Fight Club
The title sequence is a CGI of the narrator’s brain which the camera scans along at a fast rate. This looks very dark and creepy with the flashing. Alongside this sequence there is intense rock music which is also slightly eerie. This image then zooms into an extreme close up through the sights of a gun. This really builds the tension as the camera zooms out to show the gun barrel in the protagonist’s mouth. There is a shallow depth of field which details the gun and blurs the face but as the camera scans up the gun barrel the depth of field changes to show the protagonist’s sweat covered, fearful expression as his eyes open wide. The camera then changes shot so the side of the two characters showing only the hand holding the gun and the protagonist’s face, it then changes to a over the shoulder shot from the protagonist’s eye level which is low as he is in a chair, it shows a character towering over the protagonist, this makes the other man look dominant. This is called restricted narration. The narrator’s voice is very calm and casual; this is in contrast to drama of the opening sequence. Mise on scène is used to create questions, the room is very dark with cables running across the floor, the only information that the audience is given about the building is that it’s a skyscraper in a city from the backgrounds of the shots, although even this is slightly hidden in shallow depth of field.
Sin City
The first thing that strikes you in Sin City is the use of colour ,The first shot in Sin City is an establishing shot of an urban city in which you can see a woman from behind. The only colour used in this shot is the vibrant red of the woman’s dress; this makes it clear she is an important character in this scene. This establishing shot creates a relaxed but eerie mood, it is also has a slow pace. There is soft non diegetic music played at the beginning which matches the women measured walk to the edge of the balcony. There is also some diegetic sound which creates a relaxed atmosphere such as the women’s soft footsteps. There is also subtle quiet traffic noise in the background. The narrators voice then comes in which is nearly a whisper; this also reinforces the relaxed mood created. As the camera shot changes to a long shot of the women, it is clear that a man is approaching her from behind at a stroll pace, although low key lighting is used at first to conceal his identity as light is shown from behind to show the man as a silhouette; this creates suspense. The low key lighting creates a sense of mystery. As the man offers the women a cigarette a close up of the transaction is shown, this shows a connection between the two characters. While the two characters are in dialog the subtle diegetic music returns, and gets louder as they approach each other to kiss, also as they approach it begins to rain, which is in contrast to the innocence of a kiss. When they kiss the camera shot changes to a long shot with the two characters being white silhouettes against a black background. This makes the scene more passionate as the two become one shape as a silhouette. After the kiss they stare at each other, then suddenly he shoots her without her ever knowing it was coming, this was in complete contrast to the rest of the scene as it seemed a mellow picture. After he has shot her he holds her and the camera tilts up to see his face, due to clever side lighting it shows the side of his face which is hidden in the dark, this brings back the feeling of mystery which was given when the man first appeared. The camera then switches to a shot from a high angle looking downwards upon the two alongside the rain this creates a really passionate scene. The camera then zooms out and flies across the city, with some non diegetic music which is darker and far more intense than that of the music previous.
The Usual Suspects
At the beginning of the scene you hear a match being lit this then provides light which enables you to see a book of matches being lit. The cameras then switches to a medium close up, showing a man clearly in some distress, lighting a cigarette. The camera then shows a barrel leaking some fluids, the camera then returns to the man which reveals he is sitting in a very grim environment. He is sitting on an old rusty boat surrounded by barrels and crates. It’s a very dark scene with flittering flames creating a dark atmosphere. As the man throws the book of matches it lights a line of petrol which begins to ignite to the source. The camera then pans to follow the fire, this builds suspense for the audience. As the camera follows the flame it builds tension, until it passes a bloody corpse lying on the floor. This creates a sense of danger. The camera shot then changes so as the flame approaches it, until petrol drops down just in front of the camera. The camera then switches so as is partially block by the corpse, then tilts upwards while looking at the falling petrol to see a man holding a barrel. Although due to low key lighting and restricted narration neither his face nor his identity is revealed. This creates suspense and mystery. The camera then returns to the sitting man, as he closes his eyes and lets his head fall. The camera then follows the other man as he walks down a set of stairs from where he was standing. Due to clever lighting and camera work his identity is still not revealed, as he is lit from behind making him appear almost as a silhouette, as well as when the camera follows him it stays slightly below to keep his face hidden, this builds more tension and mystery as the audience fear for what will happen to the seated man as the stranger approaches him. The stranger walks at a slow pace to increase suspense. Once the stranger has approached the man the camera changes to a cut in as he pulls out a lighter and slowly moves it towards his face, this builds more suspense as the audience think the camera will follow the lighter to reveal the man’s face, although it stays fixed on his body creating more mystery. The camera then switches to a over the shoulder shot but from below the strangers shoulder as to keep his appearance a mystery and to build tension, also the seated man is now looking up at the stranger, showing the strangers dominance. The camera then returns to a cut in to show the stranger put in the lighter back in his pocket. The camera then switches to the previous shot where the stranger reveals a gun, although this is slightly hidden due to the use of shallow depth of field. There is some more camera work using shot reverse shot between the two characters, and then the shot changes to a cut in of the stranger aiming the gun. Then the camera completely changes to a long shot of old boat, this builds yet another element of mystery to the scene. The camera then changes several times showing the boat from different sides and angles. One of the shots of the boat shows the light reflecting of the water and onto the boat which creates an eerie mood as the water ripples. The camera then shows more petrol leaking then back to a cut in of the stranger dropping a cigarette onto the floor as it sets alight. This is in slow motion as to build tension. It then shows the stranger climbing down a ladder in a long shot as a silhouette. The camera the slowly begins to zoom in towards a pile of ropes with small explosions going on in the back ground, then shows a long shot of the explosion then back to slowly zooming in to the ropes this builds tension and suspense as the audience wonder what will happen once the camera has finished zooming, this is revealed when they fade from the ropes to a new scene.
At the very beginning there is some non diegetic music of one note being played on a piano which fades, this creates an eerie mood. The diegetic sound at the begging is also eerie as you can constantly hear the petrol hitting the floor. As the camera pans up to see the stranger sinister music begins to play which creates a dark mood. As the man walks down the steps his footsteps are very loud and precise which increase tension and the very dark atmosphere. After the gun has been fired there is diegetic thunder in the background which is very subtle, but adds to the dark, eerie atmosphere. As the flame ignites after the stranger’s cigarette is dropped the music becomes more intense and increases the dark atmosphere.
Piranha 3D
At the beginning of the title there is a establishing shot which shows a mountainous and desert like landscape. Mise en scene is used to create the surrounds to seem baron and abandoned which adds to the atmosphere. The camera begins to slowly pan to the right, this creates an eerie mood alongside the diegetic sound of the wind. This theme of eeriness is continued when the shot changes to show a old sign creaking in the wind. The sign reads something quite mysterious although it raises the tension due to the eeriness established. Non diegetic sound then begins to play the music is very eerie which adds to the atmosphere. The shot changes to a reptile which creeps along a rock which adds to the eeriness. The camera then changes to another establishing shot, this time showing a river. More diegetic sound is played to get the audience adapted to the new environment such as birds and the water rippling, although the music is quietened the theme of eeriness continues. You then hear the sound of a radio playing old music which continues the theme. Then there is a very wide shot of a man in the middle of a river, this alongside the music creates tension. There is an underwater shot of beer bottles hitting each other which sounds eerie under the water. The camera then changes to a medium close up of a man sitting in a boat singing, the man singing in the boat takes away some of the eeriness but you are still reminded of it due to the sounds of the water. The camera work until the man gets a bite is very slow, but afterwards the cuts become much more frequent, this builds tension and suspense. When a beer bottle sinks down the water the camera follows it, the deeper it goes the darker it gets which builds tension as well as eeriness and creates a dark atmosphere. Tension is then built up by suggesting that something’s happening under the water by showing different places of ground shaking, also tension is raised by more non diegetic music returning. The camera then does a POV shot of what’s under the water moving erratically this adds pace and suspense as well as tension to the scene. When the camera returns to show the man it’s shaking. As the whirlpool spins the music gets faster and faster raising tension and giving an element of danger. Once the man’s in the water all movement is fast paced and erratic.
Strangers on a train
At the beginning a taxi approaches the camera, a man gets out but you can only see his lower body through clever use of restricted narration, the music is non diegetic and upbeat, this creates an element of mystery. Another man then gets out of an identical taxi, in a very similar fashion, the only subtle difference being their shoes and luggage. One of the men has white shoes making him easier to spot and recognise. This shows a connection between the two characters, this also creates mystery. Both men have people who carry their luggage for them suggesting they are wealthy or people of importance. The camera then follows both of them using cut in shots of their legs, as they walk through a busy station. The camera then shows several people going through a barrier in a near identical manner, the man with the white shoes is just recognisable but you only see him from behind and he is wearing a hat, meaning anyone of them could be the other man from the taxi, creating suspense and mystery. There is then a POV camera shot of a train, there is then a fade, after the fade the music becomes quieter and less forceful which shows the gentleman in the white shows walking along the train then sit down in a casual manner. It then shows the other man walking and sits down opposite him, as their shoes touch under the table; this creates suspense as the audience now really anticipate knowing the connection between the two. Mise en scene is used to create a upper class, well polished environment with everyone in suits, and dressed smart.
No comments:
Post a Comment