The scene that I decided to select for this week's activity was from the movie "Miracle" starring Kurt Russell. For those who are unfamiliar with the movie it is about the 1980 U.S. Olympic gold medal hockey team. The movie depicts the teams journey from tryouts to the gold medal game and medal ceremony at the Lake Placid winter games. The main challenge standing in the way of this group of kids fresh out of college is the team from the Soviet Union. The Soviets have been on an undefeated winning streak for a number of years, beating any team standing in their way. This includes NHL all-star teams. Also, the Soviets have won the gold in hockey every year since the 1960 winter Olympic games.
With all of this in mind, the scene that I have selected to analyze comes from the first time that the U.S. plays the Soviet superpower. Eleven days before the opening ceremonies at Lake Placid the two teams play a game at Madison Square Garden in New York. The scene begins with a wide angle shot from the rafters of the building showing both teams lined up on their respective bluelines before the game. In this shot, the audience is given a perspective look at the magnitude of the event. Not only does the viewer see both teams squared off in opposition, but they also get a good view of the crowd that has turned out to watch the game. There are thousands of people in the stands to watch the game, and this view immediately gives the game a sense of importance as everyone seems to be at the game.
After the shot from the rafters the film takes several close-up shots of the coach for the U.S. team and the coach of the Soviet team. In each close-up, the coach of the opposing team appears over the shoulder of the coach in focus. The camera then proceeds to blend these two images together, and in order to create tension it shows several stare downs between the two coaches. Then, when the centers glide in to take the opening face off, the U.S. center is shot from above making him appear smaller and weaker than he really is. The Soviet center is shown with low upward looking camera angles making him appear taller and stronger. This affect puts the power in the hands of the Soviets, and the viewer who is pulling for the U.S. gets the feeling that the task at hand will be a difficult one for the U.S. hockey team.
When the puck is dropped and the game begins, the audience is kept on the edge of their seats as the camera whips around the ice surface at a frantic pace. There are several swirling shots, and picture changes from one camera to another and yet another. This constant switching of perspective through the different cameras provides a sense of speed and intensity to the game. In real time, the players themselves are not moving all that quickly, but with low camera angles from the ice surface, shot through moving moving feet and sticks, this sense of speed is further enhanced. Also, at certain times the game is shot as a reflection in the plexiglass surrounding the rink. This view shows the reaction of the fans in the stands, while still depicting what is happening on the ice. Seeing the fan's reactions to certain plays increases the sense of urgency and difficulty for the players from the U.S. team.
In all, as a depiction of a sporting event, the camera shots and angles work to effectively increase the sense of intensity with which the game is being played. The camera creates a high stakes environment, and it really works to play off the viewer's preconceptions that these two teams are at odds with one another. Additionally, the camera shots are able to create a frenzied and fast paced game that the Americans are ill equiped to play at this point in the movie. The camera accomplishes the dramatic shots that are necessary to creating a thrilling sporting event, and it also causes the adrenaline of the viewer to pump at full force. Conclusively, this scene puts the viewer square in the middle of the action, and I think that it is a fine piece of film making.
With all of this in mind, the scene that I have selected to analyze comes from the first time that the U.S. plays the Soviet superpower. Eleven days before the opening ceremonies at Lake Placid the two teams play a game at Madison Square Garden in New York. The scene begins with a wide angle shot from the rafters of the building showing both teams lined up on their respective bluelines before the game. In this shot, the audience is given a perspective look at the magnitude of the event. Not only does the viewer see both teams squared off in opposition, but they also get a good view of the crowd that has turned out to watch the game. There are thousands of people in the stands to watch the game, and this view immediately gives the game a sense of importance as everyone seems to be at the game.
After the shot from the rafters the film takes several close-up shots of the coach for the U.S. team and the coach of the Soviet team. In each close-up, the coach of the opposing team appears over the shoulder of the coach in focus. The camera then proceeds to blend these two images together, and in order to create tension it shows several stare downs between the two coaches. Then, when the centers glide in to take the opening face off, the U.S. center is shot from above making him appear smaller and weaker than he really is. The Soviet center is shown with low upward looking camera angles making him appear taller and stronger. This affect puts the power in the hands of the Soviets, and the viewer who is pulling for the U.S. gets the feeling that the task at hand will be a difficult one for the U.S. hockey team.
When the puck is dropped and the game begins, the audience is kept on the edge of their seats as the camera whips around the ice surface at a frantic pace. There are several swirling shots, and picture changes from one camera to another and yet another. This constant switching of perspective through the different cameras provides a sense of speed and intensity to the game. In real time, the players themselves are not moving all that quickly, but with low camera angles from the ice surface, shot through moving moving feet and sticks, this sense of speed is further enhanced. Also, at certain times the game is shot as a reflection in the plexiglass surrounding the rink. This view shows the reaction of the fans in the stands, while still depicting what is happening on the ice. Seeing the fan's reactions to certain plays increases the sense of urgency and difficulty for the players from the U.S. team.
In all, as a depiction of a sporting event, the camera shots and angles work to effectively increase the sense of intensity with which the game is being played. The camera creates a high stakes environment, and it really works to play off the viewer's preconceptions that these two teams are at odds with one another. Additionally, the camera shots are able to create a frenzied and fast paced game that the Americans are ill equiped to play at this point in the movie. The camera accomplishes the dramatic shots that are necessary to creating a thrilling sporting event, and it also causes the adrenaline of the viewer to pump at full force. Conclusively, this scene puts the viewer square in the middle of the action, and I think that it is a fine piece of film making.
posted by nbuck at 4:51 PM
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