Luther: TV Series
Believe it or not, Luther has more than one director. Sam Miller has done 8 episodes, Brian Kirk has done 2 episodes just as Stephan Schwartz and Farren Blackburn have. I think the reason for this is because each episode is a different story and different techniques of directing help keep the audience interested.
Luther was released on the 4th of may 2010, and the series continues to be extremely successful.
Awards - Golden Globe for best performance by an actor in a mini-series or a motion picture made for television (Idris Elba). Edgar in best television episode teleplay (episode 1, series 1). Royal television society, UK won in best drama series.
This series is truly amazing to me as it allows the viewer to see it as a reality
instead of a typical Hollywood movie. We, as the audience, get to see what the
character Luther really is and we get to understand his character more than
other characters in the series. To us, Luther is portrayed as doing the right
things but in the wrong ways, by the law that is. Because we see this rebellious detective do all these things he seems to be a bit of a hero. One of my favourite parts of the series is when Luther is trapped inside the back of a truck with a killer, and he pours gasoline over himself to make it seem he is surrendering to the killer, whereas he is waiting for the right time to tell the SQUAT team outside where to shoot on the side of the truck, and we witness a slow motion viewing of the killer getting penetrated by bullets coming from the side of the truck. When Luther gives the order to shoot at a particular part of the truck, and the man in charge of Luther says "well you heard the man" my blood pressure dropped. This is when you know a thriller is amazing.
"And the last few minutes of tonight's episode will grab you, force you to the end of your seat, give you about 12 consecutive heart attacks and then drop you at precisely the right time." Quote on the first episode of series 3 from The Guardian. This quote cannot be more perfect. This is what Luther does to you. The choreography, acting and storyline allows the audience to feel as though they are in the show and allows them to have the same emotions as the characters. When there is a suspense moment the locations chosen are spectacular. You see Luther move house from a lovely house to a run down flat. When there is a murderer threatening to kill their victim, it is in a widely spaced pure white shopping-mall looking building. They film in the middle of London when Luther thinks he sees the murderer, and starts chasing him. The camera angles and perfect lighting choices (e.g. noire lighting when Luther first confronts a murderer) represent to the audience, subconsciously, who is in power. The best part is, you can never guess the outcome. Luther usually survives, yes, but you never know what could happen in the show. It always takes a different direction to what you expect, and sometimes a direction you didn't think was valid. This is why I chose this quote - because it does put you on the edge of your seat. When you are watching this show, you can't think of anything you would rather be doing at that moment.
It says on page 6 of my coursework booklet "the tension usually arises when the main character(s) is placed in a menecing situation or mystery, or an escape or dangerous mission from which escape seems impossible." Luther is constantly in a bad situation. When he isn't in a situation as such you feel a sense of relief. Luther has so many generic conventions, for example; excitement, suspense, uncertainty and nerve-wrecking tenssion. A lot of the time, Luther is unaware of things the audience is aware of which creates suspence as you feel you know what the outcome will most probably be, but the show almost always takes a different path. Luther's life is his job, and you see as the show progresses, the effect it has on him. He seems broken, and seems such an intelligent individual that it keeps the audience interested just because he is broken but still brilliant.
"And the last few minutes of tonight's episode will grab you, force you to the end of your seat, give you about 12 consecutive heart attacks and then drop you at precisely the right time." Quote on the first episode of series 3 from The Guardian. This quote cannot be more perfect. This is what Luther does to you. The choreography, acting and storyline allows the audience to feel as though they are in the show and allows them to have the same emotions as the characters. When there is a suspense moment the locations chosen are spectacular. You see Luther move house from a lovely house to a run down flat. When there is a murderer threatening to kill their victim, it is in a widely spaced pure white shopping-mall looking building. They film in the middle of London when Luther thinks he sees the murderer, and starts chasing him. The camera angles and perfect lighting choices (e.g. noire lighting when Luther first confronts a murderer) represent to the audience, subconsciously, who is in power. The best part is, you can never guess the outcome. Luther usually survives, yes, but you never know what could happen in the show. It always takes a different direction to what you expect, and sometimes a direction you didn't think was valid. This is why I chose this quote - because it does put you on the edge of your seat. When you are watching this show, you can't think of anything you would rather be doing at that moment.
It says on page 6 of my coursework booklet "the tension usually arises when the main character(s) is placed in a menecing situation or mystery, or an escape or dangerous mission from which escape seems impossible." Luther is constantly in a bad situation. When he isn't in a situation as such you feel a sense of relief. Luther has so many generic conventions, for example; excitement, suspense, uncertainty and nerve-wrecking tenssion. A lot of the time, Luther is unaware of things the audience is aware of which creates suspence as you feel you know what the outcome will most probably be, but the show almost always takes a different path. Luther's life is his job, and you see as the show progresses, the effect it has on him. He seems broken, and seems such an intelligent individual that it keeps the audience interested just because he is broken but still brilliant.
An enthusiastic post - you are clearly a fan of the series. You identify some basic generic conventions whilst also referencing your coursework booklet which is good practice.
ReplyDeleteIn order to raise your grade from a lowish Level 2 you need to do the following:
To further strengthen upload a clip or screen shots from the series and explain how and why the director uses, develops or challenges generic conventions. Think about focusing on location, or character types, or lighting.
Think about the way you are analysing generic aspects of mise-en-scene in screen shots from the opening to “Essex Boys”.
I'd also suggest you watch the film "Se7en" which includes a black police officer. You may wish to focus on the way the thriller genre traditionally casts white actors as the main characters, for example "Essex Boys", "Once Upon a Time in America", "Reservoir Dogs" and so on.
British TV dramas tend not to position black actors in leading roles. Therefore watching the film "Se7en" ( a splendid example of the thriller genre whilst also being a gripping film) has Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt as the leads.
Okay I have taken everything you have said on board and I will do precidely what you say to raise my grade to a level 3/4. I have heard gret things about the film se7en and i'm looking forward to watching it, tonight hopefully.
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