By James Powell

1940s/ 50s Power Triangle Modern Historical

Rocknrolla: Power Triangle

Two Shots Shot Types

Mid Shots

The Godfather: The Personal Family

The Storyline Family Personal Power To maintain To obtain

Business

Quick Cuts

Pulp Fiction: Two Shot

Dialogue Diegetic

Two Characters

Sound

Opening

Character Introductions
The Boss Dialogue Establishes roles

Gun shots, punching etc Narration

Non-Diegetic Music

Contrapuntal Sound

Get Carter: Character Introductions

Establishes Story

Get Carter- Opening Scene

In Get Carter there are many typical conventions for a gangster film. For example the story takes place within a Urban City using mostly exterior locations, this is shown through frequent establishing shots of a train coming across the British countryside into a dense urban city. Also most of the male characters are wearing suits and the female characters are wearing dresses and props include books and cigarettes this suggests to the audience that the film is a sophisticated British gangster film and not mob or noir. In addition the scenes overall lighting is natural until he arrives in the city where it becomes low level. Finally there is no dialogue only diegetic sounds of the train whilst non-diegetic music plays over the entire scene.
Props: Cigarettes Setting: Exterior Urban City Lighting: Low Level Props: Book Costume: Suits

Lighting: Natural

Layer Cake- Opening Scene

Layer cake opening uses at first low level lighting whilst there is a nondiegetic narration from Daniel Craig but then during the opening credits the lighting becomes natural and the there is non-diegetic music . The two male characters are both wearing suits showing the sophisticated British film genre. The setting is a dense urban city and an expensive estate telling the audience that this is the hierarchy of the crime world. In addition the 2 characters are shown within 2 shots suggesting that they are partners. Finally the editing uses quick cuts and the camera never stays focused on anyone thing for very long suggesting to the audience that the film will be face paced.
Shot: Long Shot, Establishing Lighting: Natural Shot: 2 Shot Setting: Rural Estate

Setting: Urban City

Costume: Suits

Lock Stock And 2 Smoking BarrelsOpening Scene

Lock Stock And 2 Smoking Barrels is set in a dense urban city and in the beginning is only diegetic sound of the dialogue and crowd. But when Jason Statham begins running away from the police it switches to non-diegetic music. In addition most of the people shown in the scene are in long trench coats and scarves showing us that this low level crime as Jason Statham sells stolen goods. These stolen are shown as the props featuring chains, suitcases and boxes. Furthermore most of the shots used are mid shots and close ups until the chase beings and it becomes long shots of them running through the streets. The editing also changes, it begins using quick cuts and in the end a slow motion shot of him throwing a box.

Shot: Two Shot Costume: Trench Coat & Scarf Props: Chain Setting: Urban City Setting: Urban back street Props: Suitcase

44 Inch Chest- Opening Scene

The Opening to 44 Inch Chest uses low level lighting and slow establishing shots to create mystery and intrigue the audience as to what is happening on the screen. It also does this by uses lots of props such as broken glass, smashed pots and a broken TV to also put across mystery. As I mentioned before the clip uses slow close ups to begin with focusing on isolated objects and then goes to long shots showing the whole room including the individual objects within these long shots. The editing unlike the other clips is slow and pans across the objects and rooms. In the clip Ray Winston is wearing a untied shirt and braces he looks undone and shocked. Throughout the whole scene non-diegetic music is playing which is also contrapuntal sound. Finally the setting takes place within what looks like Ray Winston's room which is quite nice and expensive suggesting that Ray Winston is a successful criminal.
Shot: Close up Props: Pillow Case Lighting: Low Level Shot: Long shot Props: Broken TV

Costume: Shirt & Braces

Sexy Beast- Opening Scene

The Sexy Beast opening begins with high level lighting and a diegetic monologue. Its then goes into a long shot of the main character lying on a sun bed as he sits up it switched to non-diegetic music. The high level lighting goes completely against the typical gangster film conventions and is a bold choice. It also changes shot to mid shot of him and then a long establishing shot of the town that he is in. The editing is slow and pans similar to 44 Inch Chest. In addition the props used feature sun cream, sunglasses and a bowl of ice water. This combined with the gold chain prop around his neck and the fact he is spending his time sunbathing could tell us he is a wealthy criminal. Finally the costume the main character is wearing are yellow swimming shorts telling us that he is laid back and relaxed.
Lighting: High Level Props: Sun cream, Sunglasses etc Shot: Long shot Props: Boulder Costume: Swimming Shorts Shot: Mid Shot