SLAP

1. Cameramovesfroman overthe shouldershotto
a frontal trackingshot,capturingall three
characters walkinginthe frame.Asshown,the
trackingshot attemptstoremainrealisticby
followingthemunderbridges,givingthem
silhouettessothe audience cannotsee theirfacial
expressionsandgivingthemasense of
anonymity.The tough,industriallikesettingalso
adds tothis sense of realism
Thisis the firsttime Conormakeshissexuality
‘personal’withthe audience –itis the firsttime
the audience ispresentedwithconfirmationof
dramaticirony – onlywe know of Conor’s
tendenciesuntil he revealsittohisfriendafter
the fight.Lookingdirectlyintothe camera,this
shotis followedupwithmultiple jumpcutswith
Conordressingup.
Thisis whatI’d sayis one of the mosttense
scenesinthe film.Inthisshot,the frame isalmost
splitintwo,albeitone subjectiscloser thanthe
other.However,usingthe wall tosplitthe frame
intwo showsthe audience the actionsand
reactionsof bothsubjects.Thissplit-screen
dualityputsthe audience inthe situationof both
characters; one isrunningawayand seeking
refuge,the otherispressuredtoreveal hissecret.
In thisshotwe see the reflectionof Conorindeep
thoughtthroughbrokenglass,possiblyabroken
mirror.Thisdefinitelyisn’tamistake - Lola has
justtoldhimshe’sproudof himand he isclearly
conflicted.ThisshotreflectsConor’sbrokenstate
of mind,ashe doesn’tknow whetherhe’sjust
Lola’sknightinshiningarmouror if Lola accepts
himas he is.(We soonfindoutthat the latteris
not the case).
Conorwalkingoutinthe middle of the street
exertshissomewhatnew foundconfidence.
Conorwalksinto the frame fromthe left,
followingthe roadto reachthe middle of the
frame,drawingthe attentionof the viewersfrom
the settingtohim.The musicalsoampsup the
tensioninthisscene,makingviewersanticipate
what’snexttocome.

2. Thisis the final shotof the film, andthe POV shot
(fromthe guy inthe ring gettingdestroyedbya
crazedConor) puts the audience directlyinthe
seatof Conor’ssuddeninsanity.Thisbreaksthe
fourthwall,asConor isno longerdirectinghis
angerat a character inthe filmworld,it isnow
directedatthe audience - givingusa full viewof
Conor’srage.
Personally,Idon’tthinkthisshotisa mistake
either.The inclusionof the STUD condoms and
theirassociationwithsex andsexualityasawhole
foreshadowsthe nextscene,withConor,his
friendandthe condomdispenserall inthe same
shotas he triesto kisshim.