Media Studies Presentation on the film 'Unknown'

1. UNKNOWN
JOSH BESTFORD & CHARLIE POTTER

2. FILM OVER VIEW
• DIRECTED BY: Jaume Collet-Serra
• STARING: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones & Aidan Quinn
• A man wakens from a coma, only to discover that someone has taken on his
identity and that no one(not even his wife) believes him. With the help of a
young woman, he sets out to prove who he is.
• SENSORSHIP RAITING: 15
• GENRE: Action, Thriller & Mystry

3. REVIEWS
• IMDb: 6.9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1401152/
• GUARDIAN: 2/5
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/mar/03/unknown-review
• EMPIRE MAGAZINE: 2/5
http://www.empireonline.com/movies/unknown/review/
• Over all the film doesn’t receive all that positive reviews, but in the opening
scenes (10 minuets) the plot follows thriller conventions showing a possible
red herring, a plot twist and flashbacks although it seems not to be a thrill in
the first 5 minuets due to the complex story line. Even though the reviews
rate the film to be of low standard the opening scenes go against that.
• OUR RATING: 3.5/5
•

4. POV SHOTS
A POV shot is a camera
shot from the point of view
of the character, this
shows the audience the
characters perspective and
what they’re experiencing .
The fake Dr. Martin Harris,
an American Bio-
technologist, and wife
Elizabeth. Seen in the POV
shot from the real Elizabeth.

5. By having the main character in
smart dress, it gives the audience
the impression that he is an
important character – mise en
scene
Wide shot - showing a dramatic
event and the actions surrounding it
in one shot. This allows the audience
to see the car falling off the bridge in
one shot.

6. FLASHBACK
A flashback takes a
character back to an event
in the past, it also gives the
audience an insight into the
characters past and give
vital information which
links to the story.
During CPR the flash back shows
the audience of martins past. This
tells the audience that he has had a
previous lover.

7. Narrative conventions
• Dr. Harris is taken to a medical facility where he finally regains consciousness
after spending four days in coma. After overcoming a bout of temporary
amnesia, he soon remembers of his wife and the purpose of their visit to
Berlin. – making the audience work
• The female driver of the cab, after rescuing him, flees from the scene – red
herring ?
• As he tries to unravel the mystery behind this collusive subterfuge, he must
overcome not only those who have rendered him a pariah, but must also
confront his own dark past. – principle of concealment
• To his dismay, he realizes that his identity has been taken by someone else as
even Elizabeth refuses to recognize him – revenge
• He takes a cab back to the airport in order to locate the missing luggage,
but before he can inform his wife the cab meets an accident and falls off
a bridge into the river. – action/plot twist

8. Technical conventions
• Tense Music- When e see the taxi drive away the camera gives us a close up
shot of the briefcase that has been mistakenly left behind. The music
played is tense and sudden which implies that the briefcase maybe
important to the narrative.
• Silence- The sound of silence is used as the car is travelling through the air
towards the river. It’s been used so the audience can focus on the facial
expression of the character.
• Fast Paced Editing- As the car hits the water the pace of the editing is
increased as the girl is fighting in order to save not only her own life but the
mans. This makes the audience interested and intrigued as to what it might
lead to.

9. More Technical CONVENTIONS
• POV- Another POV shot is used when Martin is receiving treatment. This is
used to show his perspective of the people who are trying to save him. This
makes the audience feel what Martin Is feeling.
• Tense blurry music- Music played at a high pitch and is played very bluntly
which describes the state of Martins mind. This makes the audience
interested as they can picture being in his state of mind.
• Exaggerated sound- As the taxi falls into the water, Martin’s face smashes up
against the glass. This sound is exaggerated because the audience need
to be able to hear his head hit the glass. This is because the audience
know exactly what happens and they won’t miss out on the story.
•

10. More Technical CONVENTIONS
• POV- Another POV shot is used when Martin is receiving treatment. This is
used to show his perspective of the people who are trying to save him. This
makes the audience feel what Martin Is feeling.
• Tense blurry music- Music played at a high pitch and is played very bluntly
which describes the state of Martins mind. This makes the audience
interested as they can picture being in his state of mind.
• Exaggerated sound- As the taxi falls into the water, Martin’s face smashes up
against the glass. This sound is exaggerated because the audience need
to be able to hear his head hit the glass. This is because the audience
know exactly what happens and they won’t miss out on the story.
•