Film opening analysis Research

Film opening Analysis: The Dark Knight (2008) Crime Thriller

 Camera shots, angles, movement, focus and framing:

-The opening scene of The Dark Knight starts itself as a crime thriller through its camera work. The film starts off with slow aerial tracking shot moving toward Gotham City's large and tall building, creating a feeling of tension for the audience. The high-angle shots make the city feel exposed creating the convention of the crime thriller genre. Inside the bank there are a few medium shots and close-up shots that focus on the many masked robbers, keeping their presence mysterious. The way the camera is angled makes the characters blocked by windows, hallways, doorways, or masks which creates a suspenseful tone. Shallow focus is used during scenes of dialogue to focus in on the characters. 

-The editing in the opening bank heist uses long editing to follow the progress of the robbery. It also uses cross-cutting between different robbers as they complete their tasks. This is able to create suspense which is a main feature of crime thrillers. As the criminals kill each other the editing pace is faster with quicker cuts that creates shock for the audience. The pacing keeps the audience in focus. When the Joker is being revealed through slow editing it increases anticipation for the audience and shows him as a Villain.

Sound Techniques and Their Impact:

-Sound is an important role in making the intense mood of the opening. The scene starts with ambient sound making a screeching noise that creates unease for the audience. Diegetic sounds such as gunshots, breaking glass, and the criminals talking are realistic within the bank, creating a feeling of danger or chaos. There isn't dialogue, which shows that these criminals are very serious. Some scenes that have silence before the violence creates attention to key scenes. These parts of the movie create tension showing part of the thriller crime genre.

Mise-En-Scene:

- First the bank setting is very realistic and modern, showing that the scene is an urban environment. The lighting is natural and high key inside the bank which creates the violent acts and scenes taking place making them feel shocking. The robber scary clown masks symbolize the craziness, anonymous, and the Joker. Guns, explosives, and the school buses are used as a crime-film prop creating themes of crime and corruption.

Production and the Distribution Information:

-The movie The Dark Knight was directed by Christopher Nolan, he was known for the realistic films he made. The cinematography was Wally Pfister. The film was produced by the Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures. It was distributed by Warner bros. The production's budget was around 185 million dollars. This movie earned over 1 billion dollars worldwide at the box office.

Opening credits: Style and Genre:

-The opening credits were very small making the tone of the film serious. The title is a clean blue flame effect which shows the danger and destruction in the movie. 

Awards, Nominations and Reason for the Film:

- The Dark Knights awards and nominations were the 2 Academy award, 2 Saturn award, People's choice award, Japan Academy film award, Satellite Awards, and Critics choice awards. They won best supporting actor and best sound editing with 9 BAFTA nominations and 1 golden globe. The reason why I chose this movie because it is a cool and well known example of the crime thriller genre. It was very realistic and every part of the movie was unique to me. This film inspired me to create the film I made.