Cinderella 2015

For my second year of study I had to begin to look at and analyse films. I had to watch a film from the pre 1990's, the 1990's and a film that has recently been released in the cinema or on DVD. The film that I decided to watch that has been recently released was the 2015 live action remake of the original 1950's Disney's 'Cinderella' which is also based upon the original fairytale book by Charles Perrault. The film is directed by Kenneth Branagh and stars Lily James as Cinderella, Richard Madden as The Prince, Cate Blanchett as the Evil Stepmother and Helena Bonham Carter as the fairy godmother, among many other well known actors and actresses.

Whilst watching the film I quickly realised that it was a romance fantasy film. The film instantly starts with the opening words of 'once upon a time'; this is an instant phrase used within many fantasy films and fairy tales. The film also opens with the narrator saying that Cinderella believes in magic, and when asking her mother who looks after her, gets the answer, 'fairy godmothers'.

 One of the themes associated with fantasy films, as mentioned in the book 'An Introduction To Film Genres' by Lester Friedman, is magic or inexplicable forces which are usually associated with traditional magical creatures, such as witches and fairy godmothers. One of the main features of the Cinderella films and books is the fairy godmother who, in this remake, is played by the actress Helena Bonham Carter, and this instantly makes the film part of the fantasy genre. Cinderella is also set in a made up, unnamed magical kingdom, which is also another feature of the fantasy genre.

Cinderella also features many different transformations, this is a feature associated with both the romance and fantasy genre. One of the famous scenes within this film is the transformation that Lily James goes through in the garden of her home, before the ball at the palace, assisted by her fairy godmother. Her clothes are changed from tattered rags to a beautiful blue off the shoulder ball gown with butterfly detailing, and it was these magical butterflies which appeared from the fairy godmother's wand which helped to transform Cinderella before becoming a feature of the dress itself. This is done through the use of magic and a magic wand, which is also another classic feature of a fantasy film. The other transformations come from the pumpkin being turned into a carriage, lizards been turned into footmen, mice turned into horses and a goose being turned into a driver.

The magic that the fairy godmother uses on Cinderella also runs out at midnight adding to the idea of magic and fantasy. The glass slipper is another famous feature of the Cinderella film, and within it acts as a symbol and emblem of a way for Cinderella to get to and be with the prince. This is another element of a fantasy film by containing a magical glass slipper and a way out of sadness and into the fanciful happiness of true love.

Throughout the film Cinderella is seen as a naturally pretty and free character compared to her two sisters who are always heavily made up with their hair styled. Having an attractive protagonist female, who gets all of her wishes granted as Cinderella does, is also another important feature of fantasy films. From my knowledge of another fantasy films, death of the protagonist's family is another major feature and, in this Cinderella film, both of her parents die, and this can be draw to a parallel of other fantasy films where the main character is orphaned, for example Harry Potter and the Batman films. Although I have listed many examples of why this film is part of the romance fantasy genre there are many other elements that can be seen clearly throughout.

https://threadbythread.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/a-cinderella-story-part-ii/

https://lechristmascarol.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/cinderella-2015-review/

Motifs are features of a film which are repeated, and these aspects can add to the mood or theme of a film. One of the motifs that  I noticed whilst watching 'Cinderella' came in the form of the outfits that her stepmother wore. Many of the outfits included the colour green and, as like in the film 'Gone With The Wind', which I have also written about, seems to represent jealousy within a character and the jealousy that the stepmother feels towards Cinderella; this jealousy can be seen through out the film with the looks and the treatment the stepmother displays towards Cinderella. The jealousy that I think is represented through the clothes is spoken about in one of the closing scenes of the film where Cinderella confronts her stepmother about why she treats her badly, Cinderella says, 'no one deserves to be treated as you have treated me, why do you do it? Why? Why?' Her stepmother responds by saying, 'Because you are young, and innocent, and good. And I...' These words clearly show the jealousy towards Cinderella.

One of the other motifs that I noticed in the film was the idea of being kind and having courage will, 'see you through all the trials that life can offer'. The words of 'have courage and be kind' are repeated throughout this film rendering the idea further. Cinderella is told this by her mother when she is on her death bed and throughout the film Cinderella repeats it in times which she might find difficult such as meeting her stepmother and step sisters. She also tells this to the prince when she first meets him. As well as being a motif I think that this is one of the many moral elements and lessons that are highlighted throughout the film. Another moral lesson and motif that is used within the film is the idea that you are enough as you are. The Prince Kit is told that he must choose himself a wife and that she must be a Princess. Kit however is not pleased with this idea as he is already in love with Cinderella, who is not a Princess. The theme of Kit not choosing a wife based on wealth and power  but choosing his wife for love, no matter who she is, is important throughout the film and a moral lesson that you are always enough. This idea is also backed up at the end of the film, when the fairy god mother and narrator says, 'Would who she was, who she really was, be enough? There was no magic to help her this time. This is perhaps the greatest risk that any of us will take, to be seen as we truly are.' Cinderella ask the Prince 'Will you take me as I am? An honest country girl who loves you?' To which he responds 'Of course I will.' The use of moral lessons within the film are very important due to the young audience which would be watching this film. The film has the power to teach lessons to young viewers; the ideas of being king, having courage and being enough as you are.

The Evil Stepmother

I decided to focus on Cinderella's stepmother when looking at the use of styling throughout film and how the styling adds to the story line as well as any styling motifs used. The first scene where the stepmother, Cate Blanchett, appears is the initial meeting that she has with Cinderella. At this time it appears that she is still in mourning for her dead husband as she is wearing a predominately black  outfit and her hair and face are partially covered by black netting, which is normally associated with the mourning process, and the way that her face is partially covered adds to some of the mystery of her character further.

http://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Cate-Blanchett-Stepmother-Cinderella-2015-37067931#photo-37067931

 Throughout the film her hair is very sleek glossy and she is always seen wearing a red lip with very pale skin. I think that this is meant to represent her high maintenance and greedy persona. Her styling throughout very obviously contrasts with that of Cinderella who is always very natural looking with loose hair and minimal, if not any, make up. In certain scenes of the film, such as the party scenes, her clothing is very heavily jewelled and she wears large gem necklaces and earrings. I think that this also represents her materialistic nature.

https://www.pinterest.com/feminedgy/costumes/

Her clothing is also very rich in colour and print, for example the leopard print coat which to me represents her love of money and expensive design. She is often seen wearing feathers in her hair, which are usually associated with exotic, far off locations, adding further to the idea that she has expensive taste. As noted in the motifs section, her clothing often contains the colour green, which is usually associated with the idea of jealousy, and to me represents the jealousy that she feels towards Cinderella. I thought that the styling throughout was very beautiful and captured the ideas and images which I have had in my head since I was small about how she would have looked.

http://www.marieclaire.com/culture/news/a13427/cate-blanchett-cinderella-clip/

http://abiteofspain.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/cinderella-2015-hand-fans.html

Pretty Woman 1990

After choosing 'Gone With The Wind' from 1939 and 'Cinderella' from 2015, I had to choose a film released in the 90's. I decided to choose the film 'Pretty Woman', starring Julia Roberts, a poor prostitute working in downtown LA, and Richard Gere, a rich successful business man, directed by Garry Marshall. It is one of my favourite films and I thought that it would be interesting to look deeper at a film that I normally take at surface value.

This film falls under the romantic comedy genre, and many of the themes and iconography associated with romantic comedy, which I studied in more detail in 'An Introduction To Film Genre', feature very highly within 'Pretty Woman'. 'Pretty Woman' features the basic plot structure associated with many romantic comedies; the couple meet, fall in love, separate and then reunite. This is a common plot structure which can found in many romantic comedies, such as 'Notting Hill', another 90's film also starring Julia Roberts. Many romantic comedies are based on previous books or fairytales. 'Pretty Woman' is a modern day remake of 'Cinderella'. Julia Roberts plays the poor unfortunate Cinderella and Gere plays the rich Prince Charming who comes to rescue her. There are many references to fairytales throughout and also references to Cinderella.

The film features two very different characters, both in the paths that their lives have taken, as well as their outlook on life and how they operate. Gere plays Edward, a highly successful and uptight business man, who likes to plan and be in control of everything and in some ways is out of touch with the real world and the 'street life' of America. This is in contrast to Robert's character, Vivian, 'a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl', street wise prostitute. She is very confident and bold, in both her character and styling. As well as having contrasting personalities, differing backgrounds and social classes is also a major element within the romantic comedy genre. This was called the screwball era of film making, as written about in 'Looking At Movies An Introduction To Film' by Richard Bradshaw. Edward went all the way with school and came from a high achieving background, whereas Vivian dropped out in the 11th grade. Edward was born into wealth whereas Vivian had to become a prostitute to make money. Although they differ in many ways they also share some aspects, for example they both, 'don't joke about money', and are also ambitious, with Vivian saying that she 'wants to get out of here' and make a better life for herself.

Music and witty dialogue is also associated with romantic comedy, with much of the script between Gere and Roberts being very playful and flirtatious. The music chosen also helps to develop the story; many songs featuring wild women feature highly, especially when Vivian is getting ready for a night on the streets and when she is walking down the road. This shows off her wild life and that she does things that many women only dream about. The script does well to highlight Vivian's bold and bright personality, with clever scripts and well carried lines. The witty dialogue begins when they first meet, with Vivian charging Edward for every bit of advice she gives him, for example for telling him how to get to his hotel in Beverly Hills, and even charging him if he made any negative comment.

-Can you give me directions? 

-Sure, For five bucks. 

-Ridiculous.

-Price Just went up to ten.

-You can't charge me for directions.

-I can do anything I want to.

-I ain't lost.

-Alright. Ok.

-Alright. You win. I lose.

-Got change for a 20?

-For 20, I'll show you personal.

-Show you where the stars live.

This is one of my favourite exchanges between the two of them, as it shows Vivian's strong and independent character, her sassy attitude as well as her knowledge of the streets, but highlights Edward's vulnerable side to real life.

Visual transformations and shopping on Rodeo Drive are also a major element within romantic comedies. Both of these things are major elements in 'Pretty Woman'; Vivian transforms, after an ultra expensive shopping trip funded by Edward's extreme wealth, from a seductivley dressed women, to a glamorous, sophisticated and stunning lady. This transformation is made very clear in the most famous scene within the film. Vivan returns to a shop, where they would previously not serve her as the assistants said there was nothing appropriate, dressed in beautiful clothing, looking very wealthy and and says, 

-Hi. Do you remember me?

-No, I'm sorry.

- I was in here yesterday.

You wouldn't wait on me.

You work on commission, right?

-Yes.

Big mistake. 

Big. Huge.

I have to go shopping now.

Thank you.

This is also one of my favourite scenes as again it shows her strong character, but also shows that even though she is dressed more ladylike you cannot change her personality and strength of self justice.

Edward's wealth is also an important part of the film as, in many romantic comedies, one of the couple is usually well off. This is so that it is easier for the film to focus on the love and the wooing of the other half, as there are no real life worries, such as money, getting in the way.

Whilst watching 'Pretty Women' I noticed some motifs within the film. The phrase, 'beck and call' features many times. At the beginning, Gere is on the phone to his ex wife, who tells him that she feels that she is at his 'beck and call', even though he assures her that she is not. He repeats this phrase to Julia Roberts, saying that she will be at his 'beck and call' during their business agreement of her being paid to stay with him for the week. I thought the use of this phrase highlighted the pure business between the two at the beginning of the film rather than that of something on a  romantic level.

Feminism is also another feature of this film; many times Vivian, as well as her friend Kit, repeat the phrase, 'we say who, we say when, we say how much'. I thought that this represented the idea of individual strength that Vivian has as well as even though she is selling her body to make money, she is still in control of how it is used and that she would not be taken advantage of. Another motif that I noticed within the film was Edward telling Vivian to stop fidgeting; this only occurred when she was dressed in her expensive clothing. I think that this was meant to represent that she was out of her comfort zone and nervous and that even though she was dressed elegantly and beautifully she was still unable to conform to that way of acting and carrying the clothes in a way that a women of high society might. Vivian calling the hotel room 'home' also occurred frequently. I think that this showed some of her innocence and also that she didn't have a stable place which she could call home and that for her home was wherever she was sleeping.

Vivian

I had to focus on one character from the film to analyse their clothing. I decided that I would focus on Vivian, although this seems like an obvious choice I have always admired her clothing, beauty and the transformation that she undertakes within the film. In the beginning of the film her clothing and styling clearly reflects that of the lifestyle that she is living, as well as indicating her lack of money. We see her colouring in her boots with a black marker to cover up patches where the colour is fading, as well as learning later on that her boots are being held up by safety pins. In the beginning of the film her styling is very bold and messy looking. She wears a very short dress, with a blue skirt and and white top held together by a metal ring, pulled in at the centre of her stomach. It is very revealing due to its length and use of cut outs, reflecting the type of work she is involved in and that her allure and attraction to men is the way that she survives. She is wearing thigh high vinyl boots which, like the short dress, highlights the length and look of her legs. She also carries a bright red coat, which also adds to her bold look, her neck is also laden with many necklaces, big hooped earrings and she wears a cap. At this point in the film her make up is at its heaviest. She has a dark smokey eye and red lip, a look that is commonly associated with prostitutes. She is also wearing a blonde, bob style wig which makes her stand out, also showing that she needs to be bold to make a living. Although her look is very wild, it is however, to me, more toned down than the other women that she works alongside. Her make up is more natural than the others, which I think, is meant to represent that she is new to that way of life and is in some ways more innocent than the women around her, and that she wants more for her life than to stay where she is. To me her skin stands out as it is extremely smooth and flawless. The other women around her look more messy than she does, which to me also reflects her innocence and in some ways purity.

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http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/21/entertainment/pretty-woman-movie-anniversary-feat/

After meeting Gere's character she enters the hotel with him, this to me is where her outfit becomes its most shocking as it stands out far more, due to the women and setting that she is surrounded by. The hotel is expensive, and the women around her are wearing far more sophisticated and ladylike clothing. The contrast against the other guests at the hotel is most evident when one women tells her husband to close his mouth. In the beginning scenes her red coat acted as a prop for her character and as a way of being more alluring, however as she walks around the hotel in it, it becomes more of a security blanket and a way of protecting her self from the looks of the people around her. She still though manages to stand out due to the brightness of its colour and the fact that everyone around her seems to be wearing very earthy and neutral tones of grey and white.

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Early on in the film she gets rid of her wig, revealing a mass of red curls. This transformation highlights more of her wild character and allows her to stand out even more from the people around her who are groomed and tidy.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pretty-woman-reunion-julia-roberts-783912

The first time that we see Vivian looking more like a lady is when she is sitting in the lobby wearing a black lace cocktail dress waiting for Edward to go out to dinner. Her make up is more natural and her hair, even though still quite wild, is pulled back away from her face which, I think, shows a growth in maturity and class. At the polo match she continues with her refinement of style, with a polka dot silk dress and matching hat. Where I think that she looks most beautiful is at the opera when she wears a long red gown, displaying her beautiful figure and narrow shoulders, as well as long white gloves which help to elongate her arms. This is a very sophisticated and old Hollywood look. In this scene people are staring at her as she is walking through the lobby of the hotel, not because she looks shocking, but because she looks stunning. Her make up is very classic at this point with a neutral eye and bright red lip which contrasts with her first look where it was very heavy on both the eye and lip. Her dress is paired with a large, expensive necklace, loaned out by Edward, which later on becomes a symbol of her. After Vivian and Edward part ways he goes back to ask for the necklace to be returned. The hotel manager, who has been watching their relationship, states that, 'It must be difficult to let go of something so beautiful', when referring to the necklace, however using it as a reference to Vivian. This causes Edward to go out and reunite with Vivian.

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http://theladyintweed.tumblr.com/post/75183277705/theladyintweed-pretty-woman

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https://www.pinterest.com/adiamyles/pretty-woman-style/

The final outfit of the film sees Vivian wearing jeans and a blazer, this indicates the idea that she has grown up, refined her style and has decided to make a new life for herself up in San Francisco and is going to college. I don't think I have seen a film with such beautiful outfits which add so well and aid to the story line in the way that Vivian's outfits do. The styling helped to transform her from a woman to a lady.

https://mychicweek.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/pretty-stylish/