Billy Wilders 'Double Indemnity' (1944), Brad Haynes 'Broken Sun' (2008)

Double Indemnity began with a moving silhouette of Walter Neff for the opening titles, i thought that this was an interesting effect for titles because it introduces us to a glimpse of the character and it is an interesting lighting technique with just back light being used, it is this silhouette that is repeated as he leaves Phyllis house for the first time. The opening scene after this was also interesting, because it portrayed the city life at night without using any artifical lighting just the light that was avaliable, the street lamps, car headlights and welding equipment. When Walter arrives in the lobby for the first time i like the use of chirisuro with sharp bright light sources as well as areas of black. This movie also uses the classic desk lamp ideal as the scene is dark until the main character turns his desk lamp on and sits down, this has been done many a time in movies since. Another lighting effect used throughout this movie is the use of venetian blinds and light sources shining through them. in almost every indoor scene this is used, and it creates interesting shadows on the sets as well as interesting effects as the actors move through the beams. Also there is a clever use of dapple as Walter drives from Phyllis Dietrichsons house, here rear projection is used to emulate the car moving while dapple is used to show when he passes trees. Lastly there is the traditional scene with the neon sign outside the window as it rains i thought this was funny as it has been repeated so much throughout the history of film.
Broken sun was another interesting movie as it is tries to emulate the events of 1944 in a realistic portrayal. The beginning of the movie uses some overlay of sepia tone and over exposure in wide shots to try and get the feel of an older photograph. The brightness levels are reduced and everything is more grayer and less colourfull. The best moment in the film for me was when jack is sitting on his bed and an image of his dead comrade appears in grey scale while the rest of the room is in colour, appearing in colour when he lights a match or light hits him. This movie also uses alot of sound effects ranging from crickets, tree movement and gun fire, helping to make the movie more realistic as possible. One thing I did notice about sound in the movie is that it unexpectedly cut from one shot to another, reappearing a few seconds later with no hint of why it wasn't there. Lastly for sound i did like the tone generated that muted the battlefield after an explosion went of nearby, to signify the loss of that tone from the solders ears but also to make the camera more of a POV than just an observer. Another effect that added to this view was the strobing of the shot as the solder breathed heavily, to emulate how scared he was as the fighting continued around him. Differing colour tones where also used throughout the movie, the farm was usually amber or sepia while in the trenches it focused on more dark blues and greys. Harsh lighting also appeared when jack is thinking about shooting himself, grabbing the gun and bullets as the light creates harsh shadows on him and the background. Lastly I did like the plastic broom handle that the wife holds when she is sweeping the floor mainly because these types of handles where not invented yet.