Don't Look Up: Editing Techniques Analysis

 

Directed by Adam McKay is the movie Don't Look Up. It was released in 2021 and it shows the efforts of two astronomers trying to warn the world about the effects that a comet heading toward Earth could have. The story is immersive, but one thing that made it stand out was its use of editing techniques, which goes hand-in-hand with its stellar cinematography. It was nominated for Best Film Editing by the Academy Awards, and Best Edited Film Feature by the Eddie Awards, so in this essay, we'll explore the techniques that helped the movie become nationally recognized.

One of the techniques that mainly stood out to me throughout the duration of this movie was the jump cut. Jump cuts are, at their core, just shots that involve cutting out a portion of them to create a sudden jump in space or time. It's worth noting that while this movie deals with very serious terms, it is satirical, so certain shots, such as the jump cut, were added simply for comedic effect. One example of this is throughout a news conference, where the President of the United States interrupts our main character (Dr. Mindy), and halfway through his sentence, a jump cut is used to show that the president has no idea what she's talking about, even while talking to others. Another technique that is somewhat similar to the jump cut is cross-cutting. Cross-cutting is an editing technique that is used to show two or more scenes that are happening at the same time but in different places. Not to be confused with parallel editing, when it shows them side by side, cross-cutting switches between scenes with another editing transition, such as a wipe or a fade out. The main times that they've used this method have been when the two main astronomers are trying to convince political and religious figures that what they're saying is true, and that time is running out to do something about it(comet). The cross-cutting there simply shows a sense of tension and urgency between the people talking, even though others may not think of it in that way.

Another film tactic used throughout the film was slow motion. Slow motion is a technique where a film is shot at a higher frame rate and then played back at a slower speed in order to emphasize certain movements and create a more dramatic effect. The impact of the comet throughout the cities of the world has slow-motion highlighting it, along with the scene where our second main character (Dr. Dibiasky) is walking towards the white house in order to warn the president of what may potentially happen. Even though that was not the most used of techniques throughout the film, it gave a great effect of drama when the audience needed it more, and so it fed into the satirical undertones of the movie.

  Lastly, this film consisted of many montages, ranging from someone's life to the comet about to hit Earth. A montage is a filmmaking technique that involves combining a sequence of shots in order to recreate/show the passing of time to convey a particular emotion from the audience. The world's reaction when it was first said that there was a deadly comet on its way to Earth was one of the most evident examples of montages. This sequence was also the most effective in conveying the chaotic nature of the situation and how the directors wanted us to view it.

In conclusion, Don't Look Up's editing methods significantly contribute to the overall tone and message of the novel. Montage, cross-cutting, jump cuts, and slow-motion views all contribute to an interesting and enjoyable cinematic experience. When applied properly, these editing techniques can improve the storyline and provide viewers a clearer comprehension of the film's ideas and messages.