No Country For Old Men
Settings:
Camera Work:
The camera work used in the film was close ups and low angles when the character was being arrested. The close up focuses on the characters facial expressions allowing the audience to build a relationship with them. However even though they have used a close up, the identity of the character remains hidden so the audience cant see the facial expressions of him getting arrested. This builds suspense for the audience. The low angle also hides the identity of both characters and forces the audience to focus on the iconography items used which were the handcuffs. This creates and enigma becuase the audience want to know whats happened.The camera shots appeal to the target audience of a 15 because it contains violence. Anyone younger watching it may be effected so it is a form of prtection.
Editing:
After the killing, the camera tracks the criminals feet where diegetic sound is used. This enhances the genres conventions because it creates a loud sound of footsteps building tension. This is done by using slow editing which builds suspense because it keeps the audience waiting. This is conventional to the thriller genre.
Characters/ Costumes:
The character is wearing a black out fit which connotes mystery and a hidden agenda. The colour black is also symbolic to death which suggests to the audience that he is violent and a murderer. It is crucial to see the villain immediately in the opening because it gives the audience a taster of his personality and what he is really like. The immediate introduction to the villain indicates a sense of foreboding that he will continue to do wrong and even though the audience knows what his like his victims doesn't. This then creates dramatic irony.From what the audience already knows about that particular character, they can predict that he is going to continue to murder people which unfolds the sequence of events.
Sequence of events:
Within the first 5 minutes of the opening scene the audience are made aware that the criminal/ killer has murdered two people. These murders occur closely together rather than gradually to create suspense. This engages the audience and sets the narrative based on death. This is conventional because death/murder occurs frequently in the thriller genre. Throughout the opening scene, you can tell that the target audience consists of people who enjoy crime thrillers who are of an older age. The events of the murders may be discomforting to younger people or those who dislike crime thrillers.
The film is set in Texas in a vast dessert with very little growing. The remote establishing shot reinforces the idea how empty and endless the location is highlighting to the audience that the settings is isolated. The effect of this makes the audience feel alone. This is conventional because there is no where to escape and shows the characters trapped.The settings foreshadows the title, a dessert where only the strongest creatures can survive relates to the title 'No Country For Old Men'. This makes the audience assume that characters are younger because it suggests they are more fitter.
Camera Work:
The camera work used in the film was close ups and low angles when the character was being arrested. The close up focuses on the characters facial expressions allowing the audience to build a relationship with them. However even though they have used a close up, the identity of the character remains hidden so the audience cant see the facial expressions of him getting arrested. This builds suspense for the audience. The low angle also hides the identity of both characters and forces the audience to focus on the iconography items used which were the handcuffs. This creates and enigma becuase the audience want to know whats happened.The camera shots appeal to the target audience of a 15 because it contains violence. Anyone younger watching it may be effected so it is a form of prtection.After the killing, the camera tracks the criminals feet where diegetic sound is used. This enhances the genres conventions because it creates a loud sound of footsteps building tension. This is done by using slow editing which builds suspense because it keeps the audience waiting. This is conventional to the thriller genre.
Characters/ Costumes:
The character is wearing a black out fit which connotes mystery and a hidden agenda. The colour black is also symbolic to death which suggests to the audience that he is violent and a murderer. It is crucial to see the villain immediately in the opening because it gives the audience a taster of his personality and what he is really like. The immediate introduction to the villain indicates a sense of foreboding that he will continue to do wrong and even though the audience knows what his like his victims doesn't. This then creates dramatic irony.From what the audience already knows about that particular character, they can predict that he is going to continue to murder people which unfolds the sequence of events.
This film differs from other thrillers because usually they leave the killers identity hidden which creates an enigma. However this film reveals the killers identity at the beginning to show his personality.
Sequence of events:
Within the first 5 minutes of the opening scene the audience are made aware that the criminal/ killer has murdered two people. These murders occur closely together rather than gradually to create suspense. This engages the audience and sets the narrative based on death. This is conventional because death/murder occurs frequently in the thriller genre. Throughout the opening scene, you can tell that the target audience consists of people who enjoy crime thrillers who are of an older age. The events of the murders may be discomforting to younger people or those who dislike crime thrillers.
Well done Lauren, you have demonstrated your ability to analyse the various technical elements of the opening scene and relate them to the genre.
ReplyDeleteYou also embed images to illustrate your comments. This is a detailed and proficient post.
To improve - develop your analysis of the editing techniques used.
ReplyDelete