Nolley Demonstration Blog

Malibu's Most Wanted (Jamie Kennedy, Taye Diggs, Anthony Anderson)


This is one of my all time favorite movies, because personally I think it's hilarious. This particular scene is quite comical and by analyzing it using mise en scene one can understand the elements that make it so funny. The dominant in this scene is obviously Jamie Kennedy. He is placed right in the center and he is the brightest and most in focus person (not to mention the only white person in the theater). There is also no one seated in front or directly behind him which helps to make him the most obvious object in the frame. The lighting key seems to be high key directly on Jamie Kennedy and lower around the rest of the audience. The light appears to be coming from the projector above them and possibly from the screen itself. It looks to be a little too bright for a theater in order to be natural lighting. The camera proxemic range is social at about ten or so feet. The character proxemics however are intimate. This creates an awkward and uncomfortable feeling for Jamie Kennedy a.k.a. B-rad G. The character proxemics re-affirm the problems B-rad is having throughout the film. He has been kidnapped and his whole way of life is being invaded and turned upside down. 'Bloodbath' (Anthony Anderson) and 'Tre' (Taye Diggs) are invading his personal space just as they have invaded his personal life.
This frame helps to complement the large scene because it brings about the feel of awkwardness and the impending outburst. In this scene Brad is being forced to "act white" so that he won't be shot. In order to test if he has really changed Bloodbath and Tre take him to a scary movie. This is the frame right before he can no longer handle the movie and throws his popcorn, making a huge scene. The calmness of the frame helps make the outburst even more intense. It creates a sort of suspense of whether he'll be able to control his urges to "act black". I love this movie simply because it's a funny commentary on how you can't change who a person is and the color of someone's skin has nothing to do with who they are inside.