Space & Environment: Secret Liars

The Mise-en-Scene Film Review

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Directed by Tim Burton. Tim Burtons gothic taste that has become known to many isnt so gothic and dark in this 90s classic. Perhaps the most original movie fantasy creation of the year: an icon of tenderness and artistic alienation that clings, stickum-like, to your mind's eye and the softest, most woundable parts of your mass-culture heart. (Wilmington, 1990) The film has a very stereotypical American neighbourhood, where everyone knows each other and has the housewives that are just looking for that gossip to spread. An Avon lady goes selling her products and comes across a mysterious mansion (Fig 2), one that just by first glance looks like it hasnt been lived in for years and yet you feel the need to go in. Through all the cobwebs, dark, misty rooms she comes to the attic where she finds hidden away Edward- Edward was an experiment which his master created after looking at his machine through a heart biscuit.
Figure 1

Figure 2

Edward himself is where Tim Burtons gothic-ness shines; compared to the neighbourhood which looks so immaculate and clean (Fig 3) Edward just stands out as different. Yet starts to fit in by using his scissorhands by cutting hedges into shapes, giving the dogs haircuts and even the ladies. Everyones always colour coordinated with their pastel coloured houses, whic h has something to do with the economy and selling goods.

Figure 3

A personal film, Burton conceived the idea for the film from his own childhood upbringing in suburban Burbank (California). (Levy, 2005); many would say one of the best films hes done before his movies became grouped together and all involving his wife. Jo Berry sums up Burtons delightful film: the imaginative set design and spellbinding story are both superb certainly one of the best fantasy films ever made.

Bibliography:
Text: Berry, Jo. Available at: http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?DVDID=6549 (Accessed online on 5th November 2013) Levy, Emmauel. Available at: http://emanuellevy.com/review/edward-scissorhands-1990-7/ (Accessed online on 5th November 2013) Wilmington, Michael. Available at: http://www.metacritic.com/movie/edward-scissorhands (Accessed online on 5th November 2013) Images: Fig 1. Edward Scissorhands (1990) From: Edward Scissorhands. Directed by Tim Burton [Film Poster] American. http://leluxemannequin.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/edward-scissorhands.html Fig 2. Edward Scissorhands (1990) From: Edward Scissorhands. Directed by Tim Burton [Film Still] American. http://theironcupcake.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/indelible-film-imagesedward-scissorhands/ Fig 3. Edward Scissorhands (1990) From: Edward Scissorhands. Directed by Tim Burton [Film Still] American. http://60yearslate.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/blending-is-secret.html