This is also a gangster thriller like wanted. But it creates a more sinister ambience, through the narrative, camera angles and accompanying music.
The camera angles, make it very clear who the protagonist is and that we are meeant to be on her side. The credits of this clip break up the sequence, which allows movement of the narrative to cards then a record player. The dull lighting creates the effect that a sinister event is about to occur, whether crime related or not. THe signifiers of the clip further connot the thriller genre , such as the dress code, suits, and dresses, as well as the gun. Many of the camera angles are POV shots, which helps the audience empathise with the protagonist more. The villain character is made clear by the lighting, as he is often cast in shadow, connoting mystery nd evil. Our female character also has shodws cast over her in some shots, connoting that she has a dark past, involved with crime but now wants out.
I think that this thriller is one of the more interesting form previous years. I think it is successful as well as it uses more actors than the other thriller openings. It also has alot of signifiers for the genre, it is made clear early on from the dress codes of the actors that, this is a gangster film, with sharp suits, and cutting cocaine. As well as the smoking of cigars, signifying authority, and money. Which is also shown by the game of poker. A game associated with gangster films.
The lighting therefore mise en scene in this opening i also think is effective as it shows up enough detail on chracters faces, without being too harsh, adding relaism that this is a late night game of poker.
I think the first shot of the opening, is very interesting and eases you into the film ,setting up the narrative, and the audiences expectations.
The film gets better when it progresses and we see the drugs being cut, the use of fades to this part also helps us understand time has passed.
There are some points i think are sightly negative though. Firstly the actors playing the gangsters do look too young, which sort of ruins the effect that the scene does create. I also think that the music could of been better, and would maybe change that. I also think that the opening moves too slowly, and would impact more on the audience if it was shot or edited a little quicker. Although it does set the scene as it is.
Lastly the room / location is ok, but does look alittle ordinary, neither too grimy or extravogant to be a convincing gangsters hide out.
Inspiration for my first idea has just come to me after watching The Runaway Jury. The runaway Jury is a court drama/thriller. This suspense-thriller takes place in a New Orleans courtroom, where John Cusack plays a juror in a trial against the gun industry. Cusack is involved in a conspiracy with his girlfriend (Rachel Weisz), who offers to sell the verdict to either side for millions. Gene Hackman plays a jury consultant hired by the gun manufacturers to make sure they win the case.
In brief the film follows a landmark trial a woman is taking the gun companies to court for compensation after a major family loss. Leading the defence for the gun companies is the constantly victorious Rankin Finch (Gene Hackman). A regular at fixing juries in his favour, Finch finds himself facing a challenge this time when a couple, one a jury member (John Cusack) and one working behind the scenes (Rachel Weisz) decide to make money out of the same skills Finch employs so successfully.
What I found interesting in this thriller that gave me my initial idea, is the way the outcome to the trial is being manipulated by the hired lawyers for personal gain. The outside influence which leads to events outside the courtroom I find this an interesting concept. It reminded me of witness interrogation that I saw recently when I watched Outlaw, and the prosecutors wife is threatened, then stabbed killing her and her baby.
The Runaway Jury has made me think of using a trial of some sort as a possible concept to base the plot of my thriller on . I however would also like to include a Gangster element to it, which leads to my initial idea. I am thinking of setting the opening to my thriller in central London, as it is associated with authority, and wealth, plus is commonly used as a setting for gangster films. So the basic plot behind my idea so far is like this.
An older mob boss, similar to the type played by Michael Gambon in Layer Cake. Has control of the majority of drugs that are entering and are sold in London. He decides who distributes them etc. We then have another younger , lower ranked drugs dealer, and his associates, he is one of The bosses distributors for a certain area or borough of London. He has decides that he wants out of the profession, after one last big deal for him to live off. This is where things go wrong. The last big drug trade is raided by the police, and our lower ranked dealer is arrested. But is given the option to help the police build a case against the Drug lord. Or obviously he will face a long prison sentence. He chooses to help the police.
The opening to the film will not be from the start off all the action, but sort of halfway through the narrative. When a successful case has been made, and the lower dealer and associates are required to give evidence in court to ensure the drug lord is taken down. So the opening to the film , will be as one of the “Snitches” is walking on their way to court through busy central London. It would start off with a long establishing shot, then closer …. etc
Till we can see more detail of who this person is we are following/panning with. Meanwhile I think there would be cross cuts to someone as they are putting on a gangster jacket, black leather gloves, putting a balaclava in their pocket, and strapping a gun in their belt. All the time still cutting between the man walking, shown from different angles and this cutaway. We would then see from a long shot maybe a character wearing the clotes we were seeing being put on. He gets closer, and is wearing the balaclava, until he is behind our “Snitch” whips the gun out, and shoots him. I think there’d would then be a shot of him lying on the floor dead, and credits could begin. The reason the snitch is being killed is, because the Drug lords contacts on the outside have been ordered to eliminate the witnesses on the outside, and make the case against him collapse.
The film could then have scenes explaining the reasons for the case in the past, and plot wise a battle for police to protect the “snitches” as the hitmen as it were attempt to kill them.
I think the concept for the opening is achievable location and setting wise, and also it will only really require 2 actors so should be easier in those terms. However the specifics would need to be refined, plus i am sure i wll have oter ideas too.
The Layer Cake website conmtains sections that give more details on the film, for example a synopsis, characters , photos and the trailer . This i think is effective as these sections could easily give away too much to the narrative of the film, and thus take away the appeal of going to see it. Instead the synopsis tells us no more than we see visually in the trailer, it is like the trailer has been described in this section. It gives enough information on the film to increase its appeal. But is also enigmatic which makes the reader still keen on viewing the film to answer their questions.
(LAYER CAKE, a riveting thriller set in the drug underworld of the UK, marks the directorial debut of producer Mathew Vaughn (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch) and stars Daniel Craig, Colm Meaney, Kenneth Cranham, George Harris, Jamie Foreman, Sienna Miller and Michael Gambon.)
The sections on the website are designed to entice people further into the story, as well as provide extra information for people who have seen the film, with the production section.
The colours, layout and design of the site, correspond to the brand image which is created for the film, within the titles of the trailer, for example the text is yellow, which links to the yellow film posters, the yellow website background, and also is a few scenes in Later Cake i noticed a few scenes with a sort of yellowish tint. The yellow also associates with the lead actor in that he is blonde.
In this way i think as a site, used for extension of the marketing of the film it is effective as it strengthens the brand image.
What i like about the site is also how clips from the film, such as Daniel Craig being held at the edge of a rooftop are played whenever a different section to the site is chosen, this i think would increase a potential viewers interest in the film as they would consequently think, why is he being held or pushed of a roof?
Enough is given to create the questions, but none in terms of answers is shown, so the viewer is left wanting to watch the film and find out.
i think eventually when i have made my film opening, that the dvd cover should link to the film in ways like this site, al be it enigmatically.
After watching Layer Cake and Midnight Express i have attempted my own urban thriller shot, and uploaded it now.In this shot we were trying to summarise the film genre Thriller. We tried to achieve this by including common signifiers used in the genre, which play on audiences expectations of a future event, and help build up a greater sense of suspense in many cases, as well as atmosphere or even suspicions of a character. We wanted to a chieve a shot which included a strong feeling of entrapment, and a shot with aspects/props seen commonly in Thriller films, to strengthen the connection the shot make with the genre.The shot signifies a rather strong sense of entrapment and this is constructed by the thick steel gate, and bars across it. The padlock and thick chain represent hriller further, arousing suspicions that maybe a vicitm is hidden or being kept prisoner in the steel rusty shed next to it. A scene or plot which most likely could be found in a common thriller. Furthermore the rusting on the gate is a signifier that perhaps no one has been to this area for a long time and bodies could perhaps be inside. What alao works is the empty playground adding to atmosphere.
Alot is good in the shot, however the lighting is too bright and is not focused on any point of the shot, which in turn reveals too much detail of the surroundings. The litter in the shot also ruins the idea that this place has been deserted for some time. If the shot was at night, with a less obtrusive or artificial light source the shot would be a lot more thriller, and create more enigma codes, and atmosphere.
I found Layer Cake to be similar to the Brit gangster film style represented by many of Guy Richie’s films, and as it is Director Matthew Vaughn’s first film, it is extremely successful. The film follows a middle class drug dealer, as he makes plans to retire from the job, after some last big deals. The cast is predominantly male and is cast very well with everyone from Dexter Fletcher to Michael Gambon putting in superb turns to give the characters justice. Far more human than the cartoon stereotypes we've come to expect after so very many Brit gangster flicks. What I particularly like about Layer Cake is that Matthew Vaughn has shot Britain as it can look, with grimy urban locations in London to settings as glamorous as any Hollywood set. I think that as it is not following format of similar films directed by Guy Ritchie with poring rain and clichéd hackney makes it individual whilst still portraying conventions expected form the genre. I liked how the settings were realistic and not overly glamorous as many Hollywood films can be. The complex and ever evolving plot, kept me enticed and interested in the film all the way through. After watching Layer Cake I am thinking of possibly pursuing the idea of a gangster thriller. And would like to use some grimy urban locations. I also think that it might be interesting to start my thriller off with an assassination or hit, which would immediately shock the audience and leave them with the enigma of wondering why this person had been shot, or chopped up. I particularly enjoyed the action sequences in the film, and would want to use iconic mise en scene , if I was to shoot a murder for my thriller opening, with dress codes of suits, and props such as guns. As well as an urban setting. I am also going to study the opening sequence to Layer Cake in greater detail . To enable me to form ideas that are achievable.
The first ten minutes show Dan with his expensive flat, and his ideal wife and family home. It also shows his respectable position at the lawyer firm he works at. In the remaining part to Act one the audience witness Dan meeting Alex Forrest, and the clear attraction between them, so we anticipate something to change.
Plot Point 1. The first disruption occurs when Dan risks all he has, when his wife is away visiting her parents. He starts an affair with Alex Forrest. He then tries to end it, and the disruption evolves further when she reacts by cutting her wrists, to try and save/force him to stay. We then see she is serious about Dan and does not want just an affair. This part is around 30 minutes.
Act 2
In this act Alex attempts to get back with Dan after he has broken it off, by calling his work, and then turning up at his office to talk to him. She then after being rejected again threatens to tell Dans’ wife of his affair Dan attempts to resolve his conflict with Alex. , he vacates to the suburbs, changes his phone number, and searches legal advice over a restraining order. Alex however who the audience clearly see is obsessed with Alex discovers where his new house is.
Plot Point 2 The obsession Alex has with Dan becomes more severe, when she threatens to tell his wife of the affair again, and even turns up to the family home, and boils his child’s pet rabbit. Dan realises Alex is dangerous to him and his family, finally seeing the severity of Alex‘s obsession and the potential danger her actions would bring.
Act 3
A resolution is reached when Dan does the right thing and comes clean to Beth over his affair. She eventually forgives him and they both fight off the everly obsessed Alex. The crazy Alex goes further and kidnaps their child, but she is soon returned unharmed. Beth threatens to kill Alex if she ever goes near the family again. The final confrontation on Dan home turf commences when Alex tries to stab them both. The parents fight Alex and eventually she is shot by Beth, killing her love rival. So equilibrium is restored.
