Film Analysis Essay on Alfie

Introduction

The 1966 film, Alfie, features a handsome young man known as Alfie as seeks to use women for pleasure and their money. The film's cinematography, shots, angles, script and other aspects play an essential role in helping to bring out the emotions of a romantic-comedy movie that the producers and the directors envisioned. A critical analysis of the film offers important insights into various aspects and features that make the film outstanding and able to meet its objectives.

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Firstly, the film uses different techniques of camera shots that are predominantly focused on the actors. In this case, the common camera shot is the medium shot where the actors are shown from the waist up. The role of such shots in the film is to ensure that the viewer can focus on the actors with no distraction from other activities or objects in the film frame. A major technique used in the film in the acting is the main character's breaking of the fourth rule by sleeping directly to the camera, and thus revealing his motivation, thought processes, and most importantly, his plans for the women that he has affairs with. The setting of the film is an urban neighborhood and middle-class setting where there are working class married women, who Alfie targets and starts affairs with, by taking advantage of the vulnerability. The script is both hot and cold in that while the women are in love and feel there is hope in their relationship with Alfie, he is cold and ruthless, and does not hesitate to end affairs with the women, leaving broken hearts along the way. His explanations for his behavior turn him into a villain who leaves victims reeling in pain and hurt. However, when he is finally dumped by Shelley Winters, his invisibility becomes exposed and he has to reflect on his love life and the loneliness that has come from his inability to commit to any woman.

The film's overall narrative is both dramatic and comedic, with the life of Alfie and his escapades with married and unmarried women presenting the stage where both tones play out. For instance, the comedic tone of the film is depicted from the way Alfie takes lightly his behavior, and he even tries to show a better side by trying to interact with the baby (Gilbert). However, all these actions feel dramatic since the viewer can understand his shallow emotions, and only feel pity for the women who come across his path. The dramatic nature of the film is depicted in the various encounters with women, where Alfie pretends to be a gentleman and charming but his intentions are clear to the viewer. The abortion that Lily has to undergo when Alfie insists, and the circumstances that led to their affair from the hospital, are all dramatic to depict the cruelty and lack of respect that he exhibits. The genre of the film can be considered a romantic comedy, with some bit of drama. Furthermore, the film is episodic whereby scenes show events that escalate as the time passes by, from one scene to another (Gilbert). The outcome is that the film becomes centered on the life of Alfie as he moves from one encounter to another with different ladies, the resolution of the affairs, and the outcomes of the victims, that is, hurt for the women, and indifference for Alfie.

Set in the 60s, the aim of the film is morality based, whereby the producers intend to show that, despite his seemly carefree and happy life that he leads by having affairs with many women, he would be better if he had only one woman and kids. The film is educative in that it shows the kind of "aspirations" many men have, that is, being able to sleep with many women without any consequences, and the reality that adverse outcomes are inevitable when leading the promiscuous life that Alfie does. While on one hand, such escapades may seem fulfilling, the film is quick to show the hurt it causes not only in Alfie but also in the women those he heartbreaks, as well his child who lacks a father figure. Alfie's lack of commitment has left him with nightmares of his child, and thus he feels alone and empty. The lesson is clear that men who aspire to be like Alfie are entering a dangerous and immoral path that will only leave them empty.

The film applies realism in many situations, and this makes it very entertaining and able to achieve its goals. For instance, the concept of married women cheating was not unheard off, and hence, through Alfie, the viewer is able to see the other side of the British society of the time. The second aspect of realism is depicted in the abortion scene whereby due to the prohibition that existed, those who sought such services had to do it in unsafe environments where the government would not catch them. In this case, Alfie's apartment presents the ideal place from where the procedure has to be undertaken. However, the film is also stylized, and this is evident in many circumstances. For instance, the presence of a street dog in the beginning and at the end is unnatural; as such, a coincidence seems impossible. Despite the occasional unnatural depictions in some scenes, the film has strived to achieve high levels of realism.

The major themes that have been explored include sex and love, and the morality of promiscuity. In the film, sex has a different meaning to the actors. For instance, while Alfie considers sex as simply a pleasurable act that he can do and walkway, the women consider it as an expression of love. It is such disconnect that leads to many heartbreaks for the women who have affairs with Alfie, who is heartless and emotionless. On the other hand, the morality of the behavior of Alfie is put into question-based on the misfortunes that the women experiences, and the damage done to families. When he finally sees the consequences of his actions through the aborted fetus, as well as his son being brought up by another man, Alfie can understand that his behavior damaged many people, and the loneliness that overcomes him shows that his actions do not pay.

The film seeks to elicit different emotions from the audience. Firstly, it seeks to attract admiration from the men as Alfie is presented as an alpha male who has access to many women who are all willing to risk everything for his love. However, Alfie's intentions are to take advantage of the desperate women, have sex with them, and dump them, and leave them heartbroken. However, the after showing the kind of "life" men may admire, the film goes on to show the other side of women, who are shown as victims who are helpless and bear the impact of the misbehavior of Alfie. The loneliness that Alfie experiences, losing his son and the unborn child are the negative consequences of leading an irresponsible behavior. Consequently, the outcome of Alfie's behavior is not honorable, and thus offers a lesson for men to stop glorifying such actions.

The elements that were particularly successful are the film's ability to depict Alfie as a highly self-centered person who does not care about others. The creativity of the film can be attributed to the writer Bill Naughton who was able to come up with a script that was ahead of its time in raising controversial issues such as abortion. On the other hand, the main actor Michael Caine is able to fit into the character of Alfie in ways that make the film interesting to watch, as viewers are eager to see his next move.

Conclusion

The film is well presented and its aims achieved as intended. The personality of Alfie is intriguing yet it represents the deeper wishes of many men who would want to sleep with women without consequences. The themes of the film such as sex, love, and morality are well integrated to ensure that viewer can follow the interactions of the actors, and make an informed judgment on the intentions of each character, and the morality of their actions. The use of realism makes it more relatable to the society of 1966, and thus why the film was very successful. The directors, actors, and the scriptwriter have done a commendable job to create the film that retains its historical place as one of the greatest of all time from its era.

Work Cited

Gilbert, Lewis, producer. Alfie. Paramount Pictures, 1966.