The Notebook Film Elements

Music is constantly used in the film as an icon of hope; it is used throughout the whole film in various different ways, to express and exaggerate different emotions that the characters are feeling. We are able to track the change of emotions and the feelings towards the idea of hope that the convicts in Shawshank have, making the build up of hope increasingly noticeable to the viewer. The main use of Music

Music plays a critical role in the narrative films as it is important technique that filmmakers use to support the narrative and influence the way that the viewer interacts, responds and interprets the events as they unfold. The godfather, which is one of all time Hollywood movies, represents a good use of music that succeeded in supporting the dramatic events that take place in the movie. Moreover, both diegetic and non-diegetic music in the godfather movie are used to achieve the overall purpose by using the different principles and functions of film music that range from setting the mood of the viewer to providing continuity within the movie. In this essay, we will take part of the godfather movie in which we can observe and analyse the

Even though the film is essentially a visual experience, the use of sound has become extremely important in modern film. The modern viewer hears a complicated soundtrack that is as meaningful as the image on the screen. Three elements comprise the film's soundtrack: the dialogue, the sound effects, and the musical score. The proper balance and mix of these elements produced the essential emphasis required, which created the desired effects. As explained by Joseph Boggs and Dennis Petrie,

and the musical score show how these movies took different paths to keep the viewer

     The music helped in elaborating this great film. As I mentioned in class different instruments helped create different moods for different scenes in the movie. We heard the cello and the violin to create sadness and remorse. The flute created eeriness and the trumpet created awareness. I thought these were instruments and tools that help make this film extraordinary.

Throughout history sound has been used to help convey a story. As early as the 1900’s, without today’s technology, movies would often be accompanied by a soundtrack played on a piano or record players. In 1927 The Jazz singer was released, a warner bros movie that featured music and dialog on the actual filmstrip. This film is

The music in this film doesn’t go with the setting and time period that the film and novel take place in. The music is very upbeat and poppy, something you might hear on the radio today. It really does not go with the whole 1920’s

The audio although normally overpowered by the visual aspect played a key role in defining and empowering the movie. The music was fast and uplifting during celebration and on

“The Notebook” directed by Nick Cassavetes in 2004 tells the story of a couple’s fifty year long love affair and its trials and tribulations. The film begins in a nursing home where an old man (Noah) reads a book to an old lady (Allie) suffering from Alzheimer’s. Noah, a poor country boy, and Allie, a rich city girl, meet

“The fact that the story is set 35 years ago doesn't mean a thing. It had to be set sometime. But it was made now and it's about us.” – Roger Ebert 1

We discussed in class how a movie made about eras past has twenty-twenty hindsight about what constitutes popular music, whereas if this film were made in the 1970s it might make some poor musical decisions. Anytime the radio is playing or non-diegetic music is used it is a piece of music that is still popular today. It is possible for a movie to successfully guess what piece of music will transcend generations, as was the case in the movie Blackboard Jungle, but the music might have been used to create a much different effect.

Ludwig van Beethoven once said, “Music, in truth, is the mediator between intellectual and sensual life”. Though he and his music were from an entirely different era, both still have relevance in our lives today. Music from the past is all around us on the radio, in commercials, and on the big screen. For example, one of Beethoven’s most famous symphonies, “Symphony No. 9”, makes an appearance in many movies. It even makes an appearance in Die Hard. Though we like to think that which is old is obsolete, we are everyday reminded that this is not true.

The movie I decided to analyze is The Great Gatsby both the original 1974 and the 2013 version as well. This movie is based on the novel by the same title by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The 1974 version was direct by Jack Clayton and the screenplay was written by Francis Ford Coppola. The two major stars of the original are Robert Redford who plays Gatsby and Mia Farrow who plays Daisy. In the 2013 version which was done by Baz Luhrmann with Leonardo DiCaprio playing Gatsby and Carey Mulligan playing Daisy. Both films follow the love story between millionaire Jay Gatsby and his obsession Daisy Buchanan along with other characters that come into play in this tragic love story. The setting of both the film and book is the roaring twenties which included flappers, jazz music and bootlegging; this was just before the great depression.

Music can be extraordinarily influential in films, as it has the ability to evoke emotion not displayed by on-screen action. Music used in films can play many roles; it can depict time and place, mood, atmosphere, character, and can be used to underscore the onscreen drama and titles. Alan Silvestri and John Williams successfully manipulate the use of music in film to establish characters (along with their personality, actions and changing emotions), as well as underscore the mood for the entirety of their given films. The contrasts of Silvestri’s “The Feather Theme” with Williams’ “Batman Theme” exemplify the power of music in film.

The film "The Notebook" is a 2004 romantic drama set along the coast line of South Carolina in 1946, directed by Nick Cassavetes. This film is an American love story between two young adults, Ally and Noah, which had fallen for each other over a short summer break and was torn apart due to financial differences that were looked down upon by Ally's parents.