The Evolution of the Gangster Genre
The gangster genre has occupied a focal position in the American cinema since its inception in the 1930s. Nevertheless, the growth of the genre has been hurdled by a series of obstacles because of its praise for the gangster-hero narrative and its little celebration and portrayal of the contemporary American life (Schatz, 1981, p.82). Nowadays, however, the genre has undergone quite a transformation, and the portrayal of urban criminals remains to be a significant and marketable subject for filmmaking. Martin Scorsese's 1990 film Goodfellas, continues to be one of the most unique gangster genre films as it takes on an exclusive narrative which follows the inside lives of the criminals with a focus on how to be a gangster. The film follows the lives of three gangsters trying to make their mark in the mob. Rather than merely showing the gangster life, the film narrates the details to the viewers making it easier for them to relate with the gangster picture (Kuhn & Westwell, 2012, p. 192). This essay will analyze the themes of violence and power in the film Goodfellas using the cinematic techniques of lighting, editing, and mise-en-scene.
The Creative Technique of Mise-en-Scene
Mise-en-scene is a creative way of telling a story where the director takes full control over what appears in the film frame. Scorsese's film Goodfellas has multiple examples of the cinematic technique of mise-en-scene as evidenced in the setting of the film. The film takes place in Queens, New York City between the 1950s and 1960s. Historically, New York is famously known as the city for the Italian mob, and hence by selecting the setting, the director provides the audience with the opportunity to better relate with the activities of the mob (McArthur, 2007, p.31). Furthermore, the use of mise-en-scene as a narrative technique is evidenced in the costumes and behaviors of the characters.\u00a0 The media often portrays the Italian mobster as being well-dressed in black tie outfits, and the same is adapted in the costumes used in the film Goodfellas. All the characters are dressed in fancy clothes, effectively resembling the Italian mobsters. Additionally, the characters have an Italian accent, and their conversations are about the illegal activities they will engage in while giving off a fierce attitude that perfectly portrays a dominant theme of violence (McArthur, 2007, p.31). Additionally, the movie effectively relies on the use of mise-en-scene to adequately portray the mood and themes of the picture while foreshadowing on the events that follow. As such Scorsese uses mise-en-scene to drive the themes and ideas of the film. For example, mise-en-scene is primarily used to drive the theme of violence, and hence most of the scenes portray violence as evidenced by the constant use of a red frame accompanied with the setting of food and eating (McArthur, 2007, p.31). At the beginning of the film, a man is tortured for money and is later burned in the red-hot skillet of a pizza oven. Besides, when the three mobsters beat Billy Bates and later kill him, the events occur in a restaurant, where the mobsters bury him in the track of a car and continue to have a pasta meal with Tommy's mother. Moreover, when Henry beats up the man who assaulted Karen, he beats him in front of a bright red car as one of his friends stands in the back having a Coke. Spider is also killed by Tommy using a liquor bar furnished with redwood walls. The mise-en-scene is, thus, used to portray violence as a consuming, ravenous and angry and the visuals act as judgmental commentaries on the actions of the violent mob (McArthur, 2007, p.31).
The Importance of Lighting in Setting the Mood
Lighting is a crucial aspect of developing themes in films, and in the movie Goodfellas, it sets the tone and feeling of the events, allowing the audience to recognize the mood and attitudes of the different characters. Scorsese uses different lighting techniques for each scene to reflect on the mood of the characters as well as the atmosphere throughout the film (Kuhn & Westwell, 2012, p. 192). For example, Scorsese uses bright lights when depicting happy and funny scenes and when the characters are having a good time, then quickly transitions to using dark lighting when the characters are angry or in dangerous situations. The majority of the film time represents use of low-key lighting to create a tone that reflects on the dark and ruthless life of the criminals. In the opening scene the three main characters are shown murdering a high-ranking Italian mobster and to emphasise the theme of violence, the scene capitalizes on the use of lighting. The scene uses an underlying red light which resembles the color of blood to give off the notion of death and violence (Kuhn & Westwell, 2012, p. 192). Throughout the opening scene, the flashing lights of the car help to illuminate in the mood of the different characters.\u00a0 For instance, the pronounced red hue light automatically portrays the existence of blood and murders even without the mention or showing of blood. The lighting used in the opening scene is essential as it establishes the theme of violence in the whole story (Kuhn & Westwell, 2012, p. 192). Furthermore, the dark red lights shining towards the faces of the three characters portray that the three characters long to do something dangerous and that they are most likely to play the most dangerous roles in the film (Kuhn & Westwell, 2012, p. 192). Additionally, in the same scene, the light reflects on Henry's face, where he looks terrified from his facial expression, showing that he is nervous and anxious about the following events. Therefore, the lighting technique used in the film perfectly reflects the gangster genre as the use of the red light portrays how ruthless the characters are while magnifying on the theme of violence.
The Role of Cinematography in Conveying the Story
Cinematography is effectively used throughout the film to help create complete and informative scenes that push for the theme of violence throughout the film. Cinematography, in this case, refers to the act of capturing photographic images through the use of controllable elements like camera movements, camera shots, and framing (Schatz, 1981, p.82). \u00a0Scorsese uses different angles and frames to pass across specific information on the film. For example, in the beginning scene where the three main characters Tommy, Jimmy, and Henry are in the car, a frame as well as an extremely long shot are used to imply that the three are connected by friendship, trust, and business even before the audience learns of their relations and motives. The framing of the three characters, as well as the use of the camera shots in the scenes, helps to create an underlying connection at the beginning of the movie. In another shot where Karen holds a gun and looks at it from above, Scorsese uses a medium shot to help introduce the idea of human choice. Karen in the scene is forced to make a choice based on her emotions and feelings, and the use of medium shot helps to bring out her conflict on the decision to make (Schatz, 1981, p.82). Subsequently, when Karen points her gun towards Henry to kill him because of betrayal, a close-up camera shot is used to illustrate that the gun is not just a weapon, but rather it is the symbol of the leading role in the film as it determines who dies and who remains alive. Additionally, in the scene where the black man was shot by Tommy in a few seconds, an extreme long shot was used to reflect on the fugacity of life as well as the human inabilities to control the event. Furthermore, the scene where the two dead bodies lie in a pink car represents the use of a long shot to send the message of a cruel murder. Additionally, Scorsese uses key camera angles to serve as part of the visual language of the film where even if one misses the message or tone used by the characters the angles helps to pass across the message (Schatz, 1981, p.82). For example, an eye-level angle is used when Henry cooks at home making him appear like an ordinary character with the demands inherent to people such as working and communication. However, a low angle is used when Henry stands close to the car with the dead Billy to illustrate that his character has something interesting to tell the audience and that his role will be dangerous. Lastly, a high angle is used when Karen is crying upon discovering that her husband is arrested to bring out the feeling of hopelessness. Overall, the use of cinematography in the film helps to bring out the motives and roles of the characters while advancing that the movie is a gangster film which pushes for the role of violence (Schatz, 1981, p.82).
The Themes of Violence and Power
In conclusion, the film Goodfellas uses the cinematic techniques of lighting, editing, and mise-en-scene to push for the theme of violence and power throughout the picture. Lighting is dominantly used to set the tone and feeling in the film where a distinct red hue color is used in the framing of the events to create the ambiance that the film is dominated by violence and deaths. Secondly, mise-en-scene is creatively used to set the pace for the events of the film, where the setting and costumes of the characters best convey the image, personality, and status of the characters whereas the frames help to make the film more captivating while pushing for the theme of violence. Lastly, cinematography is effectively used throughout the film to help create complete and informative scenes that push for the theme of violence throughout the film. Overall, the different cinematic techniques used by Scorsese in the film, play out together to push for the gangster narrative in the film.
References
Kuhn, A. and Westwell, G., (2012). A dictionary of film studies. Oxford University Press.
McArthur, C., (2007). Iconography of the Gangster Film (from Underworld USA, 1972). The Gangster Film Reader, p.39.
Schatz, T., (1981). Hollywood genres: Formulas, filmmaking, and the studio system. McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages.
