What filmmaking techniques does A Life Less Ordinary use?

CineCode breaks down 5 techniques in A Life Less Ordinary (1997): Genre Collage, Psychological Doubling, Female Agency as Structural Default, Chekhov's Gun and Animation as Emotional Amplifier.

Who directed A Life Less Ordinary?

Danny Boyle directed A Life Less Ordinary, released in 1997. CineCode also covers Shallow Grave (1994), Trainspotting (1996), The Beach (2000), 28 Days Later (2002), Sunshine (2007), Slumdog Millionaire (2008).

What films are similar to A Life Less Ordinary?

Films that share techniques with A Life Less Ordinary include Howl's Moving Castle (2004), A Scanner Darkly (2006), Parasite (2019), Get Out (2017).

Romance · Comedy · Fantasy

A Life Less Ordinary

Danny Boyle, 1997

Two angels are sent to Earth to make a fired janitor and his kidnapped hostage, a rich man's daughter, fall in love, or they will be stuck on Earth forever. It is part romance, part crime caper and part heavenly office comedy. Critics found it uneven, which makes it a good case study in mixing genres.

3 Narrative 1 Psychology 1 Editing

At a glance

A Life Less Ordinary is a 1997 romance, comedy and fantasy film directed by Danny Boyle. This breakdown covers 5 techniques (3 narrative, 1 psychology and 1 editing), each with the scene where you can see it. If you like how it is made, Howl's Moving Castle uses several of the same techniques.

Narrative

Genre Collage

Mixing several genres in 1 film, such as crime, romance, horror and absurd comedy. The clash between them keeps you from settling into a single way of watching.

How this film uses it

The film jumps from heavenly bureaucracy to kidnapping comedy to a bank robbery to a love story. Critics called the tone a mishmash, and the clash is the point of study. You can see how hard it is to keep so many moods balanced.

Where to see it

Heaven's case file: In Heaven, Gabriel warns angels O'Reilly and Jackson that if their next couple does not fall and stay in love, they must stay on Earth forever.

Psychology

Psychological Doubling

Pairing the main character with a second character who mirrors them. The double shows what the hero wants, fears or secretly is.

How this film uses it

The angels are a second couple in the film. They meddle in Robert and Celine's romance, and while they do, they start to feel the same pull. The mirror shows that love needs a push for everyone.

Where to see it

The angels' ending: After Gabriel congratulates them, O'Reilly and Jackson hold hands as they prepare to return home, suggesting they have found love too.

Narrative

Female Agency as Structural Default

Putting women at the center as leads, leaders and villains, and letting their choices drive every major plot turn. The story treats this as normal and never makes their gender the subject.

How this film uses it

Celine is the hostage, but she drives much of the plot. She slips her restraints, then decides to stay for adventure and revenge, and she pushes the kidnapping toward a bigger ransom. Her choices keep changing what happens next.

Where to see it

Celine stays: Though she easily slips out of her restraints, Celine decides to stick around for the adventure and revenge, and suggests they extort a huge ransom.

Narrative

Chekhov's Gun

Showing an object or detail early on that becomes important later. The idea is that nothing gets screen time unless the story is going to use it.

How this film uses it

Robert tells Celine about a recurring dream where she must shoot him through the heart with an arrow. The detail sits quietly until the end, when a real bullet passes through his heart and leaves him unharmed.

Where to see it

Robert's dream and the shot: Robert describes his dream of Celine shooting him on a game show. At the climax, Celine shoots Mayhew, and the bullet passes through Robert's heart without hurting him.

Editing

Animation as Emotional Amplifier

Using animation, for a whole film or for short sequences inside live action, to make emotions hit harder. Drawn images can show inner feelings that realistic footage can't reach.

How this film uses it

The ending leaves live action for animation. The credits show Robert and Celine settling into a castle in Scotland with the ransom. Drawn images let the film give them a storybook ending it could not easily shoot for real.

Where to see it

Animated end credits: Robert and Celine retrieve the suitcase of money and settle in a castle in Scotland, shown in the animated end credits.

Questions

A Life Less Ordinary: quick answers

What filmmaking techniques does A Life Less Ordinary use?: CineCode breaks down 5 techniques in A Life Less Ordinary (1997): Genre Collage, Psychological Doubling, Female Agency as Structural Default, Chekhov's Gun and Animation as Emotional Amplifier.
Who directed A Life Less Ordinary?: Danny Boyle directed A Life Less Ordinary, released in 1997. CineCode also covers Shallow Grave (1994), Trainspotting (1996), The Beach (2000), 28 Days Later (2002), Sunshine (2007), Slumdog Millionaire (2008).
What films are similar to A Life Less Ordinary?: Films that share techniques with A Life Less Ordinary include Howl's Moving Castle (2004), A Scanner Darkly (2006), Parasite (2019), Get Out (2017).

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