Riewer--Patriot Games and The Devil's Own

Both 1992’s Patriot Games and 1997’s The Devil’s Own star Harrison Ford and feature the stories of the Irish Republican Army, or IRA. In both films, Ford stars as the protagonist, while the antagonist of both is starkly different. Patriot Games stars Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan, a man who, while on vacation with his family in London, must take on his former role as CIA agent and stop an assassination attempt on a royal official. The antagonist of Patriot Games, Sean Miller (Sean Bean), is portrayed as an evil and bloodthirsty man, merely seeking revenge. Alternately, the antagonist of The Devil’s Own, presents a different case, and is portrayed by Brad Pitt as a sympathetic character trying to bring justice to different problems he has experienced. This film costars Ford as New York policeman Tom O’Meara, who houses who he believes is an Irish immigrant in need of a place to live.

The following image, taken from Patriot Games, shows Sean Miller, and does little to increase any sympathy that the audience might have had for him.

The color values of this image, with every character dressed in black, suggest a serious situation. Further, the three hats on the law officials’ heads versus the lack of hat on Miller’s head make him stand out in a negative. With his hands behind his back and his light hair standing out against the police and guards, his character becomes increasingly unsympathetic. Miller is also the dominant of this scene, suggesting his importance. The scowling look on his face indicates that he is a bad person or a villain in the film. The character proxemics, finally, suggest a stark difference between Miller and the other three men. He is facing the camera with his back to the others, while the other three are facing each other. All of the qualities of this image suggest that Miller is an unsympathetic antagonist.

The following image, taken from The Devil’s Own, portrays Frankie (Pitt) with Tom O’Meara and others, posing as friends in an intimate setting.

The character proxemics are intimate, suggesting that Frankie is someone who can be trusted, since the antagonist (someone with whom the audience can relate) seems to trust this person. The color values are neutral to bright, suggesting that this is a happy and fun occasion, filled with love and trust. Later in the film, this is destroyed. Finally, the lighting key is bright, and there is light directly behind the three characters, casting them in an almost holy light. This suggests that these three are to be trusted without a doubt.

Both of these films tell the stories of the IRA, but the antagonist in both is portrayed in completely different ways.

Szklarski: Irish Films

Both Patriot Games and The Devil's Own portray the 'same' group of people in strikingly different ways. The I.R.A does not change however, the audience's alliances are shifted. The way that each antagonist is shown in terms of their caring nature or humanity is very different between films. I had difficulty finding a picture of a scene to use for analyzing Sean Bean's character in Patriot Games. Sean Miller is presented as a blood-hungry terrorist blaming his way through Ulster, London, America, and Libya, coming out of the water, airborne, in your attic, nursing a monumental grudge, and just utterly scary. In this frame, Miller is certainly the dominant. All are dressed in black, making the bulk of the image rather dark. No matter what side of the situation people lie, there is potential for corruption. The social camera proxemics allow for us to see more than just Miller in this frame. This allows us to compare him to the people around him. Miller is the only character not wearing a hat. The hats on the law enforcement men around him show their lawful alignment. Miller is lawless and does not follow the rules or social order set by governments or humanity. Miller's rogue and grudgey nature is captured in his hat-lessness. Jack Ryan interferes with the assassination and therefore becomes more of an enemy than Miller's previous opposition.

Frankie's situation is premised with the opening scenes of The Devil's Own. Brad Pitt's character is presented as more of a struggling person than a madman. The empathy we show toward him starts with seeing the scene is grown out of seeing a young boy's father get shot at their dinner table.

In this scene, the gunman that breaks in is viewed from how young Frankie would see him. The low angle of looking up at the gunman puts us in a seat right next to Frankie at the table and the empathy begins. The low key lighting here creates strong contrasts between the mask and the gun versus everything else. The dominant in this scene is eyes. My eyes were first drawn to the face of the gunman because I wanted to see who it was that just barged in. His entrance was such an interruption to the happy, peaceful family dinner. His eyes emerge out of the darkness of the mask. The black anonymity of the mask shows the faceless violence. There is no face to the violence until one side decides that certain men are the cause of it, when in reality, it is the   It is a direct descent into the darkness that envelops the rest of the movie, at least in comparison to the happy Irish music. There are many instances in which we see Frankie is not a heartless wench. We feel his feelings when his friend is shot and must be left behind during the battle in the apartments. He plays football with the can in the streets as he jokes around with his friend he was just reunited with towards the end of Act 2. Overall, Frankie's cause is portrayed as being targeted by the enemy, whereas Sean Miller is the enemy.

Emily Szklarski

Smith - Patriot Games vs. The Devil's Own

Smith – Patriot Games vs. The Devil’s Own

            Both movies open and close the same way. In the Devil’s Own the British refer to the IRA, which is a way for them to slant the news. They are implying that the IRA hasn’t decommissioned their weapons, that anybody who fights against them is the IRA and it’s the American FBI agent that refers to them as the provisional IRA. The sentimentality of the family and the music in both of these films is very interesting and makes us understand the importance of family in both of these movies. The idea of Tom becoming Rory’s surrogate father and then the conflict between the father and son at the end of the movie is important. After Tom discovers the money he is torn because he has started to let Rory become a part of his family and he has a gut feeling that he should be protecting his wife and daughters from his newfound son.

            The scene where Harrison Ford kills the member of the PIRA shows the importance of the protagonist and the antagonist. The dominant in that scene would be Harrison Ford because he is in the center of the shot. The lighting key is dim to set the sad tone and the amount of action going on in the shot creates a very dense scene. In the patriot games the older brother acts as the father because the father has been killed. When his younger brother is killed he goes to get Jack Ryan because he killed his brother. Both Patriot Games and The Devil's Own feature Irishmen as antagonists. Both not only challenge the Protagonist but also plan and do things that the audience in America would consider evil.  Each film frames our attitudes towards the antagonists.

            The Patriot Games starts in England where Jack Ryan who is a teacher in the Naval academy and a former CIA agent is giving a talk. When he walks out of the college where he is giving the talk he sees two taxis that are converging on an road. He sees the guns before the shooting begins because the Provisional IRA is trying to abduct or kill 3 members of the royalty. He foiled the attempt and in the process he kills one of the IRA men. The IRA was really constituted after the 1916 Easter uprising, however it continued a kind of military action in the north because the north had been separated from the rest or Ireland. The IR decommissions its weapons. The Provisional IRA was people that wanted to continue the military action. People in the ski masks are provisional IRA members. Putting these masks on is making a statement. The problem with both of these films, there are more Irish in America then there are in Ireland and we have always had a close relationship with the Irish.

            The scene at the end of the Devils Own when both men are trying to get them to understand each other’s situation is what needs a mise en scene analysis. The dominant in this scene is Harrison Ford because we get to watch him decide how to assess the situation. The subsidiary would be the gun because we do not want either of them actually shoot the other. The form is open because they are in the middle of the ocean and are the only ones that are in the scene. Tom wants to keep Rory from getting hurt or killed by going back home and Rory can’t even consider not going home.  

            How are we to look at Sean Bean who plays the one who is shown much more as a criminal and a terrorist then Frankie who is played by Brad Pitt. Sean loses his brother and his only goal is tot track down the person responsible for that crime and Frankie witnesses his fathers murder by probably volunteers. He grows up to become a PIRA man and he goes to New York to get money. This is the second act. Both of these films are about the northern island troubles. How do the Irish from the northern island react to the world outside the Northern island? Harrison Ford is reported as commenting, "The film was pretty unabashed in its admiration for the I.R.A. and all things Irish" (Pfeiffer 234). This quote demonstrates the importance of the antagonists in both films and the importance of violence and acceptance in both movies.

Hoo: Patriot Game/Devil's Own

These two films attempt to portray the men of the Provisional Irish Republican Army in two very different lights. The core difference between the two films lies in how the filmmakers want the audiences to interpret the antagonists. In the 1992 film Patriot Games the character Sean Miller is presented for the most part as a pure antagonist. “Patriot Games had boldly presented the I.R.A. in an unflattering light, and Politically Correct forces began to attack the script’s allegedly right-wing tone. In fact, wile the I.R.A. is not painted in a glowing light, the story emphasizes that the terrorism is being caused by a splinter faction which the I.R.A. itself condemns” (Pfeiffer 202). Although the antagonist was part of a splinter faction, masses tend not to conduct extensive research on political issues like this one. I find that a great many of the audience members left the theaters with contempt for the I.R.A. Although Sean Miller’s struggle for vengeance stems from the fact that Jack Ryan killed his brother, he is portrayed as a pure antagonist. The frame I attached demonstrates the point that Sean Miller is to be viewed as a villain. While Miller is training in Libya it is obvious that he supposed to be evil. He is the last one to stop firing, showing his obsession with killing Ryan. Even though his is being advised to leave as the British Special Air Service is approaching to attack the camp he is persistent with shooting the target. The loose framing shows all the room he has to escape and how it seems not to matter to him. The desert color and backdrop demonstrates that this setting is of people hostile to the U.S. At the time the U.S. was involved in Operation Desert Storm and the desert was seen as the home of the enemies.

On the other hand, The Devil’s Own portrays a member of the IRA whose antagonist status is far more ambiguous. Frankie McGuire witnessed the murder of his father at the age of 8. This is the hardship that motivates him to commit such violence.  The audience does have sympathy for him, as besides the fact that he kills people he seems to be a good guy. The frame I chose demonstrates the complexity of his character. As the gunmen are leaving the house he backs up with his hands up. The high key lighting almost appears to be spotlight on him. This shows that the heat is all on him. Although his body language shows that he doesn't want any trouble, the stark contrast between him and his shadow demonstrate that his dark side will always follow him. Also, he is placed in a corner to show how he is stuck between these two lives.     

          

Jordan-Patriot Games/Devil's Own

 

 Harrison Ford starred in Patriot Games(1992) and The Devil’s Own(1997). Both of these films focus on the Irish Republic Army’s pursuit of freedom and independence. Both films show the violent nature and action that is percived when someone is involved with the IRA independence movement. Even with this information, the audience is able to find a small spot of sympathy for the antagnoist because they are fighting for something they feel very strongly about.

      

            In Patriot Games, Sean Miller (Sean Bean) is a member of the IRA and acts as the antagonist.  As the film starts, Sean and his younger brother Patrick are attempting to assassinate the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Lord William Holmes (James Fox). Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford), former CIA agent, disrupts the assassination attempt and kills Patrick in the midst of a shootout. Patrick’s older brother Sean is then apprehended by police and taken into custody. Although Sean had attempted to unlawfully murder Lord Holmes and his family, the audience sympathizes with Sean over the loss of his younger brother. In Patriot Games, the audience loses sympathy and respect for Sean's cause becasue he betrays his own countrymen and then eventually goes after Jack's family.  According to Pfeiffer, the movie “had boldly presented the IRA in an unflattering light, and Politically Correct forces began to attack the script’s allegedly right-wing tone…[although] the story emphasizes that the terrorism is being caused by a splinter faction which the IRA itself condemns” (Pfieffer 202).

       

       Frankie McGuire (Brad Pitt), the antagonist in The Devil’s Own, is also a member of the IRA. At the beginning of the film, Frankie witnesses his father being killed. Withought any further character development, the audience is imeadiatly sympathatic towards him. The film puts the audience in a moral dilema later in the film because early on we are expected to feel for this person, who will later commit crimal acts. Frankie fights in the war to gain independence and he soon after  travels to America under the name Rory DeVaney. While in the states, Frankie stays with Tom O’Meara, an Irish American police officer living in New York with his wife and three daughters. O’Meara is unaware that Frankie is one of the Irish Republic Army’s most deadliest members. O’Meara and Frankie build a strong friendship and Frankie takes on a brotherly role among O’Meara’s three daughters. The audience can see that Frankie is good-hearted and well intentioned. Unfortunately, he has chosen a life of violence as a result of seeing his father killed at such a young age. Frankie firmly believes in the cause of the IRA, and is willing to go to great lengths to see that the Irish gain their independence. 

 

 

 

 

Fisher: Patriot Games/Devil's Own

Patriot Games and The Devil’s Own give two unique perspectives on the IRA-fueled conflict in Ireland that occurred around the time the films were released. Patriot Games takes more of a black and white approach to the two sides of the conflict, portraying the terrorists as the evil enemies since they do evil deeds. In contrast, The Devil’s Own blurs the lines between the good guys and the bad guys and brings a more complex and in-depth examination of the issue, forcing viewers to question the morality of their own government and police units which are casually pointed to as forces of good in Patriot Games.

In Patriot Games, we lose sympathy and respect for Sean Miller’s cause and his grief for his brother as we watch him betray his own countrymen and go after the innocent members of Jack Ryan’s family. Additionally, he members of the terrorist group are portrayed as self-interested, disjointed teammates, fighting and murdering their own affiliates. At the height of the action, the insurgents invade Jack Ryan’s home in the middle of the night to complete their long-term mission to kidnap an important British diplomat. The sinister darkness paired with the extremely personal setting of Jack’s own house lead viewers to make assumptions about the evil nature of the IRA given the group’s affiliation. As Pfeiffer states, the film “had boldly presented the IRA in an unflattering light, and Politically Correct forces began to attack the script’s allegedly right-wing tone…[although] the story emphasizes that the terrorism is being caused by a splinter faction which the IRA itself condemns” (Pfieffer 202). While this may be true, from someone completely uneducated in the matter, it would appear that the IRA is the sole proprietor of wrong and that Jack, our hero and member of the CIA, and his cohorts are in the right. 

On the other hand, The Devil’s Own explores the motivations of those behind the factions of the IRA who practiced more violent protests. The introduction to the film shows how a peaceful life with the warm values of family is destroyed by murder perpetrated by the government. As a witness of his father’s murder, we can understand Frankie McGuire’s hatred towards the British rule imposed upon him. We further join Frankie’s side as he goes on to adopt his host’s, Tom O’Meara’s, family and defends them after a home invasion that occurs due to his own actions. While we may not be able to say that Frankie’s actions are entirely justified, we cannot say that the government’s are either. When confronted by the FBI and the British government for information on Frankie’s location, Tom refuses, saying that he knows that they won’t arrest Frankie, they’ll just kill him. The idea that we can’t trust the people responsible for administering justice to fulfill their job forces audiences to question who is really on the good side in this case. 

Kellogg: Patriot Games vs The Devil's Own

In 1992 and 1997, Harrison Ford starred in Patriot Games and The Devil’s Own, respectively. Both films focus on the Irish Republic Army’s (IRA) struggle to gain independence. An Irish antagonist challenges Harrison Ford, who plays the protagonist in both films. While both films tend to shed a negative light on the violence surrounding the Irish Republic Army’s efforts to gain independence, the audience is able to sympathize with the antagonist to a certain degree.

            In Patriot Games, Sean Miller (Sean Bean), the films antagonist, is a member of the Irish Republic Army. At the beginning of the film, Sean and his younger brother Patrick attempt to assassinate the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Lord William Holmes (James Fox). However, Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford), former CIA agent, disrupts the assassination attempt and kills Patrick in the midst of a shootout. Patrick’s older brother Sean is then apprehended by police and taken into custody. Although Sean had attempted to unlawfully murder Lord Holmes and his family, the audience sympathizes with Sean over the loss of his younger brother. While Sean blames Jack for killing his younger brother, the audience can see that he also feels guilty for involving his brother in the first place. In the image above, Sean is being question by police. The dominant color in the frame is blue and the lighting is very dim. This low lighting is used to signify Sean's sadness of the loss of his brother. Additionally, the character proxemics are social as the police offers keep their distance from Sean. This representing foreseeable disconnectedness Sean will experience during his time in prison.
            As the film progresses, Sean cannot bring himself to forget the death of his brother. He eventually escapes police custody and travels to the U.S., seeking revenge on Jack and his family. While in the U.S., Sean unsuccessfully carries out an assassination attempt Jack’s wife and daughter. However, they are left badly injured in the attempt. Jack is infuriated by this and decides to rejoin the CIA. Jack does extensive research on Sean’s history, during which he learns that the Royal Ulster Constabulary killed Sean’s father in Belfast in 1979. Once again, the audience is able to sympathize with Sean, even if only for a short moment. Sean was presumably a young boy at the time of his father’s death, which is a hard thing for anyone to deal with.

            Frankie McGuire (Brad Pitt), the antagonist in The Devil’s Own, is also a member of the Irish Republic Army. At the beginning of the film, Frankie witnesses his father murder. Immediately, the audience feels sympathetic for Frankie. The film fast forwards to the early nineties where Frankie fights on the frontline of the Irish’s struggle to gain independence. Frankie evades being killed and travels to America under the name Rory Devaney. While in the states, Frankie stays with Tom O’Meara, an Irish American police officer living in New York with his wife and three daughters. O’Meara is unaware that Frankie is one of the Irish Republic Army’s most deadliest members. O’Meara and Frankie build a strong friendship and Frankie takes on a brotherly role among O’Meara’s three daughters. The audience can see that Frankie is good-hearted and well intentioned. Once again, the audience sees Frankie as a likable person and is able to sympathize with his unfortunate involvement in the IRA. Frankie has voluntarily chosen a life of violence as a result of seeing his father killed at such a young age. Frankie firmly believes in the cause of the IRA, and is willing to go to great lengths to see that the Irish gain their independence.  The image above, Frankie's pistol is the dominant aspect of the scene. The subsidiary contrasts lie within the cars in the background, as this tells the audience that Frankie is ruthless and is willing to shoot an American police officer in public if he has to. The scene is also very dense and highly detailed. Frankie is in the foreground of the scene, signifying his importance and the tensity of the situation.
           Both characters' fathers were killed at a young age, as the result of political conflict in Ireland. As a result, both Miller and McGuire turned to a life of violence. The audience is able to sympathize with both characters. However, Frankie McGuire is a much more respectable person as he has proven he genuinely cares for others, such as Tom and his family. Miller, on the other hand, has sociopathic tendencies and simply seeks revenge on Jack Ryan and his family.