Reading a Movie

When we think of stories, our first thoughts often involve books or verbal storytelling. But there is one medium through which a writer can tell a story in a way unlike any other--film. Many people don't usually think about it, but all movies begin as screenplays--stories written by screenwriters. Writing a screenplay is a task no easier than writing a novel, as one must be concise yet specific in their depiction of characters and the setting. Screenwriters have always been well respected albeit unrecognized by most, as they are honored every year in award ceremonies such as the Oscars. But the even harder job falls upon the moviemakers. Directors and others must bring the story to life, using special effects, lighting, different camera angles, and music. Even more importantly, actors must become the characters, giving them emotion and complexity. All of these elements culminate in a movie that can be "read" much like a book. And like books, movies can range from the absolutely horrific to the awe-inspiring. When interpreting and judging a movie, the same elements of literary review can be applied. Are the characters well developed and believable? Is the plot and/or setting exciting and creative? And does the movie make you think or question in some way? All of these questions need to be asked when evaluating a film. However, when it comes to movies, there comes a difference between story and interpretation. A film could have a good underlying story, yet be interpreted poorly. Characters might be well-developed, but the acting might not reflect it. Actors must give their characters depth and emotion, for if they fail to become believable, they will be nothing more than actors. The plot is another aspect that can fall victim to poor interpretation. If the cinematography is not stellar (bad lighting or directing), then this will no doubt detract from the quality of the movie. And then there's special effects and music. In my opinion, this is what allows a movie to rise above any written story. Special effects can truly bring a writer's vision and imagination to life. Whether it's magic or aliens, special effects can really make the difference in a film, and sometimes serve as the redeeming quality of an otherwise lackluster story. If executed well, special effects can take the story to new heights, but at the same time, poor execution can leave me wondering why I even bothered to watch. Music is yet another element that novel writers don't have the luxury of having. Instead of taking paragraphs to develop the mood of the story, a good soundtrack can build up the same kind of tension or excitement in just several seconds. It might not be the make-it-or-break-it aspect of the movie, but if the music is effective, it makes watching the movie that much more worth it. However, you're less likely to notice bad music, so this is not a huge deal when you're judging a movie. So ultimately "reading" a movie comes down to two parts--is the story good, and is the interpretation of the story effective? In my opinion, both story (plot, characters, etc.) and interpretation (acting, directing, special effects, etc.) have to be good in order to have a great movie. Let me cite a movie that I really enjoyed watching: Inception, a movie that most people are probably familiar with. In an age where half the movies at the theater are sequels, this was a breath of fresh air. In my opinion, the story was great, being both exciting and creative. For those that don't know, this is an action/"heist" film in which the protagonist can enter other people's minds (dreams) and plant ideas into their subconscious. It's an action film, so obviously special effects (and good ones I might add) are at play here, but there's also a subplot as the protagonist struggles to overcome the grief and guilt that accompanied the loss of his wife. It really gets you thinking too, as you try to figure out where exactly the characters are and whether they are dreaming or not. The interpretation is equally good, and I think that comes from the fact that the writer of the film directed it as well. The actors, including lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio and a star-studded cast, all portray the complex emotions and intricacies of their characters extremely well, and the way the movie was filmed (in combination with special effects) is great. Throw in a great soundtrack, and you've got yourself a movie that I think should have won a couple more awards than it did. In any case, Inception is a movie I highly recommend. I like to think of movies as our modern day plays. Like during the days of Shakespeare, when special effects were virtually non-existent, the story behind the movie is ultimately the most important aspect. We may not read screenplays like we do with Shakespeare, but I think its still important to appreciate the many amazing stories written by our modern day playwrights.