The Catcher in the Rye
The characters Holden Caulfield, from The Catcher in the Rye, and Billy Brown, from the movie Buffalo ’66, are two characters whose psyche presents a disturbing and abnormal picture. Both characters live in worlds where they do not fit in. Holden’s bitter world is illustrated through the pages of a novel in first person narration. Contrastingly, Billy’s lonely world is seen by the audience through film using unique camera angles to reveal his feelings. Though portrayed through vastly different genres, the stories of Holden Caulfield and Billy Brown illustrate an overly impacting childhood causing deep feelings of alienation from society as well as the need for a connection with someone or something. The genre of Buffalo ’66 enables the visual images, seen through unique camera angles as well as the spoken script of the characters, to influence the storyline. Much knowledge about Billy and the other characters is gained due to the camera angles shown. The camera angles allow the audience to see the characters up close and personal and to feel the pain and tension expressed in the scenes. For example, at the dinner table, the camera angle causes the audience to feel as though they are present at the table. This causes the scene to be incredibly life like and real. Also, the audience can sense the awkwardness that Billy and Layla are feeling due to the extreme silences and awkward conversations at the dinner table. In the photo booth, the small, claustrophobia image of Billy and Layla forces the audience to look closely at them. The different facial expressions of both Billy and Layla dominate the screen. In this scene, Layla is sitting higher up than Billy on his lap, while Billy attempts to make all the decisions about their poses. He constantly repeats, “Look like you like me,” while he himself stares at the camera with a straight, depressing face. The audience cannot escape the anger that Billy feels while Layla attempts to make funny faces and continues to touch him. This close shot of both characters enables the audience to travel deeper into their emotions and feelings. Not only does Buffalo ’66 enables the audience understand the feelings of the characters, but the audience can also visually see what the characters look like. The appearance of the characters is not left up to the mind of the audience, but is set in stone. Layla’s appearance throughout the film is most striking. When Billy first meets her, she is tap dancing at a studio with several other women. Layla sticks out because she is dressed in a light blue color, has pale skin, and has bleach blonde hair.