Rewatch 003 Focus
For a film that is more complicated to analyze, it is the first time that the creator's "golden thread" has not been found in the opening 15 minutes. It is worth remembering, perhaps from multiple dimensions.
1. Who/What, Why, How
These three keywords can also be used to disassemble the film. "Focus" is a typical "what" type. What happened?
The priest was sexually assaulted, and the media dug up and reported it.
Why, there are several dimensions. The most important thing is naturally why we talk about this content at this time and this time. This involves the creator's analysis of the times and personal opinions. "The priest sexually assaulted and deliberately covered up" has shaken the typical religion of the United States. The foundation of a country is not only about belief, but more importantly, a belief—trust.
Belief, which can be seen as a concept composed of what is believed and pursued, guides the direction and the future, is very important and fundamental.
This natural trust is destroyed, and the consequences are unimaginable. Of course, it can also be extended to a metaphorical relationship that destroys the trust relationship of the entire era.
Therefore, "the priest is sexually assaulted and deliberately concealed" = "faith mining / trust is destroyed". This is what the creator found, and asked why trust was destroyed. There are also some lines in the film. In the face of prudent protection and cover-up in the name of professional ethics, it eventually caused the group's unconscious disaster.
So, the creator found the golden thread - belief/trust destroyed (belief/trust rebuild). Careful observation is not difficult to find that each scene is designed with various character relationships, the temptation of forces, and the exchange of forces all revolve around the estrangement and reconstruction of "belief" (trust).
So, how is easy to answer, if the belief (trust) is not there, there is only one way to rebuild, let it be known to the world - the new belief (trust) can only be reborn from the ashes of the old belief (trust) .
"Focus" is to show the process of destroying and rebuilding belief (trust).
2. Why what, not who
Movies can be mechanically divided into two types: telling people and telling stories. Hollywood is good at telling things. "Focus" is also about things, and the reason is simple, because this thing itself is strong enough, and people have to serve things.
Since it is a matter of fact, and chose to show destruction and reconstruction, and the goal is so important. Naturally, it pays attention to the issue of narrative efficiency. The film's greatness lies in the high efficiency and accuracy of its presentation.
Speaking of people, the emphasis is on moisturizing things silently, imaginatively, and emotionally permeating; when speaking about things, the emphasis is on the blood of the sword, the biochemistry at the end, and the concentrated detonation of emotions. Apparently Focus did it all.
3. Speed problem
The narrative speed of this film is the same as that of "Magnolia", which obviously feels very fast. This is an interesting point, although the reasons are different, but the way of presentation is the same.
The particularity of the selected subject matter of "Focus" determines that the audience will care about the results/what they really want. Therefore, speeding up the speed and creating a sense of tension can not only improve the efficiency, but also satisfy the audience's desire to explore and express the creator's urgency. A sense of urgency and a sense of urgency, if the camera slows down, it's a bit "not my own business".
The sense of speed of "Magnolia" comes from the sense of fate shrouded in the whole film and the sense of the hand of God punishing the world, as if the acceleration should let the audience see the inevitability of cause and effect.
The reasons are different, but the methods are similar.
Finally, the movie also accommodates content beyond the first three - if everyone does it wrong, then everyone has to pay.
In general, the creator has a clear goal and the method chosen is also appropriate, and can be willing to be a bully in front of "theme energy" in a timely manner, but still carry private goods. On the one hand, he is talking about the destruction and reconstruction of trust, and shows the system The function of supervision/check and balance, on the one hand, says that everyone is at fault and has to bear the price, and some unnecessary "benevolence" of hitting and rubbing.
Still, it's a good example of narrative learning.
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