Unit 26: Film Studies - The Auteur

What is Auteur Theory?

The phrase Auteur (French for 'Author') Theory is used in film criticism. It dictates that a director's film always reflects the director, leaving their 'signature' or personal style. This includes things such as the overall style, camera angles, or chosen genre. It is the director that takes the screenplay and creates vision. The technique was first posited by French critics in World War II. [1]

This theory has influenced film criticism since 1954. It has been questioned by some critiques, but it is a useful starting point for interpreting certain films. 

One revered filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock is known as an Auteur for his films. One element he enforces into them is that he appears in his own movies in a brief cameo spot, which became a game for the viewers, waiting to find out when he would appear. [2]

Studio publicity photo, circa 1955.

Alfred Hitchcock is one of the first names to come to mind when talking about Auteur Theory. His most famous films are Vertigo, Psycho, and Rear Window. Hitchcock's were known for their intelligent plots, and the use of mystery and murder. 

Other Auteurs include Jean Renoir, a French director whose films were socially sensitive and comic in style. Also Ingmar Bergman, who like Hitchcock, was interested in some of the anxieties that dominated life during the 1950's and 1960's. [2]

Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson is an American film director who is known for his quirky, comical movies and flawed characters. 

Anderson was born on May 1st, 1969 in Houston, Texas. Anderson grew up with his two brothers, Eric and Mel, but their parents divorced when Anderson was eight. His films include Bottle Rocket (1996), Rushmore (1997), and Moonrise Kingdom (2012). 

Anderson's films include deep personal themes, which seem to revolve around fatherhood, coming-of-age, and Wes Anderson's own background.

His mainstream success came from his third full-length film, The Royal Tenenbaums, written with Owen Wilson. Anderson gained the combination of critical, box office and academy notice. Anderson describes this film as "...a New York film... about a family of -- quote unquote -- geniuses, and about their failure and their development as a family." [3]

The Royal Tenenbaums

'An estranged family of former child prodigies reunites when one of their member announces he has a terminal illness.' [4]

It is debatable whether Wes Anderson's style of Directing is considered frequent enough to be Auteur standard. His films seem to portray certain themes which repeat themselves. The Royal Tenenbaums is a good example of some of the personal themes Anderson uses in his films. 

Bill Murray and Owen Wilson appear in more than one of Anderson's films, and are usually one of the main characters. 

Birds eye shots are used frequently as an artistic style in all Anderson's films. Usually displaying close up items of interest. 

Vintage props are used, like cassette players or old formal type clothing. Giving films a down-to-earth feel. 

Slow motion shots are used, and are often taken on one shot, lasting for over thirty seconds. One example would be The Royal Tenenbaums funeral scene, where each character is making their way out of the graveyard.

1:22 - The characters make their way out of the Graveyard.

The usage of mid-center shots is prominent in all Anderson's films. They are usually symmetrical and symbolic, and aesthetically pleasing.

At some point, the use of narration is used in most of his films. 

The color palettes of Anderson's films are warm, and usually bring meaning into the specific films.

Anderson almost always includes a shade of bright yellow in his films. Mostly in the opening sequence, and used as the color of text for credits, or any thing else text based. 

Family issues are prominent in The Royal Tenenbaums. The father figure is flawed, and creates more dysfunctions for the rest of the family. 

Shots also seem long and drawn out, to create as much effect as possible.

Summary

I believe that the Auteur theory is accurate. Certain directors leave their mark on films, and create a reason why audience want to watch them. I consider Wes Anderson to be an Auteur. The frequent usage of quirky dysfunctional families, and artful shots, such as birds eye and slow motion make me think that Anderson will continue to use these themes again and again, these themes are prominent, and shown clearly, telling me that it would be easy to spot a Wes Anderson film just by identifying the style of the film.

Wikipedia (2014)Auteur Theory [Online] Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auteur_theory#cite_note-1 [Accessed 13th March]

Page (2014) Auteur Theory [Online] Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auteur_theory#cite_note-1 [Accessed 13th March]

Bio (2013) Wes Anderson Biography [Online] Available from http://www.biography.com/people/wes-anderson-20617561?page=1 [Accessed 13th March]

IMDB (2013) The Royal Tenenbaums [Online] Available from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265666/?ref_=ttmd_md_nm [Accessed 13th Match]

Youtube (2013) The Royal Tenenbaums Funeral Scene[Online] Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqGjVJka7xQ [Accessed 13th March]

Blog (2013) Film Color Palette [Online] Available from http://laughingsquid.com/wes-anderson-film-color-palette-chart/ [Accessed 13th March]

Picture (2013) The Royal Tenenbaums [Online] Available from http://wpmedia.o.canada.com/2014/01/royaltenenbaums_benstiller_kids660.jpg?w=660&h=330&crop=1 [Accessed 13th March]