Opening to "The Usual Suspects"
I will be analysing and explaining upon how the elements of Mise en Scene,Camerawork,Sound and Editing in the film "The Usual Suspects" and how it is an opening to a thriller opening.
To begin with, at the start of the sequence the audience learns that the setting is placed on a boat with the first character which we see who appears to be weak/injured as he is sitting down while preparing to have a cigarette which is shown in a medium shot of the character making the audience focused on him . After this, we also see that extreme long shot of the whole setting that there is the sense of low key lighting. This has been used I believe to create the tone of the unknown due to darkness with very little lighting leading to the audience seeing very little of the Mise en scene. Also we learn that the main key source of the lighting is fire placed in the setting which can be symbolic to represent a sign of danger and fear.
The sound consist of a non-diegetic sound of stringed instruments that plays a slow rhythm but overtime of the scene it begins to increase little on the pitch and begins to tense to create and show tension in the sequence between the characters and the audience. the sound is also used to show danger such as when the character pulls out the gun the sound begins to become tenser.
In the sequence there are 2 characters one dressed in full black with the camera work showing a medium shot of him talking. However the frame of the character does not show his face which can create a tone of fear. He is also on a higher ground compared to the weak character to show levels of a higher status and that he has the stronger hold
throughout the scene we have a consistency of two way shots cutting back to the weaken character and to an unknown character dressed in black where we only see the torso and below of his appearance which also creates the tone of unknown that leads to a vast amount of enigmas such as who is this character and why is he here? Both the characters have very little dialogue to create suspense in the scene.
I also find that all the shots are took in a long time cutting into the next scene. This is to make the audience focused and aware of the Mise en scene around the characters
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - American Version
- In the beginning we open to an extreme longshot landscape panning across of an agricultural setting combined with foggy effect that's leads to the concept of mysteries (enigma).
- Throughout the scene there is a non-diegetic sound of a piano per note playing very slowing to create a zone of a child rhythm been played which can start the point of the tension beginning to rise.
We are then cut to the next shot again an agricultural setting only this time a long shot of the entire building to show the audience that this is a potential location on where the scene will take place.
After this the camera cuts to a medium shot of an first male character answering and starting to talk on the phone (with off-screen diegetic sound of the phone ringing). The Mise en scene shows us that the first male character seems to be in the setting of his home. However we only see the back off him and the camera is place back out of the room as if we are watching him with him not knowing at all. As he answers and begins to ask a question onto the phone. It then cuts to the second male character what seems to be in an office and again we also see him too only from behind but at a high angle of him looking down at the desk and replying with the answer
Shutter Island
·
We start with seeing a dark room with very
little lighting
·
We see the character Teddy (Leonardo DiCaprio) wakes
up with a close up of his face looking into a mirror. This is where the
following questions are raised such as why is there a plaster on his face? Has
he been in a fight? Also we see his character speaking to himself a lot and facial
expressions telling us the audience that he is not normal and lots of questions
to consider of him
·
Another close up of him looking outside at the
sea showing the audience he is on a boat
·
The diegetic sound of chains clinking making us believe
this could be a potential prison boat?
·
Non diegetic sound of cello playing showing the sense
of danger
·
The colour of the weather and sea all in a dark
blue could be a sign of pathetic fallacy that gives the idea that a bad momentum
is going to occur later in the film
·
As the character teddy leaves the inside of the
boat we have a 2 way shot of him speaking to the 2
nd character. This
is where we learn more about Leonardo’s character.
·
We are given a flashback with him and his wife
showing the so called “perfect life” he had then suddenly cuts into present time
with Teddy saying she died showing signs not much thought was considered as it
came across blunt
·
The flashback and present are linked with each
other as seen the prop of the tie is the exact same one. We can also see ever
since of the events of his wife’s passing his facial appearance shows he looks
ill which is shown by close ups
·
As they arrived the island the cello music is
continuing to play we learn that the island is heavily full of security giving
the idea that the setting is to be took in a serious matter
Kill Bill
·
We begin straight away with an extreme close up
one shot (for facial expressions) Uma Thurman’s character which appears that
she looks heavily damaged and is wearing a wedding dress so we can tell all the
events that have occurred has happened at a wedding
·
The whole opening is in the filter of black and
white to showcase the unknown and dangers
·
We a close up of man’s feet walking to show a
sinister character is entering the room
·
Also we the male character have his hand touching
the female character who we assume is bill as it has the name bill on the handkerchief
to show a bit of a comical style kick in
·
We then have a blackout combined with a gunshot
to cut straight into the opening credits again still in the black and white
filter
·
Throughout the opening credits it is presented
as if it were a book for example it uses “Chapter 1”
- the music of the woman singing "Bang Bang" is a contrast to the entire film as it contains gunshots
Kill List
- The Mise en scene shows the setting takes place in a house
- We are viewed into a close up of a woman screaming and swearing at a man. the offensive catches the audience to pay attention to the characters.
- camera angle is facing down at the woman while when cut to the man the camera angle is viewed up to the man representing status that the male character has more power over her
- the silence between the dialog can increase the tension
- it then cuts into a child lying down sideways on the floor while overhearing the argument. We can see that he doesn't act upset over this showing signs that the arguments have been occurring a lot as if it was a usual routine.
- after the argument we are given a vast amount of shots of the setting outside the house consisting of fields with the weather been cloudy which can reflect the struggling relationship between the male and female
- we are then shown a close up of the male taking pills which can show he is taking medication to cope with stress disorder
Collateral
- It begins with a tall male character (Tom Cruise) walking across by crowd of people walking in a straight a line and looking forward without showing any emotion. this is to make the audience aware that he is the main character to be focusing on as well as the camera also (in a medium shot) focusing on him. the idea he where's a suit also gives the impression he see himself in a higher status.
- It then cuts to Jason Statham's character who is also dressed in a suit but however is walking causal and has not put much effort in himself compared to the first character we see. It is also set in a medium shot of Jason Statham's character walking with the busy crowd around with the camera focusing on him.
- After this the camera jumps back to the first character but this time a closer shot of his face. this is to show that these 2 characters are about come across each other at some point in the film.
- We are then cut to them both crashing into each other with the first character dropping a bag. this begins to lead questions (enigma) on what is inside the bag?
- They have a brief very little conversation which is shown in a medium shot of the 2 characters.
- The first characters begins to slow pick up the bag and slowly walk away as it nothing has happened. as he touches the bag non-diegetic sound is played to show that there is a sign of danger which is involved of that bag.
- As he walks off the shot cuts into a completely different location still playing the non-diegetic sound. Which appears to be in a garage as there is a variety of characters fixing a red car. We then see are 3rd main character played by Jamie Foxx sitting down reading a newspaper so we can assume that he waiting for his car to be repaired.
- As he enters the car he puts a picture of an island on the car. this is shown in a close up of the picture showing an idea that this could be a memory of his character?
Jaws
- A long shot of a girl running into the sea with non diegetic sound that is set in a happy tone
- We are shown a variety of long shots of the girl swimming in the scene from high angles above the sea and low angles below the water.
- we then are shown a long shot low angle below the water only this time its tracks towards her. this can give the idea that we are in the shark point of view. as this happens the music begins to become more sharper but still in a happy tone showing a sense of danger and tension that is occurring.
- when filmed in the sea it is presented in dark colour as a sign of danger and above there is bright colours contrasting the settings.
- we are shown close up of the girl been dragged down in the water while the non-diegetic sound of is played
- as she is no in longer scene the music goes quiet as if the tension is non existence despite what happened in the scene.
