Detectives Detectives Detectives...

Here I collected some images of detectives which are iconic, and have helped create the trench coated stereotype of a detective that exists now. But I wonder whether this style is worn out, does it need a contemporary renewal from this look? Does it have the same impact as maybe a decade or less ago? In what direction could the style of clothes go in? Then again maybe its just the villains and themes which need renewal, rather than the detectives themselves. Shows like CSI and Dexter have moved well away from this stereotypical feel, and it is very refreshing and works well. It also shows a contrast of how the solo detective characters we have come to know, are being replaced with a more team style squad and feel. You can look at any of the countless CSI's to see this.

In this post I am not aiming to come up with a final answer or decision, but I just wanted to start thinking about in what direction the detective genre can move.

Iconography

(Starting from top) Pulp Fiction (1994, Quentin Tarantino), Resevior Dogs (1992, Quentin Tarantino) and Infernal Affairs (2002, Wai-Keung Lau & Siu Fai Mak).

These are a collection of film stills which are among my favourite, and also, perhaps more importantly, are very iconic within the film industry. Why? I think gun standoffs always produce powerful imagery when pulled offf well. For example the Resevior Dogs still in particular is a very iconic image which evenbefore I had seen the fulm was an image I particularly liked. The whole look that comes with these stills is often part of the package like the black suit worn by gangsters or themes like betrayal, revenge or even work (It's just business, nothing personal?). The pointed guns power comes, I think, from the the idea of life and death, and the power of the gun toting character. Also I think an important factor of what turns a normal gun standoff still into an iconic one is the compistion, I think that an important aspect of the compostion is the rule of thirds. For example in the Pulp Fiction still the aiming arms are lined across the top third of the shot, in the Resevior Dogs shot the man standing lines the left third while the downed man is along the bottom third (however I do not think this is the most important aspect o this shot, instead the guns diagonally facing is more striking) and lastly the Infernal Affairs still, uses the rule of thirds for the two characters,the horizon, which also lines up the gun and heads. I think all of this plays a big part in why these shots work well and stand out.

Standout Movie Scenes

Delicatessen (1991, Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet)

This scene is a really original scene from the film Delicatessen. The film Delicattesen is an amazing and refreshing foreign film which is among my favourite films. The film follows the lives of some truly unusual characters living in an apartment block. With a very original style the film is a joy to watch (watch it!). This particular scene is a very original take on a sex scene, which uses rythm and timed editing to create a humurous and symbolic scene. I think that the way the directors have protrayed many things through this scene is interesting and avoids the samey feel of so many sex scenes.

City of God (2003, Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund)

This probably has to be my favourite film ever, and that spinning arch shot around the main character and the chicken one of my favourits shots ever. The camerawork in this film is truly outstanding and the essence of the Brazilian street gangs is captured wonderfully. The handheld shooting style works well when used with quick editing techniques to create an edgy chase scene which then slows to a halt with a well captured standoff, where the lead is left literally caught up in the middle. Shots potray characters well (you can tellwho the sinister gang leader is?) and the music works well with the sequnce.

I think there is lots of inspiration to take from these two scenes.