Sin City - 2005

Directors: Frank Miller
Robert Rodriguez
Certificate: 18

Camera

– Mid-Shot.
– Cu combined with an LS
– No movement
– Close ups
– OTS shots
– SRS of OTS
– Focus on cigarette being lit
– BEV Zoom out

The scene opens with an establishing shot of the lady in red. This encourages the audience to make judgements of the character on face value. CU and OTS shots then dominate the scene signifying closeness between the two characters. The CU and focus on the cigarette exchange stands out to me in particular as cigarettes carry numerous connotations. In this case I believe they are used to project a sexual and seductive image of the female. It also strikes me when the man, having been the one who offered the cigarette, does not proceed to take one himself, indicating that he needs both his hands to be unrestricted. The scene culminates with a BEV Zoom out of the woman on the floor being held close by the man. This denotes that the male character had a genuine connection to the female despite his drastic actions. The director has chosen this array of shots to allow the audience to connect to the characters beyond surface level by allowing them to draw conclusions based on the facial expressions and body language exchanged between them.

Editing

– Dress and lipstick only colour n the scene
– Cut to black and white cartoon still of the scene
– Primarily shot in black and white
– Windows left lit up
– Eyes flash between green and black and white
– Eyes in central frame
– Woman is primarily in central frame
– Slow paced editing

Slow paced editing has been used throughout to create suspense whilst putting forth a sense of calm and innocent intent. The scene is shot primarily in black and white, with only splashes of colour such as the red dress and lipstick. This colour is used for the sexual and passionate connotations attached. It also assists in the portrayal of both the man’s feelings and visions of the woman. The windows in the building are left brightly lit alerting the audience of the presences nearby. This induces anticipation at the knowledge that this zealous scene could be interrupted at any time. The woman’s eyes at one point in the scene also flash between their usual monochromic appearance and a vibrant green colour. There are many derivatives of the colour green but in this case it has been used, I believe, to symbolize bad spirits or omens within. They are also centrally framed which helps enforce their importance within the scene.

Sound

– Brief bursts of the same mysterious melody
– Non-digetic sound - narrative voiceover
– Digetic sound – gunshot

Throughout the scene there are frequent bursts of the same saxophone melody. This is used to create a romantic and calm atmosphere, setting the scene and encouraging assumptions of the young couples association and how the scene will pan out.
There is also non-digetic sound of the male narrative voice. This is used to establish the location, with a distinctive American accent attached to the voiceover. There is also non-digetic sound when the gun is fired, this adds to the verisimilitude of the action.

Mise en scene

– Red Dress, Red Lipstick
– Stood close
– He lights her cigarette – trust
– Formal attire – posh party
– Roof terrace – view of city – expensive area

Part way through the scene the woman allows the man to light her cigarette. this suggests a feeling of trust and also implicates vulnerability on her part. The colour red, used for both the woman’s dress and lipstick, is used to symbolise love, passion and blood and to make seemingly mundane aspects stand out and become of overpowering importance to the scene. Love and passion is used to connect the emotions expressed and exchanged between the characters. The denotation of blood is made relevant at the end of the scene, suggesting that the red dress will not only disguise her wound but also reflect how she feels within. By linking the dress to her facial expressions throughout connotes that she is broken inside and bleeding metaphorically within. Finally the formal attire and the large roof terrace overlooking the city suggests that they are at a posh party in an expensive area of the city.

Special effects

– Cartoon stills
– Cartoon motion of scene

CGI is used on several occasions when the scene cut to the cartoon stills and on one occasion a animated motion sequence of the scene. This flowed perfectly throughout and had the feel of a flipbook that had been created, with each scene being acted out immaculately. Also the black and white theme throughout creates a very sinister feel with the red connoting danger, both typical aspects of a thriller.