Psycho is a 1960 horror and suspense film. Done in the black/white medium, it added the genre of a psychological thriller, based on the conclusions found at the end of the film. This made it all the more interesting, as well as a stepping stone for tolerance of violence and sexuality in American films.
The use of montage can be seen by the jump cuts added throughout the film. In on such case is the iconic bathroom scene. The scene is thoroughly drawn out by the continued jump cuts to the knife, and Marion screaming. What should have been one swift jab, was carried out for multiple clips. In addition, the jump cuts from the actors' faces to the objects surrounding their areas, give life and perspective to we the viewers, of what the actors are witnessing at that very moment, while also adding foreshadowing to what is about to come.
Psycho was honestly a nice break from all the shininess and glam of today's Hollywood movies. I realized this only after I stopped comparing it to the movies we are familiar with. I am a TCM watcher, I love Turner Classics, and this is a classic crime movie. While some of the "action" scenes seemed rather ridiculous, and obvious to those of us who are used to watching knife attacks that are so life-like they make you cry, and the more shocking moments were rather expected, back in the day this was probably considered a thriller, and and innovative one at that due to its incorporation of psychology and mystery into the piece. One of my favorite things of the movie was its writing- while I am a animations major, my real dream is screenplay, and I miss the movies where the writing was blunt and the talking simple, direct and to the point. While no doubt I am a fan of eloquence, and the thought provoking lines that we have in our films today, I miss the deliberate swiftness, the ample fast paced bickering, and loaded one-liners that films used to captivate. One thing that I was unable to appreciate from this film, which is said to be "one of the greatest of all times," was its acting- that may simply be do to my generation, and how I have grown accustom to acting that is more, relaxed and natural, rather than over the top, and heavily dramatized.
The use of montage can be seen by the jump cuts added throughout the film. In on such case is the iconic bathroom scene. The scene is thoroughly drawn out by the continued jump cuts to the knife, and Marion screaming. What should have been one swift jab, was carried out for multiple clips. In addition, the jump cuts from the actors' faces to the objects surrounding their areas, give life and perspective to we the viewers, of what the actors are witnessing at that very moment, while also adding foreshadowing to what is about to come.
I enjoy reading this. Nice post!
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