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.