Essay Sample on The Art of Cinematic Language: How the Coen Brothers Draw Emotion

Introduction

Cinematic language is a language that the writer utilizes to connect, entertain, and draw certain emotions from his audience. The writer does not have to use words, but sounds, camera lights, and tracks can all serve the purpose. A countryside view is supposed to relax the audience, while the scene in the dark, quiet room creates suspense, which draws the attention of the audience. The Coen brothers use a variety of cinematic languages to communicate with and draw emotions from their audience.

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The movie's title does not seem to make sense to most people until they understand the end. The movie where a lunatic is after a man who did not know what he brought himself into does not seem to have anything with older men not having a country. However, upon close reflection, among the older men who do not have a country is Bell, the investigator, as he feels issues are getting out of hand. According to Emerson (2), the title is a summary of all the happenings of the movie: old men losing their previous peaceful country. The hunting scene where Moss finds a helpless and severely injured drive who asks for water but fails to help him is an act of diminishing humanity (00:04:13- 00:06:15). The scene also reflects the movie's title, as in the earlier centuries in such a scenario, the passer-by would have been fast to help. Maybe call the police. However, in this case, Moss is skeptical, does not help the stranger despite him being helpless. He takes away his gun and leaves, which is a symbol of the loss of humanity, the old men losing their country.

The theme of the movie also rotates around the law but does not end with justice, as Chigurh gets away with lots of murder. The script is not an accident; the Coen brothers intentionally started the movie with the Bell speaking on the law, a man being arrested, and pursue a criminal throughout the movie. The movie is centered around the law, but ends in a vice versa way, with the criminal not being brought to justice. The theme is also supported through camera angles and lighting at the start (00:03:03- 00:05:17). The movie starts with a dark background, the sun starting to rise. Soon the sun comes up, bringing light and life to the once supposedly dead countryside. On a bright morning, the first happening is Bell speaking of the law, how his lineage has a history of being law keepers. The dark setting that that gradually fills with light and becomes lively is an intention language used by the movie to bring the audience to focus on the details and be drawn to the details (Emerson 4). The shift from a long shot to an up-close also draws the emotions of the audience.

In the hunting scene, the camera angle is a language that the movie uses. Moss is in his normal activities, chasing an escaping wounded animal. The camera shifts from a swift movement to a stop. The man who was chasing becomes startled by a sudden change of events. The camera slowly shifts from long shots to up closes (00:06:50). The setting remains the same, but the activities are entirely different. As Moss shifts his attention from his hunting and tries to understand why there are trucks in the middle of a jungle, the camera angles change. The cameras reveal details slowly, as Moss moves stealthily from one truck to another suspiciously. He has not understood what is happening yet until he sees the injured driver. As he opens every door, he is ready for an ambush, which adds to the suspense of the audience (00:07:03- 00:08:15). Details are not revealed all at once, to build the desire to see more. The silence during the scene also draws all attention to Moss and is accompanied by up-close shots to connect the audience with the happenings of the scene emotionally. Even after Moss leaves the scene and goes looking for the man who had escaped, his identity is not revealed immediately. Moss has to wait for some minutes to see if he moves. The long-shot captures the attention of the audience, as they fear what could happen to Moss.

Writers and directors utilize different cinematic languages to communicate with and elucidate emotions from their audiences. In the movie No Country for Old Men, the Coen brothers utilize camera angles as a cinematic language. The link between camera angle and what is happening is a way of developing emotions from among their audience. The revelation of small details as a scene unfolds ensures viewers anticipate for more. It is also a way to raise emotion. How much emotion a movie arouses accounts for how effective it was in passing its message. The Coen brothers also gave the movie a title that is not easy to understand, unless an individual thinks through the happenings of the film. The need to study it more profoundly creates a thrill for those who like discovery.

Works Cited

Morsink, Thijs. No Country for Old Men. YouTube.(2007). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRQAcPT_50I

Emerson, Jim. No Country for Old Men: Out in all that dark. (2007). Retrieved from https://www.rogerebert.com/scanners/no-country-for-old-men-out-in-all-that-dark