@LionSuit
Jaws (1975) - Film Structure Analysis Jaws is awesome. No one really needs to say that again. I've analyzed this film before in ways: the end of Act 2, the overall structure there, etcetera. This week I wanted to look deeper, or maybe just allow myself to soak it in a little more calmly and balanced... The opening death could be looked at as an immediate inciting incident (like in Spielberg's Jurassic Park), but to me the story really gets kicked off with the second death about halfway through the 1st Act, and the first death is more of a monster introduction first and foremost. A shark eating someone does not cause the core problem of the film. A shark eating more than one person--that's the problem, that's what makes the monster, what makes the movie, what demands the main character. We get a taste of the hysteria, ignorance, and hubris of the locals and vacationers. We get a taste of what it would be like if this monster was just a shark, easily caught, not JAWS. We get a taste of Hooper, who arrives on scene and immediately bursts our bubble. We don't have an odd incident. We have a monster that may or may not be stopped. We have an Act 1 setup and a core question to set out after. Of course, there is friction with the needs of the locals, and the mayor and many of the locals are not yet on board with Brody and Hooper, so at first we must try to convince them. Once the 4th of July hits, there is no more question. We have stepped up the reality, the stakes, the demands of the story. Everyone agrees that this monster is hunting us, and it must be stopped. Midpoint. A heavy and clear story point change. The conflict is no longer between the town and our two main heroes, it now transitions to the conflict between our heroes and the conflict of monster vs. man. Hire Quint and set out. Tag Jaws and follow and fight and follow and argue and follow. Finally, we clear away the social conflict between our main three characters. We share stories of injury and tragedy. We drink and laugh. We see eye to eye. We agree on something aside from this damn monster. We are human together, not just teammates. And here we have a glimpse of happiness, survival, or perhaps a hint at Quint's fate, his chance to make his mark, to share his soul a little and call out his nemesis. One of the best monologues in film history. And Jaws is coming for us. We are basically ready for Act 3. He attacks and the ship starts to fail, slowly at first. Our core question in full is still unanswered. Sure, we've gotten the town on board with the question and we have journeyed out into the ocean in search of the answer, but the final truth has not arrived. It now comes. Showdown. Can we fix the boat? Quint takes out the radio, a visual commitment to full sacrifice or success. A great moment. Tie him to the boat. The engine gives out. Hooper okay's the cage as a Hail Mary attempt and almost immediately fails, most likely dead or left for dead. Quint goes down. The monster takes another. And right in front of Brody. Our hero is there to witness what exactly could happen to him next, up close, clearly, out of water mostly even. And here we have it, thank goodness for the explosion warnings early in the film (we have a whole post waiting just there if we want on plant and payoff); Brody climbs up the ship mast as it nears a final drop under water, a perfect visual ticking clock, he pulls out the gun, fires and misses, drops us some simple and great dialogue, then connects with the tank, stuck in the mouth of the beast and BOOM! Monster dead. Hero alive... at least for now... and... so is Hooper! Right on. Get your swim going and power to you. Be well. LionSuit.com (words and image are original. posts may also be shown on my hive.blog page or my publish0x page.) http://www.lionsuit.com/ https://peakd.com/@lionsuit https://www.publish0x.com/@lionsuit
