I know I've referenced to the film Atonement (Joe Wright) quite a lot throughout this blog. However I feel that the opening for this film was really effective. As I said before- I'm not that big a fan of the plot line, but the way the movie was constructed is really effective, and this opening is one of the (only) two positive things that stuck with me after having seen the film. I believe there is a use of MacGuffin in the opening two minutes, and the use of sound is also really effective.
Atonement - Timeline of Opening Sequence
1/10 sec's - "Universal" institution logo and own music (a typical convention of opening sequences. However I find it more effective when the diagetic music is played during the company logos- it just makes the movie more real for me rather than "movieish")
2/10 sec's - Institution logo and music conclude by fading out to pitch black screen and silence.3/10 sec's - More production company logos, no diagetic music/sound as of yet. 4/10 sec's - Diagetic nature sounds (mostly birds) begin softly. Official movie titles dissolve in and type writer is wound up/pulled back between tittles dissolving.5/10 sec's - Typewriter is pulled back three times. Diagetic sounds of birds continue. Quite loud typing sounds in sync with main title appearing letter by letter . Historic printed font which replicates the font of a typewriter, already giving away the fact that this is a period film set around in the middle of the 20th century.6/10 sec's - Type writer is pulled back again and a punchy diagetic noise of typing continues. Punchy noise in sync with the straight cut to the establishing shot of a dolls house, the diagetic typewriter sounds continue. The dolls house is brilliant example of a strong opening. This image effectively tells us what the movie is going to be: a childs perspective of adult issues. The dolls house reflects the child's perspective, and the fact the house looks really intricate and is an exact copy of what we'll later see is the house of the protagonist's family, tells us the child's perspective will be of adult issues. It also depicts innocence and (again) tells the audience that this is a period film from the vintage style of the dolls house. A couple seconds later the tittle of "England 1935" appears (also in sync with continuing typewriter sounds). Camera slowly starts to zoom out of dolls house shot. Second Minute begins here1/10 sec's - Type writer sounds pick up pace and diagetic nature sounds continue. There is a particular distinctive fly buzzing heard (diagetic also) which reflects what will lead to the child character misunderstanding certain events in the future. the fly buzzing in the window is what attracts her attention to what's occurring outside, causing her to misinterpret a specific event. Simultaneously there is a low-angled tracking shot following a trail of toy animals leading from the dolls house to the protagonist child character sitting in a desk chair. This is also symbolic for most of the other characters blaming this child the entire story for the way events weave themselves into reality because of her childish misconception. At this point, the setting of a child's room is definitely established through the background of toys. There are natural colours maintained through the furnishings- mostly pale green tones. 2/10 sec's - Camera grows closer to the type-writer, therefore the diagetic sounds grow louder. Camera slowly rises to the level of the girl typing sitting in the chair. The painting hung above also could symbolize her desperate attempt at forgiveness and putting things right as well as her innocence.3/10 sec's - Camera is now at the same level as the girl and starts to pan around her head, slowly revealing her face. The diagetic sound of the typewriter is now at it's loudest level. 4/10 sec's - Close up of the girl's innocent blue eyes- camera still slowly panning. A non- diagetic sound of a single reccuring piano note begins to play. Camera switches to a shot of the paper in the type writer reading "The End". 5/10 sec's - Page pulled out of type writer, second piano layer added with closure of the folder in which the girl places the piece of paper. The name of the character is introduced this way- Briony Tallis. We also know she's a creative character and is interested in writing. More intricate musical layers begin until the main theme of the film begins. As I mentioned in my analysis on sound previously, this intricate polyphonic texture reflects the intricate and quick way the events weave themselves into reality for these characters, and Briony is the catalyst. Camera zooms out as Briony grabs script and walks away, at which point the camera switches to a long shot. The initially diagetic sounds of the typewriter become non-diagetic and a part of the polyphonic musical texture. The audience starts to see the vast space of the house and rich interiors. 6/10 sec's - More layers added to music which is fairly fast paced. The camera follows Briony's journey through the house but not through a tracking shot. Camera in a fixed angle, but turns as Briony passes through the frame.
No comments:
Post a Comment