The opening sequence to the Shining would be a beautiful view across wide valleys and tall mountains if it wasn't for the very sinister undertone that the music created. The music is incredibly eerie as every so often there is low chanting and scratchy violin notes which set a suspicious mood for the audience.
The opening sequence also sows the isolation of the hotel in which Jack Nicholson goes to by showing is took a long time for him to get there via long windy roads and he also tells another man it took him 3 and a half hours. Also by the fact that all of the shots are high angle - showing vulnerability as well, and extreme extreme long shots. This creates suspense as the audience realises as the storyline is uncovered that he ans his family will be completely separate from all civilisation and anyone who can help.
At one point the car also goes into a very dark and sinister looking tunnel which is quite ominous. Towards the end of these mountaineous shots snow appears in the frame which again shows isolation but also possible discomfort in the coming cold months - implying that winter is coming.
Showing posts with label Analysis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Analysis. Show all posts
Thursday, December 13
Friday, November 2
Opening Sequence: Point Break
The opening sequence to Point Break is interesting, but it doesn't make sense to you at the time. It depicts parallel editing between the lead character - Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) - taking part in a police training test for shooting accuracy and Bhodi (Patrick Swaze) surfing during rain. These are the two main themes/lifestyles shown in the film - laid back surfers/police officers or detectives. It's quite an emotional opening sequence - in that in both the events occuring simultaneously there is quite a strong atmosphere, mainly passionate. The two things which are shown are the things which the repsective characters love most in the world - being a policeman/detective and surfing.
I think this is really good for an opening sequence as it gives the audience information on exactly what the film is about, particularly the main characters - who for the next 90 minutes or so are the main people in the viewer's mind.
I think this is really good for an opening sequence as it gives the audience information on exactly what the film is about, particularly the main characters - who for the next 90 minutes or so are the main people in the viewer's mind.
Monday, October 29
Inspiration: Past Thriller Projects
Under the Gun
I think that the Mise-en-Scene and Cinematography in this opening sequence is particularly good. The colour in it appears as if it used to be so vibrant and saturated, and it's not that now it's cold with blue/grey tones, it's just that it's faded and become so much less passionate. The lighting also creates suspicion from the audience, the shadows and dark corners seem very sinister, connoting something very illegal/underground etc. The Mise-en-Scene as a whole creates the sense of past glamour/the darker side of glamour - the glamour connoted by the suit, cards, crystal glasses, but it's all dragged down by the grimey ashtrays and tiny box room. The cinematography is full of tight frames, the use of CUs and MCUs and low angles shows the panic of the male character and the disgust and passion/feistiness of the female. It also shows how to-close-for-comfort the tiny room is, and how intimidating the male lead is.
Exposure
I think the continuity in this opening sequence is by far the best because it follows all of the rules.
It has lots of brilliant matches on action - for example when he bursts through his bedroom door
It had dissolve transitions to slow the pace down and to heighten emotion
It also has a fade to black at the end of the clip which conventional symbolises the passing of time, so possibly the opening sequence is in a separate time frame to the next part of the film.
It increases realism with loud diegetic sounds like the running water, keys rattling etc
The pace is fast at the beginning which a little unconventional but it balances this out by slowing it down after a minute or so.
I think that the Mise-en-Scene and Cinematography in this opening sequence is particularly good. The colour in it appears as if it used to be so vibrant and saturated, and it's not that now it's cold with blue/grey tones, it's just that it's faded and become so much less passionate. The lighting also creates suspicion from the audience, the shadows and dark corners seem very sinister, connoting something very illegal/underground etc. The Mise-en-Scene as a whole creates the sense of past glamour/the darker side of glamour - the glamour connoted by the suit, cards, crystal glasses, but it's all dragged down by the grimey ashtrays and tiny box room. The cinematography is full of tight frames, the use of CUs and MCUs and low angles shows the panic of the male character and the disgust and passion/feistiness of the female. It also shows how to-close-for-comfort the tiny room is, and how intimidating the male lead is.
Exposure
I think the continuity in this opening sequence is by far the best because it follows all of the rules.
It has lots of brilliant matches on action - for example when he bursts through his bedroom door
It had dissolve transitions to slow the pace down and to heighten emotion
It also has a fade to black at the end of the clip which conventional symbolises the passing of time, so possibly the opening sequence is in a separate time frame to the next part of the film.
It increases realism with loud diegetic sounds like the running water, keys rattling etc
The pace is fast at the beginning which a little unconventional but it balances this out by slowing it down after a minute or so.
Opening Sequence: Scream
I thought that the opening sequence to the film was the best (maybe even the only good) part of the film. The use of the scary voice on the end of the telephone and the thought of that person being in the house really hooks the audience in, creating such tension and suspense. I think it particularly shocks the audience because the girl shown in the first few minutes is set up as the main character - she is sweet, blonde hair, and flirty at first so the audience expects her to escape. So then when she doesn't and is brutally murdered it hooks the audience in further because they realise that this film is going to be very hard to second guess and will keep them interested until the end.One of the main reasons i think the opening sequence is so good is because it immediatly taps into audience fears, not just current but on going, because one of the scariest t
hings to most people is the thought of someone being in your house, so that you are so vulnerable, without your knowledge. Another good part is when she turns on the porch light and her boyfriend is there, this makes her seem less isolated though as there are others in the vicinity, but it makes the whole thing seem a lot more sinister and twisted.One thing which i thought was awful about this film (and the opening sequence) is how unscary the villain was, some costumes (such as halloween ones) can seem sinister but this one made the whole film a lot less scary because it was quite comical.
Rating: **
Sunday, October 14
Titles
The titles of films can tell us a lot about the film just at a quick glance and they therefore act as a hook for the audience.
There are some very common themes in thriller titles but criminal activity features more or less features in them all.
There are some very common themes in thriller titles but criminal activity features more or less features in them all.
- Death
- Supernatural
- Watching/Following
- Obsession
- Isolation
- Memories/Pasts
Titles are the most carefully chosen aspects of a film, they need to connote many things at once, yet be enigmatic to make you want to find out more/if you suspicions are correct - this is where a blurb comes in - to give the audience a little more information and often hook them in even further.
For example:
Fatal Attraction - this connotes obsession, seduction, death, betrayal/unfaithfulness
Memento - memories, the past, leaving a mark
The Silence of the Lambs - corrupted innocence, death, massacre, isolation
Memento: Was i right?
I analysed the cover of Memento before i watched the film and after watching it i realised that most of the presumptions i made from analysing the cover were correct - i believe this is probably due to representations - the type of signifiers which are universal - e.g. black which always symbolises the unknown/mystery/darkness
'All of this is set on a black background
This suggests a very mysterious/murky background to the story - the reason/logic behind it is very unclear'
- This is particularly true because the film is backwards, so we have absolutely no idea of any of the reasons for the events.
'The man is wearing a very stylish cream and black suit, yet it is unclear what she is wearing. This suggests the film is set in a high class area - possibly a very corrupt one with lots of skeletons, the enigma in the narrative is again presented through her unclear dress. The fact we know more about him than her shows that perhaps she is more mysterious than him.'
- this is half correct, it isn't set in a nice area at all, but quite a run down one, but it is very corrupt because people take advantage of the Leonard even though he has disabilities. For example, the motel owner charges him for 2 different rooms, and Natalie takes advantage of him by getting him to kill Dodd.
' The man looks quite handsome and rugged - stubble/shaven head/suit
The suit shows that he is respectable but that perhaps he is a little rough around the edges (stubble) - this could possibly be how he used to be - and old life is trying to escape from.'
- This is right just in the wrong order - he used to be respectable with a steady job etc, but now he spends his time looking for revenge.
Because of their facial expressions i think they don't know each other very well and are probably curious, but i think their is definitely an element of sexual tension.
- This was completely true, they meet half way through the film and he wakes up next to her practically every new day.
I was quite wrong about the connotations of his gesture code (looking over his shoulder) - it's not because he is worried someone knows his secret it's because he is constantly confused and looking around in all directions trying to make sense of things. Also because he is living for/in the past as this is the only thing he wakes up every morning remembering.
My summary was: The DVD cover doesn't really reveal anything concrete about the storyline, it mainly connotes secrets and watching. One very prominent theme though was the idea of a murky past - with lots of skeletons and perhaps trying to forget this past and run away.- This was mainly right because Leonard is trying to forget his past because he believes once he has avenged his 'dead' wife he will be able to get over it every new morning
'All of this is set on a black background
This suggests a very mysterious/murky background to the story - the reason/logic behind it is very unclear'
- This is particularly true because the film is backwards, so we have absolutely no idea of any of the reasons for the events.
'The man is wearing a very stylish cream and black suit, yet it is unclear what she is wearing. This suggests the film is set in a high class area - possibly a very corrupt one with lots of skeletons, the enigma in the narrative is again presented through her unclear dress. The fact we know more about him than her shows that perhaps she is more mysterious than him.'
- this is half correct, it isn't set in a nice area at all, but quite a run down one, but it is very corrupt because people take advantage of the Leonard even though he has disabilities. For example, the motel owner charges him for 2 different rooms, and Natalie takes advantage of him by getting him to kill Dodd.
' The man looks quite handsome and rugged - stubble/shaven head/suit
The suit shows that he is respectable but that perhaps he is a little rough around the edges (stubble) - this could possibly be how he used to be - and old life is trying to escape from.'
- This is right just in the wrong order - he used to be respectable with a steady job etc, but now he spends his time looking for revenge.
Because of their facial expressions i think they don't know each other very well and are probably curious, but i think their is definitely an element of sexual tension.
- This was completely true, they meet half way through the film and he wakes up next to her practically every new day.
I was quite wrong about the connotations of his gesture code (looking over his shoulder) - it's not because he is worried someone knows his secret it's because he is constantly confused and looking around in all directions trying to make sense of things. Also because he is living for/in the past as this is the only thing he wakes up every morning remembering.
My summary was: The DVD cover doesn't really reveal anything concrete about the storyline, it mainly connotes secrets and watching. One very prominent theme though was the idea of a murky past - with lots of skeletons and perhaps trying to forget this past and run away.- This was mainly right because Leonard is trying to forget his past because he believes once he has avenged his 'dead' wife he will be able to get over it every new morning
Tuesday, October 9
Memento: Narrative image
The construction of the narrative image on the DVD cover through:
Camera
CU of a man, but the tip of his head is cut off, he is looking off the frame to the left
The cut-off distorts the photo slightly and makes it look a little wrong, the fact that he is looking off to the left shows he is looking at/for something - almost searching. We can see his emotions clearly because of the CU.
The woman in another shot is also in a CU, with a slight high angle and looking straight at the camera
However it doesn't feel as if she is looking at 'us', i think that her and the man and looking at eachother. Even though the high angle should make her look vulnerable, the confident/bold expression on her face makes her look even more menacing.
The photograph is at eyeline for one photo, and a high angle for the second
This in no way involves the audience, we are very much made to feel like an onlooker
However the poloroids are splayed out as if they are on a table
Therefore maybe we are an all-knowing onlooker
But again this is slightly contradicted by the blurry and undetailed backgrounds of the photos
So perhaps we know what is going on right now, but perhaps not the past/why it is happening
Mise-en-Scene
The title of Memento
This is one of the main signifiers which holds the whole carefull constructed narrative together, it helps the audience piece the bits together and they all link back to 'a memento' - a memory of something, either phsyically or emotionally
The photograph of the man is a poloroid
This connotes being watching/followed as a poloroid is an instant memory of that moment
Then within that poloroid there is another of a woman
This suggests that he is watching her
But then again within this is his photo again
This connotes she knows he is watching her - this carries on and it all suggests lots of watching and secrecy and 'smokes + mirrors' - no one ever knows the full story
All of this is set on a black background
This suggests a very mysterious/murky background to the story - the reason/logic behind it is very unclear
The man is wearing a very stylish cream and black suit, yet it is unclear what she is weraing
This suggests the film is set in a high class area - possibly a very corrupt one with lots of skeletons, the enigma in the narrative is again presented through her unclear dress. The fact we know more about him than her shows that perhaps she is more mysterious than him.
The text reads 'some memories are best forgotten'
This is where most of the information is given about the plot - it connotes memory loss, secrets, skeletons in closets, running away from your past. We are given lots of options so it doesn't give too much away, it really just allows the mind to wander and jump to conculsions - which is a kind of hook to the film
The font of the text is very childlike and almost scribbly
Anything to do with children + the corruption of innocence makes people think of warped + twisted events
The backgrounds to the photos are blurry
This again suggests murky pasts, skeletons in closets, definitely something very bad has happened
People
The man looks quite handsome and rugged - stubble/shaven head/suit
The suit shows that he is respectable but that perhaps he is a little rough around the edges (stubble) - this could possibly be how he used to be - and old life is trying to escape from.
He is in his 20s/30s, white, American or British
Shows he is just an average guy on the surface (maybe other things deeper down) or he has just got caught up in something he shouldn't have.
The woman is around the same age, but she looks perhaps spanish or latina, very naturally beautiful
The beauty makes her probably quite self-confident, quite content,
[Gesture codes] The man is looking over his shoulder
This is a VERY KEY signifier to the plot, it shows he has something to hide (secret/skeleton) that he is worried someone will find out/already knows - something he wants to forget
The woman is directly addressing the camera (possibly him), boldly and almost aggressively
Possibly she knows his secret and she wants to remind him, she wont let him get away with it
They both have shadows on their faces (hers are more predominant than his)
This suggests yet more enigma and question raising from thre audience and shows them to both be a mixture of good and evil
Camera
CU of a man, but the tip of his head is cut off, he is looking off the frame to the left
The cut-off distorts the photo slightly and makes it look a little wrong, the fact that he is looking off to the left shows he is looking at/for something - almost searching. We can see his emotions clearly because of the CU.
The woman in another shot is also in a CU, with a slight high angle and looking straight at the camera
However it doesn't feel as if she is looking at 'us', i think that her and the man and looking at eachother. Even though the high angle should make her look vulnerable, the confident/bold expression on her face makes her look even more menacing.
The photograph is at eyeline for one photo, and a high angle for the second
This in no way involves the audience, we are very much made to feel like an onlooker
However the poloroids are splayed out as if they are on a table
Therefore maybe we are an all-knowing onlooker
But again this is slightly contradicted by the blurry and undetailed backgrounds of the photos
So perhaps we know what is going on right now, but perhaps not the past/why it is happening
Mise-en-Scene
The title of Memento
This is one of the main signifiers which holds the whole carefull constructed narrative together, it helps the audience piece the bits together and they all link back to 'a memento' - a memory of something, either phsyically or emotionally
The photograph of the man is a poloroid
This connotes being watching/followed as a poloroid is an instant memory of that moment
Then within that poloroid there is another of a woman
This suggests that he is watching her
But then again within this is his photo again
This connotes she knows he is watching her - this carries on and it all suggests lots of watching and secrecy and 'smokes + mirrors' - no one ever knows the full story
All of this is set on a black background
This suggests a very mysterious/murky background to the story - the reason/logic behind it is very unclear
The man is wearing a very stylish cream and black suit, yet it is unclear what she is weraing
This suggests the film is set in a high class area - possibly a very corrupt one with lots of skeletons, the enigma in the narrative is again presented through her unclear dress. The fact we know more about him than her shows that perhaps she is more mysterious than him.
The text reads 'some memories are best forgotten'
This is where most of the information is given about the plot - it connotes memory loss, secrets, skeletons in closets, running away from your past. We are given lots of options so it doesn't give too much away, it really just allows the mind to wander and jump to conculsions - which is a kind of hook to the film
The font of the text is very childlike and almost scribbly
Anything to do with children + the corruption of innocence makes people think of warped + twisted events
The backgrounds to the photos are blurry
This again suggests murky pasts, skeletons in closets, definitely something very bad has happened
People
The man looks quite handsome and rugged - stubble/shaven head/suit
The suit shows that he is respectable but that perhaps he is a little rough around the edges (stubble) - this could possibly be how he used to be - and old life is trying to escape from.
He is in his 20s/30s, white, American or British
Shows he is just an average guy on the surface (maybe other things deeper down) or he has just got caught up in something he shouldn't have.
The woman is around the same age, but she looks perhaps spanish or latina, very naturally beautiful
The beauty makes her probably quite self-confident, quite content,
[Gesture codes] The man is looking over his shoulder
This is a VERY KEY signifier to the plot, it shows he has something to hide (secret/skeleton) that he is worried someone will find out/already knows - something he wants to forget
The woman is directly addressing the camera (possibly him), boldly and almost aggressively
Possibly she knows his secret and she wants to remind him, she wont let him get away with it
They both have shadows on their faces (hers are more predominant than his)
This suggests yet more enigma and question raising from thre audience and shows them to both be a mixture of good and evil
Because of their facial expressions i think they don;t know each other very well and are probably curious, but i think their is definitely an element of sexual tension
Summary
The DVD cover doesn't really reveal anything concrete about the storyline, it mainly connotes secrets and watching. One very prominent theme though was the idea of a murky past - with lots of skeletons and perhaps trying to forget this past and run away.
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