A good film has three parts to it. A beginning, middle and end. Most films flow in this sequence at a rate of ¼ introduction, ½ main action and story, and ¼ ending, tying up of loose ends.
The three act structure.
The beginning sets the scene; it informs the viewer of the situation. It introduces the main character in a state of equilibrium, how everyday life is for the person.
The middle shows how this person’s life is thrown into chaos by a catalyst, and his/her fight to gain control over the situations. Often the person undergoes a change in their views and emotions.
The end shows how the main character undergoes further changes to enforce a new state of equilibrium, resolving the crisis.
Some films such as The Usual Suspects, begins with the end scene and you then progress through the middle crisis. There are series of films that individually have the classic 3 act structure, and when viewed as a whole have a further 3 act structure, like Harry Potter. In Kill Bill 1 and 2, even though each part has a 3 act structure, the second part , in real time, has occurred before the first. There are also films that seem to contain sever short stories that come together at the end to create the main feature story, like Sin City.
In the majority of films there is a reference to the 17 stages of John Cambell’s monomyth. To illustrate this further I will use the film Equilibrium as an example.
Joseph Cambell’s monomyth.
First a little about the film. It is set in the future, following the survival of WW3. It is decided that man’s volatile nature is to blame, of man’s inhumanity to man. They believe that it is our ability to feel hate, anger, rage, jealousy and grief that creates this disposition. They create a police force to combat this and get everyone to take a drug, Prozium, to prohibit emotions. Our hero is a policeman whose job it is to eradicate offenders of emotion and condemned material. After failing to take his daily dose of Prozium, he starts to feel. Realising that to feel is vital to live, he starts his quest.
Call to adventure. Investigating his work partners failure to log evidence for incineration, accumulating in the death of his work partner.
Incineration of condemned material, here the Mona Lisa.
Supernatural aid. Having suffered a nightmare, his routing is changed, resulting in the broken vial, with no means of replacement.
Crossing the threshold. Realisation of his emotions when confronted with an aesthetic scene and the resulting destruction of Prozium.
Road of trials. Learning to hide emotions whilst working.
Meeting the goddess. The arrest and following interviews with a lady, Mary O’Brian.
Meeting of the goddess, whilst beginning to feel emotions.
Apostasis. The woman’s execution, and his failure to hide his emotion.
Rescue from without. The realisation of betrayal and the conversation following, results in him finding renewed vigour to complete his quest.
Magic flight. Having learnt of betrayal, he then fights without emotion to the heart of his quest.
On his magic flight to the end of his quest.
Crossing the return threshold. Completing his quest to disrupt the supply without conflicting emotions.
Links:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238380/
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