Friday, 30 September 2016

Opening scene analysis: Drive

Drive

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
production company: FilmDistrict 
Distributor: FilmDistrict, Le Pacte, Wild Side Films
Domestic Box Office:  $35,060,689
year: 2011



The establishing shot starts with an aerial view of Los Angeles at night. The beginning of the title stream starts of with Ryan Gosling the protagonists, this is done to attract the viewer to continue to watch the film - since he is a well known actor, it then fades into a worms eye view of the protagonist sat in a car, with powerful, under control body language. The shot is held for longer than the audience would expect until the title of the film is boldly projected in front of the shot.



The following shot in an over the shoulder shot of the main character driving the car, the camera is focused on him and not the surroundings however the blurred lights still add to the feel of the city at night. Here the name of the actress is shown in the same continues flamboyant font and colour as before, the font is in contrast with the Neo-noir genre which is indicated by the modern city at night and the bright primary coloured lights . A list of actors names slowly fade across and off the screen.



In this point of view shot, the audience is given insight to the location along with still being able to see the character. The bright colours from the city lights compared to the dark night are still being continued through the scene. The lights slowly dip in and out of showing Ryan Goslings face as a side shot.




The scene then goes back to an aerial view of connecting roads. The titles are in a pleasing position to the composition, taking into consideration balance and shape. 



A medium close up is then faded onto an aerial view of roads, with the title well placed. With this shot ends the beginning of setting the scene, as the camera pans to the car being parked in an underground parking lot. 



Here we can see a change of colour to a blue hue, along with the audience still being informed it's night from the dark surrounding area. From this two person over the shoulder shot we start to see more exposition because the audience can see the protagonists outfit, the 80's scorpion bomber jacket  adds to the mise-en-scene of modern Los Angeles night time with flavours of the 80's. 



In this very long shot the leading main character is introduced by a smooth passing of characters, this adds to the shot variety. 


The next shot is a tracking shot showing Ryan Gosling enter an apartment and look around, this gives the audience a little more indication of the exposition. The colours and lighting are similar however there are no brightly coloured red or yellow street lights but a soft yet strong blue light coming in from the window bring night time in LA into the apartment. 



After the audience sees the protagonist leave the apartment, the shot turns back into an aerial shot of the city at night with more text/titles once again complimenting the composition. So far this doesn't give the audience more on the exposition.



The audience is then again bought back to an over the shoulder shot where we can see the characters point of view. The titles end with the directors name and slowly fades away, this signifies the closing of the opening. The narrative enigma is limited as the audience has to place together whats happening and where the driver may be going. 



Kavinsky's Nightcall was the music used in the opening of this film, to set the scene of an upbeat dramatic Los Angeles at night. The beat slows and the vocals are emphasised more as Ryan Gosling enters, stays, and leaves the apartment, this could have been done so that the audience focuses more on the small indication to narrative enigma. The fading of the song also gives indication to the end of the running time of opening.












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