American sniper is a film released in early 2015 and is of the action genre. The film stars Bradley Cooper and is directed by Clint Eastwood. The film is based upon Chris Kyle and the main plot is based around him and his life. Chris Kyle grew up with his father teaching him how to shoot rifles, when he grows up Chris Kyle enlists into the navy before becoming a U.S Navy SEAL's sniper. The film follows his life and his problems, to try and show how much of a hero he really was.
This film opening is typically different to others as it starts further on in the film, giving the audience an insight about what to expect and then cuts back to him as a kid, just as the clip is reaching a climax. Therefore, this leaves the audience in suspense of what's going to happen in the film and keep them intrigued to find out the conclusion of what was shown at the start and the story behind him and how he became in that situation.
The film opening starts with an establishing shot, showing the audience where the scene is being set and giving them some basic knowledge about the film. Furthermore, the camera then cuts and pans upwards towards the characters face, making him the first character that the audience see in the film. This is because he is the main character in the film and its based around his life therefore, by showing him as the first character suggests to the audience that he is the most important. This shot is a close up of Chris Kyle, showing his emotions more easily and increasing effect of transmitting this across to the audience.
Moreover, there is no non-diegetic sound throughout the opening scene. I think this may be done because it increases tension in the film and adds suspense to the situation that he's in. Also it makes the situation seem more realistic, in that it makes the audience feel as in they can relate more to it and feel more as if they are in that situation.
Also, the opening scene has a male dominance to it, only one women is seen throughout the whole opening scene and this it's showing what appears to be civilians. Therefore, by showing a women here it links them very much to innocence. However, in contrast, the opening scene is based showing combat and in a war setting. Therefore, its linking men to combat and women to innocence very early on in the film making the mise en scene of this film very effective. Also it typically follows the gender stereotypes that occur in society through influences such as media and history.
The transition from present day, back to him shooting as a kid is done through the use of a jump cut. This is because in the first time frame he is aiming a shot and just when the scene hits it's climax and the audience think he is going to shoot, it jump cuts to him shooting a sniper as a kid in the woods. This then leaves the audience in suspense as to what he did in the actual situation and make them want to find out more.
This shot is a point of view shot, however, the camera isn't moving with the character. The shot is moving with his sniper and where he's aiming it, therefore, where Chris Kyle is looking. This is typically different to the conventional point of view shot and adds a good difference to it. This shot makes you, the audience, feel as if you are looking through his eyes and puts you into his position, therefore, bringing you closer to the action.
The use of shots throughout the opening will give me ideas towards my own film opening and the variety of shots I will need to include to fit my genre and create the right mood and tempo for the film. The use of a two person shot is quite effective for this film opening and is used quite frequently throughout.
In summary, the use of mise en scene, camera shots, sound and editing throughout is very effective for the genre of the film and the use of the flashback at the end of the opening keeps the audience in suspense as it cuts at one of the most dramatic times in the film. Also it makes the audience think that he has just shot the target however, that is before they realise that it jump cut at the same time, making this transition really effective. The use of sound in this opening is generally used to create tension and add excitement to the film. Overall, this film opening is very effective for creating the right atmosphere and setting the correct mood for the rest of the film.
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