ theory when
watching it, you will see happiness and sadness one after the other, dieing,
living, love, loneliness, health and sickness, all of them I can see in this
movie which will have you crying and wishing for the best for the young lovers.
The best scene
In one scene in the movie we see it is described as the best
day where she finally see that she belongs in the family. In this shot we see group
of the parent friends, Adam band and Mia all together, playing the instrument
around a bonfire. In this scene I would say that Mia propp would be describe as
the musician, friend, girlfriend, sister and daughter. This make think she is
loved by the amount of people who have gather around this bonfire and just
listen to her music. We see close shots, mid shots, point of shot and wide
shots of us looking down at the scene before use. The customs and make up is a everyday wear so
you can feel that it was meant to be a everyday event that just end up being
the best day. The lighting of it all was very home that you would be comfortable
just listen and watching scene for the rest of the movie that will move your
heart. The Levi-Strauss of it is calm/ uneasiness, unwanted/belong and
normal/unexpected. For example she say her best day was one she didn’t even she
coming. That she thought it would be a normal day not the best day. The music that was being played was calming
and meaning full that will help you connect to the scene and character that are
involved.
The openings of the film - we are in the sky going through
the clouds with Mia tell us about famous composers. The beginning of the film
was a animation of the clouds. Then a Shot make you feel peaceful, as especially
with the fact that the colours are bright and calm. Then we are brought down
from the clouds to see where Mia lives in a small house where it is snowing.
The customer and make up is of Mia is her in normal clothes but it is also of a
little girl would wear. In this scene you see her sitting down with her brother
eating breakfast while reading a magazine. This show what a typical day in the
house would be. You have close up and wide shot of the family when Mia starts
taking about them. One of the liv -Strauss
I see of this scene is uncertain/ certain, I think this because of the fact she
thought she know where she was going where as the rest of the family know what
they have to do or happy in there life. Mia character seems to be the shy type,
sister, daughter and expressionless . You can tell this by the fact her family
is all round her in the scene being shown. The reason why I say her character
is shy and expressionless is because of the fact you can see she effect and
upset but doesn’t want to show it. However in this scene you can tell that her
life has already taken a turn for the unexpected so you can tell where the
movie is already heading.
Adam walking downs
the hallway
Meet Adam first time we see a wide shot of Adam walking down the hall and everyone stopping or turning to look at him. He is a popular, confident leader and he is his own person. Then he stops at a classroom and sees Mia for the first time. You can tell he is course about her by the look on his face. The barthes of this is when will he introduce himself to this girl that has caught his eye. He has asked a friend of Mia who is this girl who seem to be in her own little world. Which leads to there next in counter.
Adam and Mia
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First time they both speak to one another. Was set by Mia
locker at school, where we see Adam go and stop at the locker to talk to Mia.
He is trying to get Mia to talk more and open up so that he can ask her out. We
a point of view shots in most of this scene and it is seem that the camera is
set at a eye level when recording them talking. The lighting use is of standard
light so you can tell this is a school and nothing else. There is no music in
this scene only the sound of people walking up and down the carried doors. As
they talk to one another he offer to take her to listen to cello player. Mia is
shocked that he has asked her out by the end of the whole conversation the one
thing that stick out were the words “ it too late… I see you”. By the end of
this whole thing we are left wondering will she go out with this guy that seem
like the complete opposite of her. The
Levi-Strauss of this is story, is of first love/hurt even if she doesn’t know
it yet. We can see in this scene between Mia and Adam their characters, we see
Mia as the shy, bookworm and close off from people she doesn’t know type. Mia doesn’t
seem to understand why this person is taking an interest in her. Where as Adam
seem to know that he want to take Mia out. Even this early on we see that he
think he has a connection with this girl like to hide away. This make me think
Adam character in this scene is straightforward, determine and hopeful all at
the same time.
The closing scene you have Mia walking away from the bed
were she is laying ready to give up until she hear music and say just this one
song. That is when she is brought back to her room and sees Adam there play the
music. This is when he start telling her
good news as well as saying he will do anything if she stays. When he starts to
play his guitar she is hit with all he good memories of her past and then we
are brought full force with a bright light. This is were we are left to wonder
what happen until we are shown a point of view shot of Adam saying Mia name. This
would make Mia the damsel in distress and Adam the hero of the story. You could
also describe Adam as the dispirit boyfriend and Mia the fighter who is
deciding to give up or carry on. The Levi-Strauss of is life/death, happy /sad
and certainty/ uncertainty .I see this because of the way if she doesn’t wake
up she will die. Then the way she is happy to see Adam but soon realise she is
sad that her family and life will never be the same. The scene is mostly point
of view shot of Adam looking at Mia and over the should shots so you could get
both Adam and Mia in the mise-en-scene. The Todorov of this scene is Adam trying
to make Mia come back to him .The music is of Adam singing while playing his guitar.
The music it self it soft that match the scene perfectly
Mia and Adam
before she deicide
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