Don't Play No Game - Spike Jonze x Beastie Boys

Background

Here is an analysis of Spike Jonze's short 'Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win', an 11 minute promotional music video for the Beastie Boys song of the same name, off of their 2011 album 'Hot Sauce Committee Part Two'. The film pays homage to campy kids classics such as 'Thunderbirds' and 'Action League Now!' across the course of the short.

Click here to watch the Spike Jonze short

Camerawork

The film uses sophisticated camerawork, which contrasts heavily with the endearing DIY look of much of the action within the piece. Jonze uses a variety of shots to achieve a sense of movement; tracking and pans are rife and make the numerous action and chase sequences throughout exciting. 

The film however does use a number of shots that support the 'campy' feel of the film. Above is an example of one of the exaggerated zooms used to emphasize the film's satirical, over-the-top nature.

Sound

The film is set to various versions of Beastie Boys 'Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win', thus is the promotional nature of the film. The sound similarly serves to accentuate the fast pacing in the film, the different versions that play in help set each new scene that appears, for example, a higher tempo, electro version of the song plays during the tundra chase.

Furthermore, the realistic sound effects used heavily contrast the sets made up of action figures and toys, immersing the audience into this mock world. 

Editing

A focus could be put on the transitional elements used in the scene to move between different settings. 

A mix of continuity and montage editing is used throughout; in many scenes the action being performed will start in one setting and continue out into another, sometimes with a small cross fade in-between. In doing so a variety of scenes and settings can be presented while the on-screen action remains easy to follow. I constructed a GIF of one such happening - see below.

A looping gif we made of one such transition between different environments.

Mise-en-Scene

The short uses a mix of realistic and 'mock' props to achieve (and exaggerate) a similar aesthetic to older, campy television classics like Thunderbirds. 

Production values are boosted by the level of detail that goes into these seemingly simplistic props. Note the custom logos and costumes worn by the Beastie Boys figures and vehicles. Similarly, intricate lighting pieces are used during many of the action sequences to achieve a level of realism and immerse the viewer.

Note the level of detail on the costuming and props. Brandished 'MCA' logo on the jacket of the MCA figure and the Beastie Boys logo on the truck.