Analysis of film's opening titles; Red Eye, State of play, Strangers on a train and Se7en
Red Eye:
Narrative structure- The name "Red Eye" means a very late or last, long and tedious flight at night, so from the title we know that this is most likely going to be the setting of the film. Immediately we are shown a picture of a girl who is the main character, this helps the viewer connect with the character straight away. We see the mysterious wallet with the initials JR on it and that the wallet is taken creating confusion and suspense for the view. When the mysterious wallet turns up again the thief gets rid of the credit cards showing that what ever is happening it is not about the money. Also when we see In the opening titles two more bits of the overall story is released, the mysterious box with apparently frozen fish in. And the photos and blue prints of an important building.
Thriller Codes and Conventions- The film acquires some code and conventions of the thriller genre. For example in the titles we do not see any faces which completely hides the identity of characters and creates a clot of confusion for the viewer. This means immediately the viewer is hooked and will have questions they want answers too; Whats in the box?, Who is J.R?, Why is that building important? and What is actually going on?.
Camerawork- In the titles camerawork is used to help the audience understand a little. The close track onto wallet and the extreme close ups on the wallet shows that the wallet is going to be a very important part of the whole storyline. Also some jerky pans are used to make the audience feel as though they are in the action (point of view shot).
Mise-En-Scene - Everything involved in the shot is used for a specific reason. The photos suggest that it is set in a family homely place so audience presume its a safe place. The initials on the wallet make it easy to recognise so when it appears again the audience can see it is the same wallet. There are hints used from props as to where the film may be, the motif on the box has "Florida" on it and also again on the approved stamp. When the wallet reoccurs the girl in the first picture is also in the wallet so this enables the audience to start putting pieces of the story together.
Sound- Sound is used in the film Red eye to create tension and atmosphere. For example right at the start a typical thriller soundtrack is used which consists of a psychological beat. The many music changes adds interest and can also hint to what is an important feature in the titles. A lot of the time the background music mirrors what is happening on screen. Also typically at the end the music builds up to a crescendo which works extremely well to add suspense to the film. Not much noticeable diegetic sound is used but for example when its the ripping of the envelope and the creaky door this adds to the whole eary effect.
Editing- The editing helps show a beginning middle and an end, Starting slower 6-7 second clips and they smoothly dissolve into the action and as the music becomes faster so does the editing. And then to show the end of the titles the editing becomes slower again. This is a typical structure to a story, so using this helps to keep the attention more to the story.
Graphics- Mainly white on black block writing connoting the idea of good vs evil. There is no background on the first few titles to keep it simple and to help suggest what is important.
State of play:
Narrative Structure- The titles in the film "State of play" have a clear beginning middle and end. For example everything starts calm and then features an equilibrium, the peace is disrupted and then ends on a cliff hanging, meaning the audience will want to find out a resolution to the story. The film is set in Washington which hints that the film is a political thriller.
Thriller codes and conventions- The small clip at the start of the film creates a lot of mystery which means the audience will have many question they want answering for example, who is the man?, who is chasing the man?, what has happened?, why is he running?, whats in the briefcase? and quite a few more. Also the chaser remains unseen until the last shot, lots of thrillers use this as it help to create tension and successfully create a typical thriller atmosphere.
Camerawork- The camerawork mirrors the narrative structure. Still and focused shots are used to signify everyday life. However when the action builds up jerky pans and tilts help to emphasis the action. Also handheld shots from behind the victim enables the audience to become voyeurs and become a part of the action. The close ups of the face helps to recognise the emotions portrayed in the victims face and creates a personal bond between victim and viewer. The way the camerawork and been used the killer and the victim are never seen in the same shot, this connotes the separation and indicated the different sides/teams. When the killer shoots the guy on the bike, we stay with the victims and see a point of view shot of the killer running away. Forward tracking into a close up of the pizza guy enables the audience to see that he is still alive.
Mise-en-scene- The story is set in Washington at night connoting an urban, political thriller and the time of day suggests that it's more dangerous at night. Also the director has used pathetic fallacy meaning the weather sets the tone and mirrors feelings in the film. Many things in the film create the image of innocence being shattered for example, frail old people being knocked over, and again in the china shop fragile things being damaged and right at the end with the innocent pizza guy being shot. The silhouette signifies good vs evil? The performance of the stunts looks natural, realistic action. Steamy breath comes out of the killers nose and mouth creating a demonic and angry figure. The victims teeth are seen as chipped this helps to see what side of society the man belongs in, the poor poverty side.
Sound- Unlike the other thriller titles, diegetic sound plays a major part, sounds of the city and the weather helps make the audience feel they are there, the heavy breathing also enables the audience to become more personally attached to the victim. The background music creates tension when needed such as the chase the music builds up to a crescendo, gives a more omniscient feel to the film.
Editing- Like the camerawork the editing also mirrors narrative structure. To create the calm, every thing's fine atmosphere quite long shots are used (slow editing) and then when the action builds up the editing becomes quicker 2-3 seconds. The cuts between shots are basic, meaning all the attention is focused on the film rather than edits and sound.
Graphics- Minimal graphics are used however in the beginning the colour of the graphics are important they are red, white and blue- the colours of the American flag also where the film is set.
Strangers on a train:
Narrative structure- Two strangers meet on a train, Bruno imposes himself upon guy. He then suggests they swap murders (the perfect murder). At the end Guy humors Bruno and he takes this seriously. At the start it's actually Guy that accidently kicks Bruno, therefore this could suggest that the convosation had on the train was fate and it was always going to happen becuase Bruno didnt start the series of events.
Thriller codes and conventions- Strangers on a train uses very little code and conventions of the thriller genre in the opening titles. However the characters are kept unidentified by not showing their faces untill nessicary, this creates mystery.
Camerawork- The first few shots are all kept as low level, just of the characters feet, to make sure faces are remained unidentified helping the mysterious effect. The direction the characters are walking immediatly hints to the fact it is desitny that they meet. The close up of Bruno's badge focuses on the reveal of his idenity.
Mise-en-Scene- To help the anonomous theme the characters feet apear from a taxi and the shoes are quite essentric and different hinting that this character has a unique, quirky lifestyle. On the other hand Guys shoes are ordinary and basic hinting this character lives life safer and follows the rules of society. The shot of the train tracks can be viewed as a metaphor for life eg, there are different tracks/ paths to choose, but basically there is one you are destined to go down.
Sound- The diegetic sound doesn't with the conventions of a thriller its quite old fashioned and cheery. The music tempo changes when Bruno gets out of the taxi as the music turns more cartoony it makes it seem as though he is tiptoing. The music also builds up which highlights the fact the characters meet.
Editing- The editing that is used in strangers on a train is quite plain and simple and usually uses just, shot reverse shot, this helps emphaise the fact the characters are completly seperate and different.
Graphics- The graphic are quite plain big and a mixture of bold and ittalics, they are also in black and white this shows the audience that the film was not made in recent times.
Se7enNarrative Structure- The whole film is based on the seven deadly sins, its also seven day untill retitrement, the number seven has a lot of significance. The metrodome counts time so when the character sets it off we get the sence of couting down time.
Settings- The film se7en uses pathetic falacy too create a dull eary atmoshere and to mirror the characters thoughts and feelings. There is also a sort of green tint to the shots helping to create this mysterious and depressing feel.
Style and Characters- Black on white titles could suggest the split between good and evil. Opposites are used a lot in the film especially between the two main characters for example, Organised and tidy vs Late and scruffy, Thinker vs Doer, Loney vs married, Personalitys, dress sence, race, age and ways of living. Blocky sharp writing creates a succesful edgy and twisted feel adds to the overall tension to the film.
Titles- The titles in se7en feature many extreme close ups of objects/props which hint towards the whole story line without giving much away. We are shown the presumed killer cutting off his fingertips, getting rid of identity, the whole titles have a annonomous theme such as teh crossing out of the eyes. Dieagetic sound sucsefully adds to the thriller feel of the film as it eary psychological beat which has screems in places disturbs the audience. Editing effect called ghosting was used the make everything look out of sync, adds interest and helps with the eary atmosphere. The image that came across most powful was "in god we trust" from a newspaper and the word "god" was film being cut out suggesting that the killer has maybe removed god from the situation or he maybe has decided he wants to play god.
Black and white and blurred vison effect proved to be popular to use in our film.
A twist in the plot is better than a predictable ending according to our target audience.
