My textual analysis coursework proposal presentation for AS film studies. By David Owootomo.

1. By David Owootomo

2.  Harry Brown is directed by Daniel Barber and is an independent film
distributed by Lionsgate UK. Harry Brown is an elderly man living in a run
down South London council estate being taken over by youth crime. When
his best friend Leonard is killed on the estate, Harry decides to take the law
into his own hands and seek revenge on those who killed his best friend.
 The Dark Knight is a big budget Hollywood film directed by Christopher
Nolan and distributed by Warner Bros. Gotham City is being invaded by a
mass amount of crime, the most significant threat being the Joker. Batman,
lieutenant Jim Gordon and district attorney Harvey Dent form a partnership
to sort out the cities problems whilst facing a huge problem – defeating the
Joker.

3.  For Harry Brown and The Dark Knight I will be looking at the two
MACRO aspects – narrative and genre. For both films I will looking at the
role of a vigilante and how narrative and genre communicate this. I believe
narrative and genre can both be used very effectively in comparing Harry
Brown and The Dark Knight as these MACRO aspects relate well to each
other. The MICRO aspects I will use to show the role of a vigilante in both
films will be mis-en-scene and cinematography.

4.  Harry Brown (released in 2009) and The Dark Knight (released in 2008)
are two thriller films in which the narrative involves the protagonists take
on the role of vigilantes; embarking on taking revenge for deaths they
blame themselves for. Batman blames himself for the death of Rachel, who
he has feelings for and Harry Brown blames himself for the death of his
best friend Leonard. Through the motive of revenge Batman and Harry
Brown end up cleaning up the mass criminal society around them, (Harry
Brown with the South London council estate and Batman with Gotham
city). As vigilantes Harry Brown and Batman end up committing morally
wrong actions, but as the audience we never see them suffer for their
actions, also through the long stride of violence Harry Brown and Batman
follow and with the clear up of society, this shows that their wrong actions
actually lead to positive results.

5.  Thesis Statement
 Paragraph 1 - Brief introduction and overview of both films. How through the
narrative the start of The Dark Knight and Harry Brown are expressed and shown.
How costume show the threat of characters from both films. The use of hand held
camera in Harry Brown along with the smooth controlled camera used for The Dark
Knight. Key Scenes - Harry Brown and The Dark Knight openings.
 Paragraph 2 - How both films follow and break genre conventions and how this
affects both films narratives. Acting of antagonists in both films being similar to
protagonists. Use of camera shots , mid and low angle shots show antagonists
power. Key Scenes - Harry Brown & The Dark Knight interrogation scenes.
 Paragraph 3 - The development through narrative of The Dark Knight and Harry
Brown the disruption of equilibrium along with their motivations and, through
revenge that make them to act aggressively, and the threat of antagonists on both
characters. Also making reference to both films protagonists being anti-heroes. How
through props and camera focus on the antagonists props (bomb and gun) show the
shift of power through narrative. Key Scenes - The hospital scene with Harvey and
the Joker in The Dark Knight and the subway scene in Harry Brown.

6.  Paragraph 4 - The role of a vigilante and how Batman and Harry Brown's
actions have effected others, have they fully fulfilled their roles as a
vigilante? Looking at narrative and genre. How through location shows
that whether the vigilante role has been fulfilled. Also what the camera
shots communicate, whether both films vigilantes have beaten the
antagonists. Key Scenes - The Dark Knight and Harry Brown film endings.
 Paragraph 5 - Reference to thesis statement on how both Harry Brown and
The Dark Knight show through narrative the role of a vigilante, and how
both characters in the film do morally wrong and escape punishment. Both
vigilantes restore social order and their own equilibrium - (Gotham city and
the South London estate). Arguing my personal opinion regarding thesis
statement. Also Harry Brown riot scene very similar to the London riots 2
years later - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-
2169199/Michael-Caine-I-knew-2011-riots-happen-It-version-did-
Sixties.html.

7.  Both films come under the crime, action thriller genre. Both Harry Brown and
Batman are the lead protagonists and take on the role of a vigilante in both films.
They also are anti-heroes looking at their character qualities, they acquire some
characteristics of a hero (fearless, decisive and courageous) but are also selfish
and vengeful.
 The protagonists are motivated by revenge rather than the typical conventional
hero motive of 'doing the right thing'. Harry Brown is vengeful due to the murder
of his best friend Leonard, and Batman is vengeful due to the death of Rachel, a
woman who he also has feelings for. Batman is selfish as his actions are mostly
due to the fact he has feelings for Rachel and wants to win her over although she
is already in a relationship with Harvey Dent. Harry Brown is selfish as he
thoughts are fully set on getting revenge regardless of the law or his actions
possible effects on others.
 Harry Brown and The Dark Knight show how the lead characters roles as
vigilantes, although motivated by revenge both characters end up cleaning up the
area around them (Batman with Gotham city and Harry Brown with the South
London council estate).

8.  Themes in The Dark Knight & Harry Brown include: vengeance, conflict,
anarchy, justice, evil vs good, crime and fear, power.
 In The Dark Knight themes include: politics, terrorism and corruption.
 In Harry Brown themes include: poverty and gangs.

9.  http://davidowootomofilmstudies.blogspot.c
o.uk/2012/11/harry-brown-dark-knight-
key-scenes.html