Compare and Contrast Editing Styles

The English Patient (Minghella, 1996) and The Hurt Locker (Bigelow, 2008), are the two chosen films I have used for analytical comparison because of their contrasting editing styles. It is a very interesting comparison, as these two films are from two different genres. The English Patient is a romantic drama and The Hurt Locker is a war film. The two films are constructed with two very different editing languages. The war film is a lot faster paced and has more of a war documentary feel to the camera style. Where as the romantic drama, even though set against a backdrop of a war, is slower paced and the cinematography is far more considered and restrained. To keep some common elements to compare against I chose two scenes that deal with a similar event and have similar outcomes. By using different editing and cinematography styles they evoke two different emotional responses from their audience. The final outcome of both scenes eventuates with the death of a supporting character and the scenes themselves are set around the explosion that causes their death.

Being the opening scene of the film The Hurt Locker, it is constructed in a way that sets the pace of the film, but it also grabs the attention of the audience. This is impeccably achieved using some staple editing techniques. The filmic element that stands out the most in this scene is called "Smash Cut'"(Sijll, 2005, p. 64). Here Smash Cut is referring to the shots in which wide-angle frames of the street are quickly and suddenly followed by extreme close up shots of the soldiers eyes or at other times close-up shots of running feet. "The purpose of the smash cut is to jar the audience with a sudden and unexpected change in image or sound."(Sijll, 2005, p. 64) This creates a feeling of unease in the audience and builds tension. The camera's movements are sudden and erratic. The aim is to have audience anticipate the resolution of the scene while keeping them on edge throughout.

By comparison the chosen scene in The English Patient is much smoother in camera movement. There are no sudden moves or zooms of the camera. The cuts are barely noticeable as they are composed to show the event unfold in most simple way. The audience is able to easily watch the scene without any hint of what is to come. The conversation between two friends is light and happy. The camera cuts back to the interior shot of the truck and through the window we can see the jeep driving away in to the distance, as if to prove to the audience that exchange is over. But suddenly it cuts to an exterior shot and the camera is lingering on the jeep as it is driving away. This is where the audience is given a hint and is being prepared for what is about to happen. The initial reaction is a question of why we are watching the jeep leaving still? This question allows for the audience to have a moment to expect something, even if they don't know exactly what it is they are waiting