Steven Spielberg and the Art of Storytelling

Spielberg has got to be up there in the list of my favourite directors of all time. His movies succeed not only because of fantastic cinematography, engaging scores and a refined choice of actors but more exclusively in sheer feel-good entertainment, the kind that is often missed in many of today’s soulless blockbusters. (The irony here being that he pretty much singlehandedly invented the summer blockbuster with Jaws). Not often can you say that watching a film has made you feel somewhat enlightened but after viewing ‘Close Encounters’ for the first time I felt refreshed and clearheaded. The story of an ordinary mans struggle to make sense of his life and find purpose was somehow strikingly relatable even despite the extraterrestrial undertones.

"I know this sounds crazy, but ever since yesterday on the road, I've been seeing this shape. Shaving cream, pillows...Dammit! I know this. I know what this is! This means something. This is important!"

In many of his films Spielberg flourishes in evoking emotion by conveying the same nostalgic value of those cherished childhood memories you have exploring the outside world for the first time with your friends, the sense of adventure around every corner. The way his family orientated films can appeal to both adults and children is almost unparalleled and rivalled today only by companies such as Pixar. This is often because Spielberg manages to treat children like adults without losing the feel of their youth. He presents us with realistic and relatable characters, and regardless of their age we are able to feel a connection with them. This cannot be said for many recent ‘family’ orientated films, for example last month’s ‘Chipwrecked’. I haven’t personally seen the film but from the trailers alone I can grasp that there appears to be not one enticing character, although what can you expect from a movie about talking chipmunks.

It doesn't get much more engaging than this...

Ultimately though, his success as a director comes down to one core fact. Spielberg is an absolute master of storytelling. Visuals are one thing but without a solid story your movie can never be good. ‘Raiders of the lost arc’, ‘E.T’, ‘Jurrassic park’, ‘Schindlers List’, they all had beautifully crafted stories. Of course credit cannot be given solely to Spielberg, but when it comes down to it these were his visions, his interpretations of the source text. To quote the master himself

"People have forgotten how to tell a story. Stories don't have a middle or an end any more. They usually have a beginning that never stops beginning."

Films can be forgotten, but a good story is timeless.

James.