For media cousework

1. Thriller conventions: Low key lighting and fog is used to set the
scene. The scene has a long build up which generates tension. Music
also plays, non-diagetic. It also generates suspense as the soundtrack
is quite vivid in tone. The shot itself creates a multitude of questions
within the viewer, as there is no clear meaning. What the shot is really
doing is setting the scene of a misty arid environment. One which
many may feel unsafe in.
Fargo
The minimalism of the opening
credits sets the pace of the movie
along with the speed the car is
going.

2. The camera cuts to the car
driving away, leaving the
viewer back alone in the
desolate landscape.
Creates a sense of
loneliness.
Build up from arid landscape to headlights through blizzard, soundtrack builds up to the car
coming over a hill. Camera tracks the car as it passes. You see a damaged car, causes
questions about the story. Nothing is given away in the scene. Leaves only more questions to
be answered which is a main feature of a thriller, as the unknown can keep the audience in a
state of anxiety.
The fact the car is being
towed implies it is not
road worthy.
Suggests that something
must have occurred to
break it down. The viewer
in the beginning would
see this as a somewhat
normal event but it is
foreshadowing events to
come.
Before the setting is
established, a short
statement tells the
audience that the
narrative is based on true
events. While the film
itself is loosely inspired
by real world events,
(Each event was an actual
crime) the narrative itself
is completely fictional.
This was done to remind
the reader what they saw
is real and have more of
an impact.

3. Shining
Helicopter tracking shot view
of car passing through
mountains, sets the scene as
isolated and desolate. The
camera pans through multiple
landscapes. Also then setting
the scene as vast. The size of
the car compared to the
landscape also highlights the
how lonely they are.
The title along with dramatic
music sets the tone for the
feature. The montage of
tracking shots is also a
thriller convention. The
camera then continues to
track the car for an
extended period, isolating
the viewer further.

4. And finally the camera rests on the resort. The bleakness of the mountain and
resort tell the viewer this is not a welcoming place. There are a lot of cars parked
here but I think this may have been an oversight or a problem they could not fix.
The focus of the shot is not immediately on the hotel, And rests on the mountain.
This is done so that the viewers feel the characters are small in comparison to their
surroundings.

5. No country for old men
The opening shots are all of the peaceful
desert. They all capture beautiful scenes and
is a strong contrast to the occurrences in the
movie. This may have been done to put the
viewer off guard or to set up a metaphor for
how all may not be as it seems. Thriller
conventions include slow pace, hard
shadows, and low key lighting.

6. We then see a man being put into a police car,
we know nothing about him and yet we can
tell something is off in his mannerisms. An
odd tool is also placed into the car which
should put the viewer into a sense of caution.
Fate is a strong theme throughout the movie
and the fact we came from a peaceful opening
to this is a nod to that. By fate we have
stumbled across our main antagonist.
The shot then cuts to the police car speeding away, and
the voice over ceases. Closing the opening and opening
the movie. The voice over was talking about the old
ways dying. Or the last days of the west and a repeat
occurrence. Setting up the movie.