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Film Opening analysis By Kain Stones

Film opening analysis kain

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Film Opening analysis By Kain Stones

In the opening scene we see the driver (Ryan Gosling) talking on the phone discussing how his job as a getaway driver works. We see him wearing a satin racing jacket with a golden scorpion on the back. This is a connotation of the lethal potential the driver has. It is typical that a character in action films has an item of clothing that would be remembered and for the driver it is his scorpion jacket.

The lighting in the majority of the opening scenes are quite low key with lots of shadows cast across the driver’s face. There is little to no dialogue that the driver has after his phone call. These are the connotations of a dark, brooding character that we expect to see throughout the film. There is no make up on any character in this opening as the characters are all male and it is not typical that men would wear it.

Although the film is primarily of the action genre it is an art and character film at heart. In the opening scene we are drawn to the driver and the enigma that surrounds him. Whilst in most Hollywood action films we would be captured by the cliché conventions of action this film has the conventions as a foundry for a much bigger story on top.

We see the driver meet his only friend Shanon at a garage. Shannon is very talkative unlike the driver. The most notable prop is the car. A silver Chevrolet Impala. It is not an expensive or luxurious car and it is said that it is the most popular car in the state of California. It is amongst the rest of the muscle cars in Shannon's workshop and it makes us think why he didn’t pick one of those. The idea is to be discreet, draw no attention to yourself. This is a challenge to the conventions of action and their prop choices.

Once the Driver has dropped off his clients to the robbery he waits patiently in his car for their return. Upon their return the police begin a search for the Impala. The pursuit begins but it is not exaggerated in a typical Hollywood manner. The majority of shots are from within the car so that the audience experiences the chase with the Driver rather than just witness the action that would take place in other action films.

The pace of the shots are quite slow but this is primarily because it is an art film. The symbolism behind it is to create dramatic tension as we then slowly build up the chase. In the background we hear the commentary of a basketball game on the radio. The tension of the game builds up in sync with the chase scene. As the game comes to an end so does the chase. The commentator counts down, 3,2,1 and as the driver pulls into the stadium they were playing in. For the first time the lighting is bright. The driver leaves the car takes off his jacket and dons a baseball cap. We see now that this is who the driver is in the public eye and what he is like at night. The driver challenges conventions of typical hero's as he is a criminal. We also see him gain nothing from any of his actions.

We then cut to the Driver in his car, driving through the city listening to synthpop as the title rolls. The music is very relatable to the film as it sets the tone for the film and the enigma around the driver. There is an eighties vibe throughout the film and the idea that the Driver is living a movie through his behaviour and attire. This introduces us to him, a normal guy who moonlights as a getaway driver. The enigma is set for the film for us to discover who the Driver is, why he does what he does and where his nightlife will take him.