Group 4: Cinematography

When watching the Royal Tenenbaums, it's easy to get lost in the amazing storyline and never notice the biggest thing that, I think, is allowing us to think so highly of the movie: the cinematography. In almost every scene of the movie the way the camera is positioned and the width of the shots make the viewer feel like we are in the movie, watching the story unfold in real time.

We already get to see the intimate story of the Tenenbaums, but the cinematography invites us even more into their lives.

When sitting at the table the audience feels like one of the kids listening to their father (and step-father, respectively) tell them that their parents are getting a divorce.

At the play, the camera is positioned so that it feels like the audience is in the room, watching Margot Tenenbaum put on her first show.

In this one, the shot is so close to the actors that the audience feels that they are also in the little game closet watching Royal get yelled at by his eldest son. It creates a feeling a intimacy that cannot be ignored.

And in this last shot it is impossible to not feel as if the audience is in the tent with Margot and Richie, and even the shot before that looking at the tent as if the audience were walking toward it with Margot. This scene, what I consider to be the most intimate scene of the movie is made even better by the cinematography. Feeling as if you are in the tent opens up the movie and the characters to the audience in a way that could not be reached with more generic shots.

This way of shooting allows the narrative to progress along with the audience. It strengthens the narrative by allowing the audience to feel as if they, themselves are apart of the Tenenbaums.