Genre Specific Film Opening Analysis

Pre Production Planning - Further Thriller Analysis  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-_-1nJf8Vg

Gone Girl (2014)

The trailer begins with film rating by the motion picture association of America INC, which is an American trade association that represents the six major Hollywood studios. It was founded in 1922 as the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America to advance the business interests of its members. Shortly after the 20 Century Fox Film Corporation is shown which is also an American film studio, distributor and one of the six major American film studios.

At 0:05 there is an establishing shot of the place where the two main people in the film live. By having this shot it shows the audience a beautiful set of land and houses which gives the audience an idea that the people may be rich. This contrasts with both the dark lighting and the voice over of a woman interviewing and explaining how Nick is the most hated man in America. It contrasts because the first impression is of the lovely setting which suggests that he has a very good life, however immediately it changes your opinion because of the voice over.

Also, shortly after at 0:07 you see a shot of the man standing alone outside of his house which also reinforces the idea of the man being hated and also his wife is not seen suggesting that there are problems between them.

At 0:13 the voice over than transitions into the actual interview itself which is interesting as the film starts with the end. What I mean by this is that the lady asks him if he killed his wife which is what the whole film is about. Because this is such an interesting bold question to hear straight away it keeps the audience interested as they are now curious whether he did or not. To leave the question a mystery the editing cuts out to a different scene leaving the audience wondering. Also it is a wide shot which is effective as it shows the body language of both people.

After this, different events that have happened in the husband and wife's life are going on, at the same time the voice over of the wife contrasts with all the happy memories as the voice over is all negative about how they wont work threw marriage. There is a P.O.V shot of the wife writing in her diary which usually means that she doesn't tell anyone else her thoughts apart from her diary meaning the wife as a person may also be a bit of a mystery. Each events transitions by fading into new events witch could be seen as quite slow and boring maybe like there marriage? Despite both of them being in the shot it only shows them together next to each other, throughout the don't touch and you don't see them kiss as it fades away, this shows the lack of love and loyalty they have for one another and leaves you questioning there marriage more and more..

It then fades into a wide shot establishing the amount of people who have come to listen to the husband when asking and informing about his wife, Amy. By him looking for her shows that he still wants her and isn't seen as a bad guy. Although, there is a slight uncertainty about it as throughout the speech Nick doesn't seem to have any sadness in his voice or body language and is dressed nicely which is seen to be quite odd as the situation he is in. At 0:27 it then changes to the same wide shot that was seen at the beginning of the clip where the husband stands alone. He walks over to a smashed table where it looks like he could of attacked Amy however walks up to its slowly and a close up of his face suggests he is confused meaning it leaves a possibility he didn't do anything.

At 0:35 there is a shot reverse shot between the husband and an officer as the husband is now a suspect. It starts with nick being asked questions about Amy which he doesn't know any of the answers this suggests that Amy didn't mean that much to Nick as he knows nothing about her, it also shows that there is clear disequilibrium with Amy's life as nothing can be answered for about her, she is a mystery even to the closest of people. Once again after this shot a wide shot shows Nick at a different event to find Amy which confuses the audience more as he is still looking for her even though he doesn't seem that close to her. Rather than montaging we are given cross cutting to show the differences with regards to the twos different lifestyles Amy and Nick are living.

Throughout these different shots various people are doubting Nick and starting to turn against him as all evidence looks as if he is the bad guy. Also, to reinforce the idea of this Nick has lots of groups of people ranging from his old friends to Amy's family are staring at him suggesting all evidence and eyes point at him. At 0:54 there is another P.O.V shot of Amy in the bath which is supposed to be a persons alone or private time in the day, however a P.O.V shot shows the audience that Amy has no privacy as Nick is looking threw the door at her. It is awkward as he slowly walks past without saying anything and fear is seen by the way Amy sinks down into the bath when she is visible to her husband. 

Throughout the next shots we are given a montage of different shots of people continually looking for Amy and are given more information about Amy in these shots. Mostly all the shots are dark lighting which makes the situation seem gloomy and bad. In every shot of Amy she never speaks there is just a voice over which suggests that she's secretive from her husband. At 1:02 and 1:10 both Nicks sister and Amy's friend are seen looking down at Nick, this is conveying that other people could be thinking Nick is a possible suspect as because they are looking down at him they are seen as more dominant and he is week.

After this the audience gets more information about clues Amy has written to try set up her husband, although there are now different mystery's being discovered by Nick. At 1:11 there is an over the shoulder shot over Nicks shoulder witch is effective because its as if the audience, along with Nick, are trying to solve this mystery. By using this shot type it puts the audience in the characters shoes. 

Also, by montaging these events in different orders it keeps the clip interesting as it doesn't give you the answer straight away.

A key close up shot of Amy's face at 2:05 resembles the attitude of Amy and Nick throughout the whole opening of the film. Amy is seen hugging nick which could be seen as they have an emotional connection as they are so close together. However there is a suttee sense of confusion and plotting going on in her head as confirmed threw the tilt of her eyebrows, straight mouth expression and widened eyes. Also Amy is not looking directly at her husband, shes looking just off to the right which implies a sense of deception towards the audience as she doesn't make eye contact. The contrast such as this shot is seen throughout the opening leaving their relationship and connection a mystery until the very end.

  Throughout the opening the narrative is not clear as the opening doesn't tell us what the film is about it just shows us two main assets of the film. At 2:23 we are given the title page witch conveniently fits the trailer especially as the audience gets given vital information as soon as the opening begins.  By having the title page at the ending of the opening it leaves the audience in suspense, just like the film opening does.