1. The Man From U.N.C.L.E
(2015, directed by Guy Ritchie)
Accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x08iNZ8Mfc
At the time of publishing this Slideshare, The Man From U.N.C.L.E hadn’t won any awards
however the film trailer had been viewed 5,328,344 times.
2. Plot Summary
Set at the height of the Cold War in 1963, a mysterious
organisation intends to unease the delicate, fragile and
unsubstantial balance of power between Russia and the
United States of America by using nuclear weapons and
technology. Putting aside their differences and hostilities
American CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and
Russian KGB IIIya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) are required to
work together to stop a highly secret private criminal
organisation. Their main aim is to stop the criminals from
pursuing a missing German scientists expert methods of
constructing a nuclear bomb. Their only help is to gain the
precious, valid help of the scientists daughter Gaby Teller
(Alicia Vikander) and co-operate for world peace.
3. Mise-en-scene: setting/location
The European location and setting on the coast off Italy creates a glamorous,
illustrious and wealthy feel to the trailer. However, the reoccurring spy theme
reminding the audience of action and adventure comedy genre, creates a mysterious,
uneasy and uncomfortable feeling amongst the audience especially whilst travelling at
quick speed through the dimly lit, dingy, cold and wet streets of what appears to be an
Italian port at the beginning of the trailer. This makes the audience feel slightly
uncomfortable and antagonistic especially towards the Russian spy, Illya; attracting
and addressing audiences into viewing the film.
However the uncomfortable feeling is soon flipped when towards the middle the
action progresses to Rome where there is a wide angle shot of St Marks Dome
exposing the white bricked houses, red slate roofs and metal chimneys. The beautiful,
scenic landscape of the Italian city creates an expensive, prestigious feel, moreover,
the silk, richly coloured fabrics wallpaper, soft furnishing and golden bed spreads of
hotel rooms and functioning rooms make the audience feel in awe and in spectacle of
the elite settings. In turn attracting audiences to watch the film at the exhibition stage.
The use of remote islands, wide angle shot coastlines, empty dingy, dark alleyways,
dank dimly lit toilets and remote cramped ports makes the audience feel as though
they are taken on a journey of illegal, ‘underground’ and wrongful activity. This in turn
makes the audience feel in awe and spectacle of the activity that is taking place in
locations such as these as it is probably far from their own reality attracting and
addressing audiences.
4. Mise-en-scene: iconography and props
Evidence of sixties Twiggy-like sunglasses synonymous of the
era, champagne glasses and fizzy alcohol create a glamorous,
elite and expensive feel to the trailer. This makes the
audience feel in awe and spectacle of the lifestyle they live,
high society members they mix with and the insinuated
wealth they have. Genre codes and conventions are clear
from the tan leather brief case being carried by Agent Solo,
zippy Italian car that appears to be a Fiat Sports Car, an Atom
bomb being built, loud gunshots fast paced exuberant speed
boat and secretive illegal documents being handed over
discreetly with no eye contact in an alleyway convey an
undercover, secretive and criminal like feel. This makes the
audience feel uneasy for their safety or worried about
whether they will get caught – they are doing this illegal
activity dealing with former Nazis without the authorities
knowing conveying a sense of jeopardy and suspense. The
speed and motion of the fast paced zippy car and life
threateningly fast speed boat creates a carefree attitude,
being instructed to perform a duty, risking your life. Further
attracting and addressing audiences.
5. Mise-en-scene: colour and lighting
The dark colour and lighting in areas such as dingy Italian streets, night-time shoot
outs and undercover sea port patrols creates an illegal, criminal like feel. This makes
the audience feel on edge as they are unsure about the locations safety due to the
darkness of the mise-en-scene creating an easily jumpy and war-like atmosphere.
This creates a sense of uneasiness, jeopardy and suspense; attracting and
addressing audiences to view the film.
However the bright, light and neutral in colour mise-en-scene would attract
audiences as during the hotel room scenes, socialite parties and day time outdoor
scenes creates a glamorous, elite feel making audiences believe that instead of
being undercover spies hunting for criminals they are popular socialites. This creates
an amount of awe and spectacle; further attracting and addressing audiences.
6. Mise-en-scene: Make up and costume
The typical sixties make up of khol winged
eyeliner, turquoise eye shadow and mascara
brings a sense of glamour, sophistication and
feminism to the film trailer with women being
a figure of male gaze and attraction. Women
were also dressed in typical sixties attire such
as short mini dresses, mini skirts, rounded
‘Jackie O’ sunglasses, billowing animal print
kaftans and giant gem stone gobstopper-like
stud earings were portrayed as elegant,
sophisticated and fashionably synonymous of
the era. These two area are also there to
attract audiences to come and view the film
The male costume such as typical spy like
uniform of fitted grey suits with matching tie
and black fedora hat with feather creates an
expensive, high quality feel making audiences
feel in awe and spectacle of the characters;
attracting and addressing audiences.
7. Editing: sound and vision
The Italian sounding music of fast paced guitar strings, steady
rhythm drum beat creates a glamorous feel to the action of
car chasing and criminal like behaviour such as gun shots
being fired in an empty, dark, wet alleyway. The glamorous
male, Italian vocals singing accompanies the action creating a
glamorous feeling of being abroad in a foreign country
undercover. This conveys aspects of awe and spectacle as well
as aspects of combat and conflict as sound effects such as
gun shots disperse over the vocals creating an illegal like feel.
The use of voice overs describing potential secret agents
(joined with close up of Illya being portrayed as hero like)
conveys a sense of awe and spectacle as he is portrayed as a
god-like vision who can help reunite Gaby with justice. This
attracts and addresses audiences.
The fast paced heavy beat music featuring trumpets,
woodwind and saxophones makes the investigation hectic,
fast paced with a serious, dictatorial-like atmosphere
therefore making the audience feel jeopardy and suspense;
attracting and addressing audiences.
8. Cinematography
The fast paced cinematography of blasts exploding
from an atom bomb creates an uneasy, life
threatening feel; making audiences partially feel
jepardy and suspence to the safety of the secret
agents. However, the bomb exploding seen on the
vast screen can be interpreted as a reaction by the
audience of awe and spectacle due to the bright
luminous colours filling up the dimly lit, dark screen
before. This attracts and addresses audiences.
9. Title and Credits
Slogan - For example ’World War II Ends' in reminds the audiences of the main
purpose of the protagonist and the era of the films setting.
4. Director of the film - 'From the director of....’ and ‘From Guy Ritchie’ showing the
audience previous work he/she may be famous for attracting a broader audience.
5. Actors/Actresses involved - For example Alicia Vikander and Henry Caville
attracting and addressing audiences who may be familiar with their previous work
due to celebrity status; this also helps bring the film revenue. Action is interspersed
with actor or director credits on screen; further attracting and addressing
audiences.
6. Name of film - This is important as the main purpose of the trailer is to appeal
and attract to potential audience members; attracting and addressing audiences.
7. Release Date – ‘Coming Soon’ - This is important as the main purpose of the
trailer is to attract and address audience to come and view the film; making them
revenue.
