Sherlock Holmes trailer analysis

1. Film Trailer Analysis

2.  Detective Sherlock Holmes and his partner
Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn
with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of
England.
 Set in late Victorian London
 Target Audience from early 20’s to late 50’s
 Genre: Crime, Adventure, Action – imdb
 Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and
Rachel McAdams

3. Establishing shot, showing the backstreets of Victorian London.
Asynchronous dialogue begins. “I have a request. There is someone I
want to see. Sherlock Holmes”. This is spoken by an unknown person
who appears to be an antagonist behind bars, this creates the code of
enigma.

4. The dialogue “Sherlock Holmes, you underestimate the gravity of coming
events” This appears to question Holmes’s ability as events are unfolding.
As this is being spoken, there is jump cuts that reveal some sort of
religious exorcism. Jump cutting to some sort of supernatural occurrence
with a flying women.

5. “Tomorrow at midday, the world as you know it will end” This
asynchronous sound is accompanied by Sherlock Holmes running
away from the police in a variety of different camera angles. This
then cuts to Holmes replying by saying “Well, we have no time to
waste. Is there?” And soon after a gunshot can be see and another
extreme long shot establishes his location (houses of parliament)
whilst he is diving into the river Thames.

6. Then the inter-titles of the production companies appear in the
theme of the film. At the end of the orchestral climax. This
establishes the main part of the trailer.

7. An establishing shot shows the houses of parliament over
London bridge. An asynchronous sound of a testimony of
the antagonist, matched with a close up his face.

8. “It does make a considerable difference to me having
someone whom I can thoroughly rely on.” This refers
to his partner Watson. Who a zoomed close up
reveals what he looks like.

9. When they meet, an increase of volume of the non dietetic soundtrack
increases, this signals the anticipation of action from Holmes and
Watson’s colaboration.

10. In-between the fight scene between Holmes and a boxer, Watson is pointing
out his frustrations about Holmes’ ways. This shows that even though they
are effective working together, they still aren't the best of friends.

11. After another fight scene, this time with a female. Watson
proclaims “Doe’s your depravity know no bounds?” in which he
replies “no”.

12. The tempo of the non diegetic music begins to increase and the
actors starring in the film are shown with annotations.

13. The soundtrack momentarily stops for a comical scene to be
shown. And continues to show the remaining action unfold

14. And with an explosion, the diegetic soundtrack climaxes
and is followed by Holmes saying “Watson, what have you
done?”

15. This is followed by the continuation of the non diegetic soundtrack and the
beginning of intertitles, which spell the title of the film.

16. The film ends on a comical note, with a scene of Holmes tied
to a bed naked and the pun “Madam, you need to remain
calm and trust me I’m a professional, but beneath this pillow
lies the key to my release” and the titles follow.