The document provides an analysis of characters, camera work, and mise-en-scene in the thriller film The Da Vinci Code. Regarding characters, the analysis describes how clothing and facial expressions are used to portray characters as either good or evil. Tom Hanks' character is presented as good through the use of a high camera shot that makes him seem vulnerable and innocent in contrast to the darkly-clothed killer. Camera work, such as high camera shots, are used to focus attention on important details like symbols around a murder victim. Mise-en-scene creates strange elements like a police chase taking place in broad daylight in a rural landscape rather than at night in a city.

1. Thriller Film Analysis – The Da Vinci Code
Directed by Ron Howard
By Elliot Metaireau

2. Characters
There are a range of different set characters in the Da Vinci Code, for
example the stereotypical evil characters who kill people (with a gun) to
find out something important to help their “plan”. Like here, this
character makes out to look bad for a number of reasons. For example
the clothing that characters wear could define whether or not they are
good or bad, here, it shows that he is wearing a fairly dark cloak with the
hood right up, this could mean that he is trying to protect his identity
because he could of committed a crime or perhaps being chased, either
way its obvious to say that he looks evil from this example. Also there is
something about his facial expression of which separates him from being
a good character, maybe because it looks as though he is smirking and
doesn’t have full concentration on what’s going on around him could
determine him being more evil than good.
On the other hand, Tom Hanks is definitely represented as more of a good
guy throughout the film. One reason for this in the picture, is the use of a
High Camera Shot, which clearly makes the character seem more vulnerable,
powerless or innocent and these three things are also set to make the scene
more dramatic, normally from the audience’s perspective, we tend to come
across good characters as more innocent or vulnerable (as though they
haven't done anything wrong) to when a bad character shows a clear sign of
aggression. Another example to show why Tom Hanks is more good than bad
is simply the way he is dressed, even though he wears a black suit and black
comes across as dark, evil or gothic, the fact that he is in a smart suit shows
contrast to this, therefore making him come across as a safer character.

3. Camera work
By using a high camera shot, we can tell how
In this camera shot, you In this camera shot, you
important thus murder is or how it could potentially
can see that the can see that the
link with the plot of the movie. For example, with
surroundings or everything surroundings or everything
this camera shot we are able to see everything going
in the sides is darker or in the sides is darker or
on, like the positioning of the body, any symbols,
blacked out so that the blacked out so that the
etc. these type of things link with history and The Da
audience are able to focus audience are able to focus
Vinci Code is all about history and changing it.
on what’s more important on what’s more important
going on in the middle, the going on in the middle, the
use of a high camera shot use of a high camera shot
also helps us to see this. also helps us to see this.
As well as the high camera
The use of this High
shot, lighting has also been
camera shot shows us how
used along with it to give
dramatic the scene really
the audience more focus
is. The fact that there was
on what’s going on, for
a killing already makes us
example there is a case of
think that it’s not going to
extreme lighting on the
What makes this camera shot even more clever is the get any better as well.
victim and very dark
fact that there is a giant red circle going round the Normally this type of
lighting around it and on
the other characters, victim, this could identify that because it’s a red colour, camera shot shows how
perhaps showing that could be dangerous to enter inside of it, hence making powerless a character is
there is more to just this the killing or our focus on the victim a whole lot more during the scene, the
killing supports this point.
killing. important.

4. Mise – en – Scene
Another really strange thing about this
setting is the fact that there is a police
chase in broad daylight, normally the
stereotypical car chases or filmed in the
night time to give of sense of unease, but
not in this scene. All though It’s not as
“thriller like” it’s original and shows a clear
purpose as to why they are being chased,
perhaps if this happens now, then
something bigger will happen on during
the evening/night – time.
The most weird yet out of place thing
that occurs during this scene is the fact
This was a particularly strange, out of place scene during the that this heavy car chase looks as though
film, the cars identified in the middle happen to be a bunch of it was filmed in the countryside. Like how
police cars chasing the good guys in the aero plane. This scene it was filmed in broad daylight, its seems
has a lot of weird things that don’t really piece, like the fact that very strange that a car chase is
they are on a run away rather than a road seems a little crazy happening in a remotely quiet
which adds some form of suspension. As well as this, if the aero environment, mis en scene shows this by
plane in the corner was not placed in that position than the adding in a lot of greenery within the
audience would of thought that it was a normal police chase on background so it doesn't’t look like it was
the road, so the use of mis en scene has used it well. filmed in a stereotypical city in the night.