Notes on Taken (2008)

Director:Pierre Morel



Release Date:26 September 2008 (UK)
Genre:Action Crime Drama Thriller
Plot:A former spy relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been forced into the slave trade.
Awards:1 win & 1 nomination.
User Comments:Probably the fastest 93 minutes of my life!


Cast:
Liam Neeson
Maggie Grace
Leland Orser
Jon Gries
David Warshofsky
Holly Valance
Katie Cassidy
Xander Berkeley
Olivier Rabourdin
Gérard Watkins
Famke Janssen
Marc Amyot
Arben Bajraktaraj
Radivoje Bukvic
Mathieu Busson


Notes:

Taken opens with a scene of a video of a young girls birthday party. Bright flashing lights are used to indicate that it's a flash back, the video is also very flickery which indicates that it's old. Soft peaceful music is played, this is used to create a calm yet spooky atmosphere- which is a genre signifier.








Kim hides under the bed when on the phone to her dad, hiding from the kidnappers. The bed is used as a genre signifier and represents claustrophobia (a typical thriller convention). It warns the audience that she has no escape and builds up tension. Dramatic music is played, which also adds to the tension of this scene.






This mise-en-scene shows Bryan pointing a gun at someone. A mid shot is used so that the audience can get an idea of what's going on in the scene, but so that they can still focus on Bryan's facial expression. Bryan is wearing a black leather jacket to create a 'noir' look. The black jacket aslo connotes Bryan's seriousness and the fact that he's feeling depressed that his daughter is missing.



This mise-en-scene is a point of view shot, which helps the audience to capture how Kim's feeling. It also adds suspicion to the scene, as the kidnappers feet are all we are able to see.









The shot used in this mise-en-scene is a close up of Bryan's face. This helps the audience to focus on Bryan's emotion and get a real idea of how he's feeling- having to hear his daughter be taken away by kidnappers and has absolutely no control over it. Non-diegectic sound is used in this scene, of Kim screming and crying. This makes the audience feel they're in Bryan's shoes- completely helpless to Kim. Noir lighting is also used to create a dull and depressing atmosphere. At the same time the noir lighting is a genre signifier.




In this mise-en-scene it shows Bryan walking through a corridor in desperation to find his daughter. The corridor is an example of a claustrophobic space, it helps the audience to feel as trapped as Bryan does and shows how he feels hopeless. The mise-en-scene used almost immediately after this is of Bryan shooting a man in the lift, which is another example of a claustrophobic space.






This shot is a point of view shot. It's done in a very clever way, as the reflection of Bryan has been captured by the camera. It makes the audience feel like they're part of the scene and are able to relate to the characters emotions.






In this mise-en-scene an over the shoulder shot is used. This makes the audience feel they're watching the seen over Bryans shoulder and therefore gets them involved in the scene. The fact they feel involved in the scene, helps them to relate to the emotions of the characters and has a bigger impact on the fact that Bryan is in a difficult situation.





The final scene of Kim and her father shows how things have completely changed, and how they're both much happier now. The bright lighting is used to reflect their moods and they're both smiling, which is an optimistic way of ending the film.




Noir lighting is used throughout the film, which is a typical thriller convention. It's used to create a dull and spooky atmosphere and often emphasises a spooky scene.

Notes On Quantum Of Solace

Director: Marc Forster.

Release Date: 31 October 2008 (UK)
Genre: Action Adventure Thriller
Plot: Seeking revenge for the death of his love, secret agent James Bond sets out to stop an environmentalist from taking control of a country's valuable resource.
Awards:Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 4 wins & 20 nominations.
User Comments: You'll struggle to think of a main bond villain that is less interesting than Dominic Greene, and agent Fields is utterly pointless in every aspect other than brief eye-candy.

Cast:

Daniel Craig
Olga Kurylenko
Mathieu Amalric
Judi Dench
Giancarlo Giannini

Gemma Arterton
Jeffrey Wright

David Harbour
Jesper Christense

Anatole Taubman
Rory Kinnear
Tim Pigott-Smith
Joaquín Cosio
Fernando Guillén Cuervo
Jesús Ochoa

Notes:

The film opens with a car chase, this builds up the suspense. The mise-en-scene of Bond in a tunnel connote claustrophobia and makes the audience feel he's trapped. This is used as a genre signifier. Immediately after this is another genre signifier, a man is trapped in the boot which again connotes claustrophobia. Both of these features ensure the audience are aware of the genre.

The next mise-en-scene i have chosen is a close-up shot of Bond looking away from the camera. his facial expression connotes fear and confusion. There's also a reflection of Bond's other side in the mirror, metaphorically it shows Bond has two sides. Noir lighting is used as a genre signifier and so that a dull atmosphere is created.

Like in every thriller film a femme fatal is used. She has striking eyes and a wise look about her, this indicates to the audience that they shouldn't trust this woman.

In the next mise-en-scene, Bond's reflection is shown through a CCTV camera. It's difficult to see the expression on his face as it's blurred, however, this is done on purpose so that the main focus is on the CCTV camera- which is a crucial part to this scene.

In this mise-en-scene bright colours are used to contradict the genre of the film. It also contrasts with the noir lighting at the beginning of the film- this indicates that the mood of the characters is changing too. The change in colours also shows that they're in a foreign country (along with the foreign accents).

This next mise-en-scene represents fear, this is created through the deserted area used. Again, this is a genre signifier. The fact it's deserted also makes the audience think Bond feels intimidated.

This mise-en-scene shows a very different representation of women than the typical one. It shows a much more masculine and intimidating side to women. It shows that women can have power as well as men.

The last shot of Bond he looks very serious- as he is wearing a dark coat with the collor up. A mid shot is used, so the audience can focus on his expression but it's not crucial that they do so. It also indicates that Bond is walking away without being defeated-yet again!

Notes on Casino Royale

Director: Martin Campbell

Release Date:16 November 2006 (UK)
Genre: Action Adventure Thriller

Plot:In his first mission, James Bond must stop Le Chiffre, a banker to the world's terrorist organizations, from winning a high-stakes poker tournament at Casino Royale in Montenegro.

Cast:

Daniel Craig
Eva Green
Mads Mikkelsen
Judi Dench
Jeffrey Wright
Giancarlo Giannini
Caterina Murino
Simon Abkarian
Isaach De Bankolé
Jesper Christensen
Ivana Milicevic
Tobias Menzies
Claudio Santamaria
Sebastien Foucan
Malcolm Sinclair

User Comments: This is among the best bond movies! You have to see it.

Notes:

In the first mise-en-scene of the film noir lighting is used, so that the audience can immediately identify the genre. Another genre signifier used, is the desserted area which builds up tension and suggests something is about to happen. a tall building is used, which makes the car look minute and inferior. A plain font is used, which suggests it's serious and creates a modern look.

The establishing shot of James Bong shows he is a serious and laid back character. This is becasue he's wearing an all black suit (which aslo adds to the noir look) and he is laid back in his chait which indicates he's relaxed and fearless. An over the shoulder shot is used so that the audience see it from an outsiders point of view, which makes it even more tense.

A mise-en-scene of James Bond laying between two lorry's is used about half way through the film. This makes the audience feel he has been defeated and is now inferior, in comparison to how he was represented at the beginning of the film.

A typical thriller convention is used half way through the film, this is a lift. The lift represents a claustrophobic space and is a genre signifier. In the lift is a women with bright res lips. The red lips connote danger and shows that this woman is a femme fatal.

The nest mise-en-scene is of James Bond in his car holding a gun. The gun connotes dang er and makes the audience question what's about to happen and why he's using a gun. James' car is very high tech which suggests he has a lot of money. The car, and everything in it, are black which adds to the noir theme and makes the scene much more serious.

A close-up shot is used of James Bond in this next mise-en-scene. This is to emphasise and really focus on his emotion. Dramatic music is playing in the back ground, which builds up tension and keeps the audience hanging off their seat.

Another thriller convention is used in this mise-en-scene, rain. This connotes dullness and uncomfortableness. This indicates to the audience that this is how James Bond is feeling.

There's a mise-en-scene of Bond's 'girl' who's laying on the floor dead. Rain is running past her which connotes her life and Bond's is now floating away down the road. Classical music is played in the background, so that the audience sympathise for Bond and to emphasise that something sad has happened. The shot used is a point of view shot, this is used so that the audience can see her from Bond's point of view and can therefore find it easier to sympathise for him.

The final mise-en-scene of James Bond shows he has not been defeated and that he's superior to everyone. This is created by using a low angle shot and James is holding a large gun which shows his power and capability.

Notes on: London To Brighton, Red Road and This Is England

Red Road

Released: 27th October 2006 (UK)

Director: Andrea Arnold

Plot: Jackie works as a CCTV operator. Each day she watches over a small part of the world, protecting the people living their lives under her gaze. One day a man appears on her monitor, a man she thought she would never see again, a man she never wanted to see again. Now she has no choice, she is compelled to confront him.

Awards: 21 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast:
Kate Dickie
Tony Curran
Martin Compston
Natalie Press
Paul Higgins
Andrew Armour
Carolyn Calder
John Comerford
Jessica Angus
Martin McCardie
Martin O'Neill
Cora Bisset
Charles Brown
Annie Bain
Frances Kell



User Comments: 'That rare thing. A superb British movie. Set in an unremittingly bleak Glasgow focused on a multi-storey housing estate in the East End of that city, this is NOT the usual kitchen-sink or slice-of-life telly-style drama that nearly always make a disheartening prospect for cinema-going. This is a complex character-driven piece, beautifully shot and edited.'

Music: Morning Glory"Written by Noel Gallagher Performed by Oasis
Love Will Tear Us Apart"Written by Ian Curtis (as Curtis), Peter Hook (as Hook), Stephen Morris (as Morris) and Bernard Sumner (as Sumner)Performed and Produced by Honeyroot

London to Brighton






Director: Paul Andrew Williams
Writer: Paul Andrew Williams
Release Date:1 December 2006 (UK)

Plot: It's 3:07am and two girls burst into a run down London toilet. Joanne is crying her eyes out and her clothing is ripped. Kelly's face is bruised and starting to swell. Duncan Allen lies in his bathroom bleeding to death. Duncan's son, Stuart, has found his father and wants answers. Derek, Kelly's pimp, needs to find Kelly or it will be him who pays. Kelly and Joanne need to get through the next 24 hours alive.

Awards:6 wins & 6 nominations

User Comments: Gritty urban noir hits as hard as a sledgehammer.

Cast:

Lorraine Stanley
Georgia Groome
Johnny Harris
Derek
Nathan Constance
Sam Spruell
Stuart Allen
Alexander Morton
Duncan Allen
David Keeling
Charlie
Jamie Kenna
Tony
Chloe Bale
Karen
Claudie Blakley
Tim Matthew
Louise Appel
Cat Meacher
Nick Ewans
James Beirman

This Is England

Director: Shane Meadows
Writer: Shane Meadows
Release Date: 27 April 2007 (UK)

Plot: A story about a troubled boy growing up in England, set in 1983. He comes across a few skinheads on his way home from school, after a fight. They become his new best friends even like family. Based on experiences of director Shane Meadows.

Awards: Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 7 wins & 14 nominations.

User Comments: Superb Documentary-style film drama.

Cast:

Thomas Turgoose
Stephen Graham
Jo Hartley
Andrew Shim
Vicky McClure
Joseph Gilgun
Rosamund Hanson
Andrew Ellis
Perry Benson
George Newton
Frank Harper
Jack O'Connell
Kriss Dosanjh
Kieran Hardcastle
Chanel Cresswell
Kelly

Notes on Hitman (2007)

Director: Xavier Gens
Release date: 30 November 2007

Plot: A gun-for-hire known only as Agent 47 hired by a group known only as 'The Organization' is ensnared in a political conspiracy, which finds him pursued by both Interpol and the Russian military as he treks across Russia and Eastern Europe.
User Comments: They captured the personality of 47 near perfectly.

Cast:

Timothy Olyphant
Dougray Scott
Olga Kurylenko
Robert Knepper
Ulrich Thomsen
Henry Ian Cusick
Michael Offei
Christian Erickson
Eriq Ebouaney
Joe Sheridan
James Faulkner
Jean-Marc Bellu
Nicky Naude
Abdou Sagna
Ilya Nikitenko

Notes:

Whilst the credits are being shown, classical music is played, this is to create a spooky and emotional mood. Bright lighting is used, to make it feel surreal. In this film the main character doesn't have a name. This indicates he does'nt belong to anyone and has no family, the audience sympathise for this.

The next mise-en-scene shows number 47 with a barcode being tattooed to his head. The blood shows the audience the pain he went through and the red connotes danger. It also makes the audience wonder why they're given barcodes.

Children are used in the opening scenes, this is to recieve sympathy from the audience. In the next mise-en-scene, the children look as though they're being targeted, this indicates they're constantly feeling threatened and watched.

The camera then focusses on the word 'discipline' for a few seconds, which makes the audience aware that these children are part of some sort of disciplined group. It aslo makes the audience question who's disciplining them and why?!

The next mise-en-scene is of a boy pointing a gun. This is used as a shock tactic, as children don't hold guns. White lighting is used, to make the audience feel that someone is looking back on their past.

A close up shot of a surgeon with a needle is used, it's also a point of view shot. This is used to put the audience in this boys shoes, so they understand the fear and pain he went through. The mise-en-scene immediately after this is an extreme close-up of the boys eye. In the eye you can see the reflection of the bright lights. These lights look like bullet holes, which connotes danger and refects on the fact that the boy earlier on was holding a gun and therefore has this on his mind.

close up shot is then used of a gun in a box, which shows this gun is a significant part to the film.

Throughout the film number 47 wears a long black suite. This is used to add to the noir lighting and is a genre signifier. It also tells us that, as a characterm, number 47 is serious, emotionless and dark. Another genre signifier is that number 47 puts a woman in the boot, the boot is often used in thriller films, as it's a claustrophobic place that gives off a sense of feeling trapped.

Also in these two mise-en-scene's above, noir lighting is used. This is a typical thriller conventions and is used to create the dull and spooky atmosphere. Wet roads are also used, to add to the dullness.

A point of view shot is used of number 47. It's very cleverly shot, as they have managed to look at what the table behind are doing, through a spoon. This is used so that we don't get a clear image of what's happening behind number 47, but we see it from his point of view.

The next mise-en-scene is of number 47 walking through a narrow corrider. This connotes him making people feel trapped and indicates that something is about to happen. There's also a close-up shot of Nika, that suggests she's a femme fatal, through her drak eyes and big red lips.

There's then a mise-en-scene of number 47 in the toilet, it shows what's about to happen. Two people are in front of him and slow motion is used to emphasise that number 47 is about to kill these two men.

The last mise-en-scene of number 47 in the film is of him on a tall building with a gun. This indicates he's superior and hasn't been defeated.

Notes on Jackie Brown (1997)

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Release Date: 20 March 1998 (UK)
User Comments:Tarantino grows up

Jackie Brown is an air hostess. A tracking shot of Jackie is used, which indicates to the audience that the film is centred around this woman. The low angle tracking shot shows Jackie's character is superior.

'Chicks With Guns' comes up on the mise-en-scene, this is used because it's an example of objectification.

Noir lighting is used on the mise-en-scene of the flat signifys the genre. The flats are an unglamorous location.

The character Ordell is dressed all in black and looks serious. Beaumont is dressed in loose clothing, shows hemight not have much money. Ordell is walking in front, which indicates he's superior.

Ordell puts Beaumont in the boot, this enclosed space is used, as it creates a claustrophobic feel ( which is a thriller signifier). The mise-en-scene of Beaumont holding the gun shows the significance of it. The gun appears to be abnormally big and therefore dominates the mise-en-scene. A close-up is then used of Ordell, this is to focus on his facial expressions and understand how he's feeling.

Noir lighting is used, however, happy music is playing in the background which completely contradicts the genre of this film.

The road they drive down is wet and the streets are deserted, these are genre indicators to the audience.

A long distance shot of the car is used to set the scene. The long shot also establishes the fact that Ordell is detached with no conscience. The car stops and the music does to emphasise the sound of the gun shot. The music represents the fact that Ordell is 'chilled out' and cold blooded.