Please click on “gangster squad” to watch the trailer
This trailer starts with the establishing shot across LA which is where the film is
based. This, straight away gives the audience the setting and the area where
the characters live. We then hear a man apologising to a Mr Cohen while we
see flashing quick shots of a man boxing with a punching bag in a very dark
scene. Giving the impression that his guy is a villain and possibly could be Mr
Cohen. As well as this we can tell that the punching has been slowed which
gives a good effect and suggests that there will be a lot of violence in this film.
After this, we then see a close up of Cohen’s face, although we can’t really see
much of his face due to the dark background and lighting, we can tell that he
looks a middle aged man and sweaty. This shot builds tension as he looks
mysterious and deadly.
The next scenes of shots are quick in duration and it
emphasis on the violence as well as showing a lot of close up
shots of the characters faces. This makes the audience feel
closer to the characters as we can see and feel their emotion.
During these shots, we can here the non diegetic music
which creates tension. The music stops it stops when Cohen
is talking which tells us that he is powerful and scary.
The next two shots are of the protagonist talking to another
an officer. They are discussing about a man who the
audience has just seen committing crimes. This again, back
could the point that Cohen is an important man and he's
very scary and fearless. As we see many shots of Cohen's
face, it makes us as the audience feel intimated by him.
These shots really do give a good impression of what the
audience can expect of Cohen and why people should fear
him.
After these shots, we hear what sounds like an old man and usually it is
common for these characters to be the wise and powerful ones. This
character happens to be the major in this film. The major is talking to
the protagonist about Cohen and how they need to stop him. These
shots are made more intense by the trailer showing lots of different
shots of Cohen. Cohen is now starting to become a celebrity and this is
making ours jealous and annoyed that this man is making a good living
by doing crimes as well as becoming famous for it. There is then a
violent scene with lots of guns and car crashes. The next shots are of
the protagonists face and Cohen, this shows the fight will be between
them both.
The shots after this, are very quick ones of the squads faces. Not only
does this introduces us to the other characters, but it gives us a sense of
passion from the characters although they are intimidating at the same
time. The next shots are of a few operations that the gang carry out
which included some shooting which looked very affective. We then see
policeman holding up badge saying “We leave these at home” This is
important because now the audience know that the policeman are going
to do whatever it take to stop the gangsters even if it means breaking the
law. This makes the viewers excited and intrigued to what is going to
happen next as now, even the good guys are breaking the laws.
In the next few scenes we see a lot violent fights and scraps and the
gang all look the part in their suits, as well as this, the non diegetic
music in the background create tension. This music fits in with the film
perfectly because it fits in with the old fashion theme which fits in with
the era. We then see our first bit of text from the trailer “Inspired by a
true story” , this gives the audience something to be more excited
about as when a film is based on a true story it usually entertains the
audience more as it is something that has happened and could
happen again.
Then we see the character female played by Emma Stone. She is with
Mickey Cohen making her dangerous and a threat. However she is
involved in a twist, as Wooters also wants her. This happens a lot in
crime movies, when someone wants something (commonly a women)
they can’t have. We see many shots of her in dresses looking good
with Mickey which creates tension as Wooters is finding his way with
her although he shouldn’t be because of her connections with Mickey.
We then get to the stage where the police (who left their badges at
home) doing some things they shouldn’t be doing like killing off the
bad guys. Which gives the audience a good outline of the storyline.
This is clear because Wooters is pointing the gun at a member of
Cohen’s gang and the man says “you can’t shoot me, you’re a
cop!” and Wooter’s reply is “not anymore” which is a line which will
stick in the audiences head. This get’s the audience excited are
doing the good things but doing in a way which seems bad but this
makes the film and trailer really enjoyable to watch.
After this the shots then became very rapid and fast paced which made
the audience even more excited and interested in the film and the
action which is happening. We then see more text with words saying “
To save the law you have to break it” which again links back to the
trailer where the cop says to leave the badges at home. This all builds
tension making the audience wanting to see the film as people always
like to see the good characters doing something they shouldn’t.
There is then the actor’s names and a shot of each of the faces to tell the
audience who they are and who we should expect to see in the film. The
trailer then goes into the title screen which ends the trailer. This film trailer
is very typical and what you would usually expect in a crime trailer. This is
because its dark, moody and has many shots of the crimes as well as the
explosions and the gangs involved. In conclusion this trailer is very good
and in my opinion is one of the best trailers out there fore this genre, it
makes the audience stay interested through out and makes the audience
want to see the film which is the purpose.