1000 word essay on the evolution of Baz Luhrman's directorial style. Films discussed: Moulin Rouge, The Great Gatsby and Romeo plus Juliet. Shown through his cinematic language: colour, camera movements and light; his storytelling techniques: intertextuality, appropriation, pastiche and fragmentati...
The evolution of Luhrman’s directorial style is shown through his cinematic
language: colour, camera movements and light; his storytelling techniques:
intertextuality, appropriation, pastiche and fragmentation; and his belief in a
‘theatrical cinema’. In each film, Luhrman as presented Romeo + Juliet and Moulin
Rouge using a similar style and The Great Gatsby using a different style in order to
make the film truer to the original text.
In Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge, Luhrman uses super colour to emphasise the
extravagance of the clothing, people and the society whereas in The Great Gatsby,
Luhrman uses bright colour in a more subdued manner. In Romeo + Juliet, the party
scene has many examples of super colour such as the confetti, balloons and streamers.
Often the characters brush up against the camera to show the carnivalesque aspect of
the costume such as Cleopatra, the angel and astronaut. The rapid camera movements,
in conjunction with the super colour, overwhelm the audience whilst encouraging
participation throughout the party scene. In Moulin Rouge, Spectacular, Spectacular
uses super colour on the stage to represent a Bollywood genre. The colours, from the
draping around the stage and the blue painted Le Chocolate, create a carnivalesque
technique that makes the audience unsure of where to focus. The fast camera
movements and aerial shots allow for the fabric of the costumes to brush up against
the camera. The use of steadicam in Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge encourage the
audience to participate. In The Great Gatsby, white fabric is brushed up against the
camera when the audience sees Daisy for the first time. The use of bright colours is
evident during the scenes of Gatsby’s parties but the colours are subtler. Luhrman
uses aerial shots and steadicam when filming Gatsby’s parties but this does not
require the audience to participate as it did in his other two films. All three of the
films use blue tones to create a sombre mood. It is clear the Luhrman’s use of super
colour lessens as his cinematic language changes. Thus Luhrman’s directorial style
changes.
In The Great Gatsby, Luhrman uses light as an editing technique but in Romeo +
Juliet and Moulin Rouge, he uses light for dramatic effect. In Romeo + Juliet, the
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller kaityjericevich. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.21. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
