How To Analyze Movies - Film Studies 101

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CAST & CREW
Co-edited by Ryan Alva
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TWITTER: / patrickhwillems
INSTAGRAM: / patrickhwillems
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Music by Epidemic Sound
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Patrick Willems
P.O. Box 380333
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00:00 Intro
03:50 Asking Why
07:08 What Is The Story Saying
11:22 Visual Language
13:07 Style & Aesthetic
16:45 Perspective
18:41 Lenses
23:53 Color
27:45 Aspect Ratio
30:54 Lighting
32:58 Blocking & Camera Movement
39:34 Editing
46:37 Sound
55:50 Putting It All Together
01:01:28 Auteur Theory
01:07:32 Cinema History
01:10:48 Genre
01:15:11 Other Lenses
1:18:09 - Ending

[@cmjunk3973]

Holy crap, making a video like this is like you read my mind. I've been wanting to get better at film analysis lately.

[@blokey8]

If you didn't see it already, you might like Film Crit Hulk's "glossary of film language" video. It pairs nicely with this video (Patrick covers a little of the same ground but Hulk goes into shot angles, colour grades etc in a way that's detailed but really accessible)

[@christophermiller3031]

JSYK the great algorithm is the being that read your mind. PRAISE the great algorithm. 🙏

[@HarrisonReviews]

@@blokey8 what are you talking about, I can't find the video

[@philcollinslover56705]

@@HarrisonReviewskzbin.info/www/bejne/fYu6ZIKpfdWdn7ssi=wOQ9ZgN46IdBfvQQ

[@sidneyjacques.]

This video makes Home Alone look like a cinematic masterpiece that every cinefile should study. That's great work.

[@obrien92]

I literally spent 4 years and too much money getting a degree in this, but you bet your ass I'm not missing a Patrick upload

[@martinh8318]

I studied Film for five years and this is the most concise conveyance of the core principles of Film Studies that I think I've ever seen. Another great essay!

[@PaulZelenov]

It's very hard to overemphasize how actually epic this lecture is. Thank you, Patrick!

[@galactic85]

Thank you Patrick. I was an english major so I'm kind of used to asking "Why?" about every piece of art I consume, but there are plenty of young kids growing up right now who are learning to love movies. They need videos like this one to start them on their journey, not stupid reddit comment sections rehashing the same arguments over and over again about which movies are overrated.

[@SAKTHIIam]

Thank you so much sir

[@curlyvideos]

Their journey of what? Home Alone doesn't need help being lovable. It's the sausage-making behind it. You're a writless recruiter, clear as day, for the artist-socratic English. Or maybe it does. Maybe most movie fans think Austen's a place in Texas

[@tbotalpha8133]

@@curlyvideos ...What? What are you talking about?

[@thecall0ut]

@@tbotalpha8133 He's talking about how his hoe of a mother loves playing with sausages and was then recruited to be an artist on OF in England and that most of her fans are from a place in Texas called Austen.

[@biancachristie]

@@curlyvideos Wow! You really misunderstood the point of the video (if you even watched it), not to mention the comment to which you tried to write a response. Learning to become art- and media-literate, to understand and interpret how and why a creator makes choices, is valuable--it enriches the experience of watching, and especially, re-watching a movie. As the video itself says, you don't *need* analysis to love a movie; but, if you want it, this is how to do it. I learned a lot about a movie I've never looked at that closely before. If you already love Home Alone, you might love it even more if you took the time to watch this. To answer your question: read the original post again, because I don't think you took the time to understand it. "Their journey of 'learning to love movies.' Here are my questions for you: What does "writless" mean? Did you mean "witless"? For whom are you accusing the OP of being a "recruiter"? And can you explain what or who "the artist-socratic English" is or are? Do you mean the nation of England, or the English language?

[@AmazingBlur]

It almost brought a tear to my eye to think about some of this. Like the use of lenses on the old man or the use of warm colors on the mom while everything around her is cold, when I think about how I felt about this film as a kid and then look at these moments with this in mind the emotional impact hits me harder and it's just so sentimental and endearing.

[@papalosopher]

The difference in how Patrick looked between the two camera lengths at 00:20:00 was UPSETTING

[@tweeener]

lmao.. I'm not lying if I said it genuinely scared me 💀

[@bb6640]

Man, I wish I had film profs when I attended film school who could explain cinema as simply and succinctly as Patrick does here. Excellent!!

[@jacobscarberry4799]

It's the pompous cinema snob that some tend to be at schools that makes it insufferable most times. Even the most corporate films are and can be art

[@HowStoriesWork]

In an era where everyone gets an opinion (and they're usually bad), this is an excellent walkthrough of critique vs. opinion. Nice work! One of the things I found really interesting (as a writer) is that you spoke mostly in terms of storytelling and techniques, but didn't mention writing as much. And here's why I love that: The common KZbin take "it's bad writing" rarely applies. Because so much is done post-script that knowing how it was written is incredibly difficult. Great video! Now, I'd love to see a video on "why every amateur Twitter critic thinks writing is the problem." LOL

[@PauLtus_B]

"Bad writing" is pretty much a trigger that I know I'm in for some shitty criticism. It's such a broad and non-specific complaint and it's used like a hard fact about a creative choice: "For some reason the creators decided to go with BAD writing instead of GOOD writing."

[@ToddMurphyAU]

I'm guilty of accusing a film of bad writing. One that comes to mind was the joker. Help refining my criticism would be appreciated. Essentially I felt like it was well shot, had great acting and a good score. The script was what stood out to me as the issue and I (maybe not very creatively) can't think of what could have been done to turn that into a movie I would have enjoyed, without changing the writing.

[@PauLtus_B]

@@ToddMurphyAU I think the first thing you should think about is whether it's the general story didn't work for you or the moment to moment dialogue, or somewhere in between with the flow from scene to scene. All are, I suppose, part of writing and it's still broad but it's at least understandable what you're even talking about.

[@Mr_Case_Time]

I feel like I’ve heard a lot of KZbin film and TV critics using the words “bad writing” a lot lately. Rings of Power, She Hulk, Velma, Willow, the recent Marvel movies, etc., have all been labeled as products of bad writing. However valid that complaint might be, now I’m thinking there’s a lot more to it because of your comment. Thank you.

[@andrewdavies5835]

I think "bad writing" implies that the foundation stone of the movie is flawed and any amount of competent technique, talent, or large budget isn't going to redeem it.

[@blokey8]

I really like how this gently makes a really good case for learning to be media literate. I feel like it's often sort of... mis-sold to us in school as a thing you're meant to look for, rather than something that gives you full access to a story. Also, things you can use yourself. Turning the old "the curtains are just blue!" on its head, if you know your stuff, then curtains can be a weapon in your arsenal

[@tbotalpha8133]

I think it's also good to be media literate because it opens your mind to all the things that artists can do with their medium. Which then turns the question of "why did the artist do that?" into "why didn't the artist do this other thing?" Why did the artist go for a close-up instead of a wide shot? Why did the artist make this scene colourful instead of desaturated? Why did the artist make the score drop out in this sequence, instead of playing over it? By recognising the choices available to artists, you become able to see the intentionality within their art.

[@MixedNutsProductions]

This is fantastic, Patrick! As filmmakers ourselves and former film teachers, we can really appreciate what went into making this. You're one of the best film essayists out there. Keep up the great work!

[@chriskinsel8731]

Can’t wait to watch this Patrick. I teach a high school Intro to Film class. I look forward to hearing your insights.

[@jst25]

Just make sure you get your students to sign a permission slip before showing this in class. 16mm lens Patrick versus 105mm lens Patrick is the stuff of nightmares and existential crises.

[@osgoodbad]

Have you seen FILM CRIT HULK's "ABCs of cinematography?" I think they would be very good companion pieces.

[@DaveHaenze]

I've had this in my "Watch Later" list for months cause of the length... And then I started it and couldn't put it down. So much of what you describe I guess I could already "feel" even without thinking, and now watching your explanation I understand more about why I felt what I felt!

[@directorsclubpodcast8652]

Oh, and nicely done with the line "Give the same script to Alfred Hitchcock or Stanley Donen and you'll get very different films.", seeing as Donen's "Charade" is regarded as the best Hitchcock movie Hitchcock didn't actually make. Chef's kiss on sneaking that one into the video!

[@Dylan_Platt]

This video would've be worth making just for the color analysis of Home Alone, honestly. You broke that all down in a way that makes it staggeringly clear in hindsight, but I've seen that movie a thousand times and never picked up on that. Then later in the video, you cut back to the cops taking the Wet Bandits away at the end, and all I can see is that their sirens and brake lights are all red, pure warm tones as Home reasserts. Awesome stuff.

[@calumhemphill]

Chris Columbus fascinates me as a director, because he’s both a fairly bland filmmaker and the director of three of the most beloved modern live-action family films (the first Harry Potter, Home Alone and Mrs Doubtfire). I think his relative blandness becomes a strength - he allows Robin Williams all the space he needs to shine - same in Home Alone, he stands back and let’s Macauley Caulkin be the star - and is faithful to HP’s source material rather than doing a weird spin on it.

[@DanielAbernathy]

Assuming most of the things that Patrick pointed out are intentional, and of course just knowing how well executed Home Alone is, it's clear that Columbus is extremely talented. I think he lets his direction serve the story above all, avoiding spectacle or trying to create a distinct film style.

[@JoseGarnelo]

Mrs DOubtfire was listed as body horror in the wikipedia sub-genre list. Bless those internet trolls

[@Chakranimated]

I don't quite think "bland" is the word I'd use but I agree with your overall point. I too am fascinated by Columbus. Patrick's video actually provides great evidence that Columbus has an extremely strong grasp of the language and techniques of cinema, more so than most filmmakers, yet he's not quite an auteur (perhaps by choice) so we don't necessarily flock to see his next film nor can we describe his personal artistic style (aside from getting great performances out of child actors). I think he's essentially a filmmaker whose objective is to do the material justice to the best of his abilities. So his films are as good as the scripts they're based on. Ron Howard is another filmmaker I associate with this type of filmmaking, however Howard has had a longer and more commercially/critically successful career.

[@ihavesoul4real]

He serves the story.

[@andrewnorthrup8056]

I think he's one of those guys who is just very good at his job in an unflashy way. He knows his stuff and gets the job done and lets the movie speak for itself. Kind of reminds me of a Sidney Lumet type, but not as prolific.

[@johnrains2339]

My friends and I just watched every M. Night Shyamalan movie, and it was a delight applying auteur theory to his work. Common themes and occurrences we noticed: the color red, reflection shots, marital strife, depressed children, familial death, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania as a whole, water, and the importance of storytelling. Oh, and plot twists.

[@skrounst]

I honestly dont think people give M. Night the credit he deserves. Are all his movies cinematic masterpieces? No, but he knows how to A. Build suspense, B. Tell a full story, C. Go beneath surface level themes, and most importantly HE'S ORIGINAL, AND UNIQUE. You'd never watch an M. Night Shyamalan movie and mistake it for a Jon Favreau movie, or any other director for that matter. Even his lesser liked movies, like Devil, or Lady in the Water are a fun watch, and full of memorable moments. I think if he got someone to re-write some of his dialogue scenes, he'd be considered a savant, and one of the all time greats. I think you motivated me to do a M. Night marathon!

[@moviehoovie]

You just turned my 73-year-old mom into a cinephile, Patrick. She enjoyed it from first chapter to last and then we watched and analyzed Saturday Night Fever. Thank you! (And I'm working now on showing each of my friends...)

[@jkapp374]

I was a film student and Patrick's video here definitely sounds like the first couple of weeks of a very memorable class I took called "Directing for the Camera" Anyone who wants to become a great film director has to be able to break down a script and get to the core meaning and message of a film before directing it

[@dylanbrackett8286]

SUCH A GREAT VIDEO!!! As a person in a creative field, who has always loved movies, this was such a refreshing and honest look at the art and how to observe it. Literally an entire semester of intro to film class in an hour and a half.

[@jeremyjackson6892]

I very much enjoyed this style of content from you. Beyond my subjective enjoyment, though, this course seems highly appropriate given the current structure of online spaces and interactions. We are inundated with more media than ever before, so gaining the skills to extract meaning and more deeply engage with all this culture feels crucial. Recognizing the language of Film can also (potentially) inspire a greater diversity of online content creation. I fear we lose something meaningful when so many of our videos on KZbin, TikTok, and elsewhere are made with few if any genuine cinematic choices. It is like a written/spoken language gradually being stripped down to its basic components until it is purely utilitarian or only capable of eliciting simple emotions. Thank you for your effort here!

[@joelman1989]

Ok so, I know it was just an example of a potential reading but, I think if I’m understanding criticism right, taking things as intentional regardless of intent, reading the movie as class struggle might make sense because even if the authors didn’t explicitly decide to make a movie about that, there could be biases, internal fears, etc. That inform the decisions. Like making the villains blue collar was a choice. Someone at some point might have been subconsciously worried about blue collar people invading the upper middle class traditional home.

[@d_alistair-years]

KZbin channel Renegade Cut actually made a video with this analysis, citing John Hughes’ conservative politics as a potential reason for classism biases. I recommend it in relation to this vid ☝️

[@kendomyers]

Remember: fan service, nostalgia and packing in reference and tie-ins are the only requirement to make a good movie.

[@galactic85]

Don't forget you have to make your movie one big ad for the sequel above all else.

[@kendomyers]

@@galactic85 I almost forgot! Just throw in a scene without any context where a character from the planned sequel time travels back to establish a plot point for the next movie! And make sure its all established IP! Audiences hate new things.

[@shaneschumacher1689]

Of course. Why do you think the Mario movie made over a billion dollars

[@adeadgirl13]

Home Alone is about materialism and consumerism versus relationships and love. Everyone who pursues happiness through consumerism or greed, including Kevin, doesn't find lasting happiness. That only comes through love and relationships. Thanks for the great video. Now I can be annoying at parties too!

[@directorsclubpodcast8652]

Kudos to Patrick for this video! Even the shots, angles, and lighting in the most unassuming of movies come from hundreds of choices being made, and examining why they were made can not only lead to fun insights but at their best can reveal almost a whole other movie that was waiting for you "under the surface". One book that I can't praise highly enough for this purpose is Sidney Lumet's "Making Movies". He's made some of the greatest ones, from "12 Angry Men" to "Dog Day Afternoon" to "Network", and throughout the book he talks about his methods in the most plainspoken and accessible manner you could ever want. He completely avoids film school glossary terms like "mise en scene" or "diegetic" and, by direct description of his camera, lighting, and performance choices lets even the most casual film fan get an increased illumination of how a scene or film works as well as it does.

[@papayacatproductions]

Yessss. Love that book. He was such a great filmmaker, and it has such cool, specific insights.

[@Mokkari77]

Great book. He says sound mixing is the most boring part of film making. Funny that it's the favorite part for Christopher Nolan!

[@glazdarklee1683]

This is great. I recall reading an article that defines good criticism as evaluating if a movie has accomplished what it is attempting to do. This video helps me better understand the first step in this process: the determination of what, exactly a movie might be attempting to do.

[@1800astra]

I liked the idea that the film itself is always teaching you how to watch it.

[@Iyadkay]

This is the most refreshing video essay I've watched in a while. Although it's over an hour long, I didn't feel the length. If anything, each single moment felt like a scoop of ice cream rich with Cinematic spice. This is definitely that one video I'll keep coming back to now and again. Thank you for exposing me to this experience. 🥂

[@CaptainVryce]

Your normal videos have taught me a lot about movie intricacies, appreciating different shots of movies and themes, generally learning a deeper way to appreciate the movies I love. I'm really appreciative that you did this video so that I could learn more and that now there's a solid guide-stone I can point friends to if they want to learn more about movies to enhance their enjoyment. Sincerely, I appreciate you and thank you.

[@RATZGobbler]

I’m glad you made this video. The fact is most, if not all, film criticism I hear is just people telling they either liked or disliked it. And they often matchup with each other based on certain celebrities(mainly Talk Show/Podcast hosts) who voiced their opinions on it one episode. I’ve always loved taking apart whatever I’ve just watched in my head to see what makes it work or if I’m missing something everyone else gets. There are solid films I can’t say impressed me, like The Departed, and train wrecks that I’ve fallen in love with, like Waterworld. I hope families sit down to watch this, not because it’s going to “sophisticate” them, but it’s going to help them enjoy movies and get their money’s worth out of the theater. Also. Hey P. Willies(can I call you that?) what’s a really beloved film you don’t get the appeal of? Thanks so much!

[@icedcapplord710]

Alternate title: "How not to be a member of the Film Twitter community or r/movies"

[@katherinealvarez9216]

Well I'm out of luck. I avoided Twitter before it went up in flames.

[@Wired4Life2]

...And Love the Bomb! Seductive Mistress: _”A moving...”_ (moans) _“...picture.”_

[@kingstarscream320]

@@katherinealvarez9216 You mean before it was fixed?

[@Teaser7780]

Aka offer surface level contrarian views and being a dick nonstop

[@Yodaminnesota]

Film Twitter has a pretty good understanding in my experience. It's annoying and irritating for completely different reasons than Reddit, which doesn't know shit

[@BlueScarabGuy]

I'm only on part 1, but yeah, realizing that in a professional production of art, EVERYTHING is done with intention, that there is a "why" behind any element you can identify, is the key to appreciating art. Things don't just happen and show up onscreen. Even in cheap and bad movies, an element ended up there because the filmmakers wanted you to see it for a reason, even if that reason is stupid or shallow or doesn't make sense. Or if it WAS a happy little accident, yeah, it's either worth noting the circumstances that lead to it and how its presence affects the work, or considering that even if it wasn't done INTENTIONALLY, it wasn't REMOVED, because the creators decided it works. A little further in now, and the Psycho shower scene also established another great point: the collaborative nature of film. The whole idea of auteur theory was basically created to describe Hitchcock, but Hitchcock famously DID NOT EDIT HIS FILMS OR HAVE INPUT IN THE EDITING PROCESS. The moment filming was done, he handed it off to his trusted editor and started production on his next project. So the most famous scene of Hitchcock's most famous film? The vast majority of its strength, the editing, is completely absent of his influence. George Tomasini deserves the credit for it.

[@Mr_Movie_Fan]

0:43 ngl, that's the reason I started watching your channel during my youth, for educational purposes to tie me over until Film School

[@MechaPig227]

As a non Cinema studies major I do feel vindicated in the education my mom gave me walking through blockbuster as a eight year old and showing me alien and Casablanca and the breakfast club. She sat me down, showed me the movie and asked me what I thought. Analysis is fun!

[@jevinday]

You actually brought a tear to my eye when you talked about the lenses in the scene with old man Marley. I don't know shit about lenses. Just to know that Chris Columbus and the cinematographer cared enough to do that with the different lenses in order to convey the changing of emotions is amazing. The language of film is so incredible when done with care. It is a form of expression and media that brings a feeling that only a movie can. Kind of how a good book gives you a feeling that only a good book can. Learning these kinds of things makes me want to go to film school. I've been thinking about it

[@JDoactive]

Yeah that's why we spent 4 years at film school. People seem to think it's a useless degree or "just a hobby" until you explain or show them examples from movies they've watched.

[@nathanielfishburn9676]

I found the podcast "Blank Check" through your channel--sidebar: THANK YOU it's my new favorite--and their work is a stellar example of auteur theory done right For everyone not familiar, the podcast does miniseries about the careers of notable directors and how each of that director's films builds on each other, comments on the director, and was a byproduct and influence on the context in which they were made. Which is WAY headier than how it actually plays out. It's addictive and extremely insightful and entertaining.

[@shepparddenton8549]

i NEVER listen to podcasts, but i've listened to half of blank check in the past couple months. incredible, incredible pod

[@MariaVosa]

This sounds like my jam! Thank you!

[@MrOtistetrax]

Pretty impressive, Pat. That basically *was* an entire Film 101 course.

[@Ronster822]

No video is comparable to a proper formal education. This is some of Patrick's best work but I don't think it's necessary or helpful to slag off education to prop it up.

[@jobsmine]

@@Ronster822 I actually think it can be compared and might be even better. Just because a class is taught in a fancy building with high cost faculty doesn’t make the subject more valuable nor even better. After all education is about expanding our knowledge and generating critical thinking skills that can be applied to our experience. I think people might actually find this piece to better than a 101 film class.

[@alansilvestri8299]

This is amazing! As a newbie who always thought about meaning behind scenes but having a hard time explaining what I was seeing and feeling this was super interesting and useful, thanks for making this!!

[@kaiwilliams141]

I think videos like this are made just for me. I absolutely loved my college film analysis class. This is absolutely my kind of thing Great work Patrick.

[@Pneumanon]

I like the idea that theme is best encapsulated in a statement, for example “all you need is love” or “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”, or “greed is good”, etc. Typically this is a philosophical or worldview statement. A worldview statement is something that people either agree or disagree with, to varying degrees since we all have different worldviews. To put it simply, a statement creates conflict. This is the core conflict around which all other elements revolve.

[@sarat6488]

and just like *that*, 100 filmbro youtube channels were launched

[@seasong7655]

0:07 Seven seconds in and he's already breaking the 4th wall by looking directly into the camera, and making me feel like my safety of being an invisible observer is gone 🥹

[@robertloveall4842]

As someone who’s completing their Film Studies Minor I loved the simplicity and clarity with which you covered all of these topics. It was a great review for me

[@krach1854]

Congratulations, man! You did it again! An excellent and detailed video that's engaging and flies by despite its length. I'll definitely come back to it again and again for years to come

[@BrunoPozo4Real]

You just don’t miss Patrick 😭 loved this video. You leveled up my film analysis skills with this masterclass! Thank you for sharing this on youtube :)

[@gmnasir437]

I can't explain how much this video has paved a clearer way for me to analyze movies with a new perspective.

[@criticalhit009]

Great video! Two comments: 1. One crucial element of film that should be discussed is performance as well. 2. Everything discussed here also applies to analyzing animation.

[@itsfinel2p]

Absolutely love this video! I'd be curious to know if Home Alone was an obvious lock for the example movie or if there were others in consideration.

[@TendaiPottinger]

Love how clear and concise you gently lead me through ways to think, thank you Patrick!

[@arthurdurham]

I think all media analysis can be booked down to "intent" vs "product". Analyzing what the artist wanted to do and what was actually presented; and what caused those things. The rest is really just personal interpretation of how it made you feel.

[@Wyllies11]

That subtle burn on Tenet was very well done.

[@shostrong]

Thankyou so much for making this! I was literally looking for such a video last day❤️ I'm a film studies scholar and this really means a lot because often times I find it hard to pinpoint where exactly i should start when analysing a movie and this is like a structured guide. Really grateful!

[@Soadsgotaload]

Great video Patrick! I’m a video game developer and it’s really cool seeing some of the crossover between film and game productions and how we use different tools and terms but try to achieve the same things.

[@maxheadrom3088]

About Sound: I recently rewatched "Paris, Texas" and noticed the film uses direct sound most of the time - an impressive feat!

[@Sewer_Ghost]

I really enjoyed this particular take on film criticism, I'll be sure to analyze it and find the meaning in it (intended or not), and ask questions, such as why you chose to make a more academic 'class' style video, why you chose the movies for clips that you did, why Home Alone was chosen for analysis within the class, and the thematic reasons behind multiple endings.

[@wowzers94]

This is fascinating! Really opened my eyes to the often overlooked complexities of movies. Thanks for making this. I'll never think about a movie the same way!

[@philbrault3699]

I've genuinely been looking for this exact video for years. Film analysis has always been something that I felt like I didn't fully understand. I relate to your story where a teacher sat down with you to explain film analysis except in this case, I was the student and you were the teacher.

[@Boncomics]

14:25 Exactly. SPEED RACER was based on an old anime show. The FLASH had CGI choices that confused the audience and made them feel like the special fx weren't finished.

[@ObiePictures]

I’ve been transported back to my favorite classes in college. Thank you for this, Patrick!

[@ogami1972]

Seriously, I have always wanted to take one of your classes. Thank you for being so generous.

[@danikdude1]

Patrick . This just might be the greatest video I've ever seen on any subject anywhere. It's 1.5 hours and it feels like 10 minutes. This is brilliant.

[@ShotByRa]

This was put together so well. Im going to go check out more of your work. Keep it up.

[@scottbutler5]

I really loved this video, really loved seeing how you look at movies & what sort of things you see that most of us would miss or gloss over.

[@pforpositive3063]

It's hard to find a fulfilling video which surprises more than the thumbnails! This is one such gem❤️👌 Amazing video... Patrick's way of putting things together deserves respect.... Thank you Patrick...🙏

[@tiredalodia]

Thank you for making this video! I was actually searching up for some inspiration for my essay, and I came up across your vid! I learn so much more than just about how to analyze movies. Feeling glad and happy that I could watch this today. Thank you Patrick!

[@DarthStasheck]

THANK YOU for saying out loud that we (as audience) can derive from art meaning other than the one artist had in mind!

[@Keenath]

I'm okay with more academic entries like this. It's really nice to get a primer on some of the terms that come up in your other videos!

[@NevetsM]

I want to watch these videos FOREVER. Thank you so much for giving me an hour and a huff of such good analysis

[@seanmillerchina]

Yet another of your videos I will introduce to my grade 10 Language and Literature students as they move into writing analytical essays. They absolutely love your Lemon of Troy episode and it was fantastic supplemental material in furthering their understanding of narrative structures. Thank you!

[@mwkcope]

Patrick, I'm watching this while failing at sleeping before a day of college classes related to theatre, and it got me thinking about the years I've been watching your channel, and all the stuff I've learned about storytelling and filmmaking from your channel. Suddenly, a question popped in my head: in another world where you didn't start this KZbin thing, do you think you might've been a teacher/professor instead? I think you would've been good at it.

[@L._Titus]

I’m here because my Intro to Film Studies professor showed part of it in class the day after it dropped and told us to watch the rest of it. This is a very informative and enjoyable video, especially as I watched _Home Alone_ a lot as a kid.

[@shayanreetbhuiya2393]

Every minute is the answer to my every prayer - my favourites being the Auteur Theory and “Putting it All Together" segments. BRAVO! @Patrick (H) Willems

[@annilovett6344]

I never went to film school or anything, I am actually working at a nursery school. But movies and cinematography have been a hobby for almost a decade. THIS was one of the most informative videos i’ve seen so far. Brilliant!

[@dannyrambles]

This is the most I've enjoyed a Willems video in years. Really insightful and informative.

[@jessrl8025]

I've watched this a couple of times now and I really appreciate your take on film analysis. My SO went to film school and def loves to do film analysis but he was never great about explaining how to look at the film, he would go more into technical filmmaking aspects that I don't always understand. This video was a great way for me to look at films in the same way he does and we can have a deeper conversation about movies

[@jobsmine]

I watched it 4 times now.

[@McEdam]

We need more of theses videos! Purely focusing on its topic! Another great video!

[@ZachBobBob]

Media literacy these days is completely in the bin so I thank the lord for videos like these.

[@vesperannstas]

I thank a Patrick. And KZbin.

[@ZiKoN22]

@54:05 no, those are bassoon's. Oboe would be higher. then that trill from high to low is the Clarinet. Peter and the wolf has grandpa as the bassoon, and the John Williams clip shown was a clarinet.

[@jakeonfilm]

Thanks Patrick, I Have been really enjoying your channel and this is a great introduction on how to analyse film. Having done film studies myself it’s always good to get a refresher and this is broken down perfect. Enjoy your enthusiasm and elegance. Keep it up!

[@elgrenudocascarrabias6936]

Thanks Pat! I like this type of video, really helps a lot

[@acondofilms7052]

Okay, this was truly AWESOME! Not just for people watching films but also for those of us making them. Great food for thought when making the creative decisions that go into a film. Thanks for this!

[@eltonarthur1233]

How to analyse films (cinema): Analysing art is about looking closely at the piece, describing what you are seeing and what is happening in it. Ask why. Treat every choice the artist makes, ask why they did it? The purpose and goal and the effect it has on the viewer. Analyse does not end at what the artist intended. Art is subjective. What the story is saying: Identifying the themes. Every film is about something with something that is expressing their ideas. Look at the events of the movie, describe in simplest terms, what the story is. How does it begin and end? Like maths, particularly fractions, break the story down into its simplest form. Movies can have not just 1 themes but multiple themes that are connected. Visual language: It is important to show how the story is told, and with images. How its shown. Where the camera is placed, moved, shot uses light and the actors positioned. Changing them can change how we interpretation something. French word: Mise en scene - what is in the frame? The choices of costumes, locations, lenses and lighting which result in what we see on screen. The forms of the tools of cinema Style and aesthetic: films teaches us how to watch movies. The aesthetic is a deliberate choice. Everything a director does is for a reason. Realism vs formalism - real and grounded vs fake. Classicism - in the middle. Perspective: A major component. Is it subjective Perspective or a objective perspective? Objective - seeing the story from an outside point of view. Subjective- when a film uses its visual language to convey how a character is feeling and telling the story from their pov. Wide shot - Objective. Subjective - pov and a pan. Lenses/technical: have a basic knowledge of camera and lenses. Every lenses has a focal lens. Short/lower number = wider while a higher/longer = longer or narrower lense. Every lenses has its own qualities. Long lenses are used in close ups. Wide lenses are used for comedy, motion, warp, weird realities. 22.22 to 23.17. Colour: vital. It's a powerful tool. Colour manipulation in post production. Can effect the audience emotionally can also create Meaning and subtext. Colour can mean anything in any film. Directors need to know why they are using it in their movies. Warm colours - appealing, fire places and sunsets, comedies have warmer colors as well. Aspect Ratio: The frame. THE RATIO OF THE FILM'S WIDTH TO ITS HIEGHT. this is all the Director's decision. (2.39 to 1 is the usual cinemascope) putting the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen in post. Wide lenses are not just only for comedy but also to show the importance of size of characters and animals. Lighting - camera and source of light as it creates a mood and atmosphere. It tells us where to look. High key lighting - very well lit. Key light, for light and back light. Low key lighting - poor lit lighting. Where only a single light is lighting the characters. Conveys danger. Blocking and movement - the movement of the camera and the actors, together. Editing: continuity editing, editing of knowledge of spatial geography, temporal and time. When people are talking, they are looking at each other. They are both looking so each other, back and forth, as one finishes talking, we cut to the other one, talking. Just observe what is happening and ask why its happening. The montage - cuts for time. Compressing time. Cross cutting - cutting back to action and story or action to s different action. Cross fade - blending 2 shots into one. Shows that time has passed or dream like feeling. Sound - just as important as visual. It does its job invisibility. Foley. Music - music can do a lot as it can create subtext, underline the mood of a scene or express how a character or animal is feeling. Comment on the story (ironically). Even the opening of a film get help the audience understand what the vibe and genre of the film is. Assume eveything the filmmaker and the entire crew do are intentional. Always pay attention as to how the main character or characters is/are introduced as they may be how they/he/she is treated. When actors look into the camera, it's breaking the 4th wall. We are exposed and feels uncomfortable to us. Filmmakers avoid this using it as a pov shot. Auteur theory - directors perspective on the world, injecting themes, interests and beliefs into their films. Creative power and input. Every movie ever made is a small part of cinema history and is influenced by other movies and references it again, they are in conversation with each other. Ask what their influences were and how they used them? Genre: It doesn't matter when reviewing them. Genre is mostly about the audience's expectations. Genre is another filmmaking tool. We associate it with sounds and music, conventions and tropes. Why is the Director doing this in a scene? What is he trying to get or communicate? There ate other ways to interpretate films. Films are different to different people.

[@and-dt3zm]

such a great watch. I have loved watching films and also watching other people's essays and critics about them. Never have I thought all this time though, that I might be able to try analysing movies myself. after watching this I might actually try It out. exciting! thank you very much.

[@ubaidullah7661]

I now realized how great home alone is.

[@NoUploadJustComment]

This is a great video. In fact this kind of video is what I like most about this channel: straight up great analysis with lots of thought provoking educational content. Home Alone is a masterpiece, I could tell you could've made this video about the original Star Wars too. Well done. If you upload more content like this I'm on board for it.

[@kimberly-xv8jq]

this genuinely altered my entire mindset about criticizing films and thoroughly analyzing them, thank you for creating and posting such an informative and academic video on a free platform

[@Anondod]

This is amazing! I've picked up bits and pieces of this here and there over the years, but for someone like me who has no formal training in media analysis it's invaluable.

[@JaredPoirier]

Tremendous video! Loved all the technical camera stuff. Really great breakdown. Every "film reviewer" on KZbin should watch this.

[@screenwatcher949]

Toy Story is an allegory for Western Imperialism. Woody, the cowboy sheriff, is a product of Manifest Destiny. He believes that his moral right to the Wild West despite any who may have resided there before. He has the right to invade. Then Woody has to deal with an invader of his own. His title of Favorite Toy is threatened by the new technologically advanced explorer. Buzz's goal, however valiant he may think, is "A Secret Mission in Uncharted Space" implying he works above the law and explores the unknown. He imposes his worldview where he appears. Buzz and Woody are colonizers and they conflict over land, but eventually unify over the common goal of conquest. "To Infinity and Beyond..." the hunger is never quenched-- even infinity isn't enough to satisfy their hunger for more.

[@joshuabyrd2629]

Did ChatGPT write this

[@jorgeadeodato6228]

I believe there is some lack of evidence in your point… 6:56

[@rooty]

They join forces to escape Sid and get back home, which has nothing to do with conquest, so your allegory falls to pieces.

[@popcorndreamsmedia]

That sounds like more of a personal and subjective point of view based on current social preferences and politics rather than a narrative objective point of view.

[@user-wi4tn1yd6z]

Holy Mao!

[@uptown3636]

I’m actually taking Intro to Film Studies in my first semester in film school right now. Perfect timing, Patrick!

[@uptown3636]

@@mhawang8204 Thanks for the encouragement! I’m enjoying the semester as much as I did this wonderful video. Patrick just keeps getting better!

[@applebonker141]

I'm watching through this all the way through but I'm definitely going to be rewatching and taking notes.

[@chuuwars]

thank you THANK YOU for this video patrick and crew

[@77pointfive]

What a great mini course!! So detailed and informative. Full package. Thank you a lot!

[@relativeparadox9567]

The point is we each have a very unique, individual and self biased perspective in life and we super-impose all that conditioning onto the art that we enjoy and derive a personal meaning from it. There just happens to be a lot of overlap.

[@orbitiny1117]

thank you for the "academic class". my media analysis exam which is literally based on movie analysis, will be in a week and you literally saved my life. and you also made me get more interested in movie making and all that :) so thank you for that

[@houston-coley]

The absolute whoop and cheer that I gave when I realized this video was going to be all about Home Alone

[@ratak06]

This rules. Would totally love to hear you dive deep on lenses in the future

[@nathanksimpson]

Wow, that section on sound is great! Something often neglected when it comes to filmmaking. Lacking a bit on the location sound aspects/technical aspects of sound (mic choice, sonic perspective etc.), but from analysis of how sound helps tell a story... amazing!

[@pierredupont1096]

This is really good. I'm a movie geek now but I learned about these things from my film making nad film reviewing friends, many of whom directed themselves. But contextualizing it with a movie like "Home Alone" really helps. Thanks a lot, and I loved the Béla Tarr reference up front, easily one of my faves.