No Country For Old Men - 2007
Setting:
The opening scene of No Country For Old Men is set in a deserted, rural landscape. This means it would be hard for the victim to get help or to escape which is intimidating. The audience are therefore left feeling on edge as they anticipate the occurences of the scene. This setting is conventional to a thriller film as it is an isolated place which is unfamiliar to the victim. The opening is also set in an old fashioned police station. The police station however is not well equipped and therefore the villain is more superior than the police officer. This shocks the audience as police officer usually have a higher state of authority.
Camera Work:
An establishing shot of the landscape setting is used which is unusual because of how much landscape the audience are provided with. Therefore the audience are introduced to the surroundings and become familiar with the setting. The close up and high angle shots included in the opening portray to the audience the characters emotions. This allows the viewers to feel the same way as the character which means the concept of the film seems realistic to them. A close up shot is also used of the car door and oxygen tank. This it to show their significance and notifies the audience to keep those specific items in mind. When the antagonist is being arrested a low angle shot of police car is used. This is to convey to the audience the aspect that the police officer has a greater level of authority compared to the villain he arrests. This therefore informs the audience of the representation of the characters, which is conventional to a thriller film. However this interpretation is in result false as the antagonist ends up killing the police officer. The zoom shot just before the police officer is killed is crucial to the film as it focusses the audiences attention on his character as they witness the antagonist slowly creep up behind him. This therefore shocks the audience as the police officer is usually known to have a higher level of authority in contrast to the antagonist and in result enhances their experience while watching.
Editing:
At the beginning of the film a voiceover is edited over the scene. This is to give the audience a background on the antagonists life and they discover that he likes to kill people and therefore they are aware of the type of person he is. The general pace of the murders that take place are slow. This therefore drags the killings out which creates an eerie effect as the audiences anticipation increases while witness what happens. Between each shots straight cuts are used. This keeps the transition from scene to scene smooth and therefore the audience are not distracted.
An establishing shot of the landscape setting is used which is unusual because of how much landscape the audience are provided with. Therefore the audience are introduced to the surroundings and become familiar with the setting. The close up and high angle shots included in the opening portray to the audience the characters emotions. This allows the viewers to feel the same way as the character which means the concept of the film seems realistic to them. A close up shot is also used of the car door and oxygen tank. This it to show their significance and notifies the audience to keep those specific items in mind. When the antagonist is being arrested a low angle shot of police car is used. This is to convey to the audience the aspect that the police officer has a greater level of authority compared to the villain he arrests. This therefore informs the audience of the representation of the characters, which is conventional to a thriller film. However this interpretation is in result false as the antagonist ends up killing the police officer. The zoom shot just before the police officer is killed is crucial to the film as it focusses the audiences attention on his character as they witness the antagonist slowly creep up behind him. This therefore shocks the audience as the police officer is usually known to have a higher level of authority in contrast to the antagonist and in result enhances their experience while watching.
Editing:
At the beginning of the film a voiceover is edited over the scene. This is to give the audience a background on the antagonists life and they discover that he likes to kill people and therefore they are aware of the type of person he is. The general pace of the murders that take place are slow. This therefore drags the killings out which creates an eerie effect as the audiences anticipation increases while witness what happens. Between each shots straight cuts are used. This keeps the transition from scene to scene smooth and therefore the audience are not distracted.
Characters/Costumes:
In the opening scene the antagonist is dressed in black. This evokes a mysterious feel upon the audience and draws their attention to him which therefore increases their levels of curiosity as to who he is. The antagonist and police officer were the same height. This portrays to the audience that they therefore have the same level of authority and notifies them that something could possibly happen where the antagonist over rides the police officer.
Sequence of Events:
The scene begins where the audience are given an insight into the landscape location which is shown with a voiceover edited on top. The audience then see the villain being arrested by the police officer who then takes him to the police station. While in the police station the antagonist out smarts the police officer and kills him with the handcuffs which is in contrast to the fact that they should be keeping him secure. He then goes and washes his wrists which are bleeding but leaves the handcuffs behind in the sink. The anatagonist then steals a police car and then follows an innocent man which he ends up murdering. During the opening sequence the audience are faced with two murders taking place by the same man which is shocking and unusual but the audience are kept gripped to the film.
In the opening scene the antagonist is dressed in black. This evokes a mysterious feel upon the audience and draws their attention to him which therefore increases their levels of curiosity as to who he is. The antagonist and police officer were the same height. This portrays to the audience that they therefore have the same level of authority and notifies them that something could possibly happen where the antagonist over rides the police officer.
Sequence of Events:
The scene begins where the audience are given an insight into the landscape location which is shown with a voiceover edited on top. The audience then see the villain being arrested by the police officer who then takes him to the police station. While in the police station the antagonist out smarts the police officer and kills him with the handcuffs which is in contrast to the fact that they should be keeping him secure. He then goes and washes his wrists which are bleeding but leaves the handcuffs behind in the sink. The anatagonist then steals a police car and then follows an innocent man which he ends up murdering. During the opening sequence the audience are faced with two murders taking place by the same man which is shocking and unusual but the audience are kept gripped to the film.
Sophisticated understanding of what the remote setting suggests about the villain and the events that will follow. Some developed points on the connotations of the villain's clothes.
ReplyDeleteYou need to study the camerawork a little more closely. Think about the significance of the low angle shot and what is suggests about the power and authority of the characters, this is a key thriller convention. Also, why is the zoom just before the cop is killed so crucial to this scene?