The music is mysterious, slow and solemn classical violin, causing a serious atmosphere. The lights on the water fade away and so does the music.
When fully faded to black the screen is then lit up by an extreme close-up of the lighting of a book of matches. The lighting of the matches causes fire which represents an element of danger. As soon as the music stops there is digetic sound, for example, matches being lit. Digetic sound makes the audience feel as if they are part of the scene. The reason for this is that they get to hear the sounds that the character hears.
Cut to a close-up of a man’s mid-section whilst holding the lit matches. Then the camera tilts up and reveals the mans face. The man is Gabriel Byrne and the audience know he is a main character because his name appears second in the title sequence. The digetic sound is lighting a cigarette and dock bells. The mise-en-scene includes ropes and fire burning in the background. This, combined with the dock bells and earlier tracking shot across water leads the audience to conclude that he is on a boat. This assembles a setting of a harbour.
Cuts to a medium shot of barrels leaking petrol from bullet holes, this gives the impression that their has been shooting leading the audience to think there has been an act of crime or violence not too long ago. Then the camera tilts down to show there is more than one bullet hole and also that the petrol is leaking on to the floor. The sound of petrol running onto the floor creates tension because it has a correlation with the fire which creates a sense of danger.
The film then cuts to a long shot of the man still holding the lit matchbook. He drops the lit matchbook onto a line of petrol which ignites instantly. The audience instinctively knows that the trail will lead to an explosion. This would increase the audiences level of tension.
A high-angle, medium shot shows the audience that the fire trail is spreading.
Next the camera is placed on the ground giving a medium shot with the fire trail spreading right to left across the screen in the foreground. In the background there is a dead man lying on his side with his eyes open and covered in blood. The audience are mirroring the dead guy’s point of view, this affects the audience by making them feel like part of the action. The action continues with the digetic sound of burning petrol.
Cut to a close up of the line of fire spreading and the camera tilts down to follow the action. Something liquid pours from out of shot onto the fire, stopping the trail. This allows the audience to believe that there will be no imminent explosion.
The camera cuts to the same action from a different angle. This shot is a medium shot still showing the fire trail ending plus the legs of a dead body. The camera tilts upwards to reveal the source of the liquid. The new character is introduced and the audience then knows that he put out the fire by urinating onto it. The shot doesn’t show his face because the camera doesn’t tilt up enough. The camera is in a low angle looking up from the deck at this second man. This makes the audience feel vulnerable due to his position of superiority above them, this makes the character seem powerful. This second man is wearing a long black overcoat which tell the audience that he is trying to cover himself up. As soon as the second man comes into the shot the music starts playing again. By the music restarting this tells the audience that the character has an emotional significance for them because music sets the mood in films.
The editing in this opening is slow and mainly involves cuts except for the ending of the title sequence which fades away from the dim light on the water to black.
What clues does the opening sequence give the audience about the rest of the storyline?
The second man is shown in a long black overcoat which conceals lots of his body and the camera movements don't display his face. This suggests to the audience that the storyline will be about finding out who this character is. We also know from the bullet holes in the barrels and the dead man on the deck that it is going to be a crime/action driven narrative.
This is a trailer for 'The Usual Suspects'
My Review of the Film
I believe that this film is good because it keeps you guessing throughout. It has shocking twists and a surprising ending - who is Keyser Soze? It displayed a range of characters (Keaton, Verbal, McManus, Fenster and Hockney) and each of them have big yet completely different personalities. Empire magazine said "This is that infrequent treat: a film that borders on genius" (The Empire 5 Star 500, XMAS 2010).
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