Monday, 21 October 2013

Deconstruction - Natural Born Killers opening

Deconstruction of Natural Born Killers opening 1 minute - editing and camera movements/shots


This sequence includes a variety of different editing techniques as well as camera angles and movement. Many of the shots seem frenzied and almost disorientating, for example, when Mallory is dancing there is use of titled shots and zooming in and out which helps the audience to see Mallory’s whole body and the way that she is moving and also the music she is dancing to. Furthermore, many of these shots are low angle shots which make her look confident, impressive and superior. The shots all include her as the main attraction and this links back to my previous point. Adding to this, there are straight-cuts throughout her dancing, constantly switching angles and showing different parts of her body to add to the image being presented of Mallory.


This ‘impressive’ Mallory is then shown to be a bit shyer and meeker when another man comes to dance with her, as the shots focus on his facial expression and are again in black and white. The shots show him dancing rudely and in a provocative way towards Mallory, which she is obviously uncomfortable with, through the use of mid-shots of her walking away and ‘calming down’ her dancing. The camera movement at this time weaving in and out (steadi-cam) which gives an in-depth view into the scene and the movement and shows Mallory’s discomfort and the man’s rather forward and off-putting approach towards her and also, as a viewer, makes you feel uncomfortable as it feels like you are up close with him too and almost as if you are experiencing his inappropriate actions.


There is also a two-shot of Mickey and another man, in a titled shot still where the man makes a rude remark about Mallory. It then switches abruptly to a black and white shot and then quickly a frenzied low angle shot of Mickey with blood all over his face and then it zooms in closer to a close-up of his blood stained glasses. This is effective as it shows Mickey’s psychotic side and gives an insight almost into Mickey’s mind and personality; it gives the audience a glimpse of what is to come. It then switches back to a black and white shot of Mickey sipping his drink in slow-motion, almost as if he is processing the words that the other man had just said. All of these chaotic changes between shots help add to the chaotic build up happening in the film.

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