Coursework
Film opening anaylsis Pt2
Whiplash
The opening to whiplash starts with a slow drumming which builds in speed and volume as the title appears. This lasts for 33 seconds, as the screen remains black before the first shot appears as the drumming reaches a climax. The first shot is a long shot looking down a corridor into a room where a young man is organising his drums, the camera moves in closer as he restarts playing. This acts as a Pov shot of someone looking into the room and moving closer. This is until he suddenly stops after realising that someone is standing in the doorway. The character is shadowed creating an element of mystery and hinting a dark side of the character. He then steps out of the shadowed doorway into the lit room. A shot reverse shot follows as the two exchange dialogue. Low angles from the drummer and high angles from the teacher clearly show the imbalance of power within the scene. The teacher is unimpressed and leaves the room only to return for his hat leaving the student alone in the room as the scene ends.
Crime Film opening anaylsis
Se7en
Se7en opens with shots of a book’s pages being turned by a blurred hand the first titles appear in a twisted dark font connoting a sinister movie. The next shots are quick takes of sinister drawings and machinery this is accompanied by a creepy soundtrack making the viewer uncomfortable. Shadows pass over the shots showing that someone is using them creating a sense of mystery. The fonts blur, as they appear further enhancing the uncomfortable nature of the intro. It becomes clear that the individual is making a book filled with demonic imagery this accompanied by the eerie soundtrack, which picks up in volume as the intro goes on sets the tone for the thriller film.
Taxi Driver
The opening shot is of steam rising form the ground and a loud drumming building up behind as a taxi emerges from the steam. This is done through a low angle shot of the taxi as it emerges through as if the audience where on the floor watching it move past. When it has passed the title of the film appears. The connotation form this scene is an element of mystery to the taxi driver. The cast is listed in the same front in a taxi like yellow font this transitions into a shot of the river it is an extreme close up of his eyes. His face is tinted red from the lights outside the car this gives the impression that he is a danger through the colour red being present. A slow jazz tune plays as the shot changes to a pov of him looking out onto the road this is burred through changing the depth of field and the rain pouring down onto the car makes the outside lights appear as only faint blurs. This gives the impression he is isolated from the world outside and society as a whole he is alone in his small world being the car. The images get even more blurred as if he is hallucinating or this shows how out of touch he is from reality. The music return to the intense drumming again this happens showing that he is a danger to the outside world.
Film opening analyses
Drive
The opening shot in drive in a of a city skyline at night with kavinsky night call playing in the background, this acts as an establishing shot of the films setting being LA. The first name to be credited is Ryan Gosling the lead role within the film this is displayed in a pink signature like font. The scene then fades into a low angle shot of the main character seated in his car this angle makes him appear superior and someone who the audience should look up to. The next scene is of him driving down the street this is seen from an over the shoulder shot looking on fro his perspective, the sound track moves in time with the drivers movement. The vocals begin as he starts driving showing the importance of this within the films narrative and the title being Drive. The shot of him in the car has a shadow covering half of his face showing a dark side to him and depth of field in the shot blurs the outside world showing his isolation within the car. As the remaining cast are credited many different shots are used such as a POV from the driver’s perspective and a crane shot of the car moving along the road. The dance like music played involves lyrics, which clearly relate to the character portrayed and offer an insight into the character before the film has even begun
Se7en
Se7en opens with shots of a book’s pages being turned by a blurred hand the first titles appear in a twisted dark font connoting a sinister movie. The next shots are quick takes of sinister drawings and machinery this is accompanied by a creepy soundtrack making the viewer uncomfortable. Shadows pass over the shots showing that someone is using them creating a sense of mystery. The fonts blur, as they appear further enhancing the uncomfortable nature of the intro. It becomes clear that the individual is making a book filled with demonic imagery this accompanied by the eerie soundtrack, which picks up in volume as the intro goes on sets the tone for the thriller film.
Taxi Driver
The opening shot is of steam rising form the ground and a loud drumming building up behind as a taxi emerges from the steam. This is done through a low angle shot of the taxi as it emerges through as if the audience where on the floor watching it move past. When it has passed the title of the film appears. The connotation form this scene is an element of mystery to the taxi driver. The cast is listed in the same front in a taxi like yellow font this transitions into a shot of the river it is an extreme close up of his eyes. His face is tinted red from the lights outside the car this gives the impression that he is a danger through the colour red being present. A slow jazz tune plays as the shot changes to a pov of him looking out onto the road this is burred through changing the depth of field and the rain pouring down onto the car makes the outside lights appear as only faint blurs. This gives the impression he is isolated from the world outside and society as a whole he is alone in his small world being the car. The images get even more blurred as if he is hallucinating or this shows how out of touch he is from reality. The music return to the intense drumming again this happens showing that he is a danger to the outside world.
Film opening analyses
Drive
The opening shot in drive in a of a city skyline at night with kavinsky night call playing in the background, this acts as an establishing shot of the films setting being LA. The first name to be credited is Ryan Gosling the lead role within the film this is displayed in a pink signature like font. The scene then fades into a low angle shot of the main character seated in his car this angle makes him appear superior and someone who the audience should look up to. The next scene is of him driving down the street this is seen from an over the shoulder shot looking on fro his perspective, the sound track moves in time with the drivers movement. The vocals begin as he starts driving showing the importance of this within the films narrative and the title being Drive. The shot of him in the car has a shadow covering half of his face showing a dark side to him and depth of field in the shot blurs the outside world showing his isolation within the car. As the remaining cast are credited many different shots are used such as a POV from the driver’s perspective and a crane shot of the car moving along the road. The dance like music played involves lyrics, which clearly relate to the character portrayed and offer an insight into the character before the film has even begun