127 HOURS:

https://vimeo.com/25416051

CHARACTERS:

During the beginning sequence of ‘127 Hours’, there is a large contrast between characters.

In the first few shots the screen is split into three different pieces of footage of crowds and sportspeople. Generally, people are surrounded by other people in every circumstance, some shots with that to the extreme.

A minute into the beginning sequence shows more people in a public place, surrounded by other people.

In the middle of the screen (here we can include the rule of thirds as the room is completely in the middle of the rule, showing it is the main focus.) we can see the main character’s room with a dim lamp in it and then we see the main character for the first time.

Next, we see the protagonist (played by James Franco) in his home. We notice that he is alone, searching for different items.

Overall, there is a large contrast between the large crowds shown at the beginning and the main character who is shown without company.

SETTING:

The beginning sequence isn’t set in one particular place but it shows many different places, which is done purposefully. However, most of the movie is set in one particular place.

The first few shots are set in many places but what they have in common is that they are all public places that are crowded.

The majority of this scene is set in the main characters home where it appears he is gathering items from around the place.

At the end of the video, it is the next day and the main character is seen cycling through a sparse place as the title appears on the screen.

MISE-EN-SCENE:All the main props focussed on in the protagonists’ house are based around one thing.The one thing being camping:

batteries

Energy drink

backpack

lock

Water bottle

By the use of gathering these props we can tell what he is set out to do without having to be told.

There is a contrast between the crowds and him. The crowds are brightly coloured with a high level of presence whereas he is all alone and this is also shown by colour as the tones are dark, dull and boring.

We don’t find out much about the main character to begin with, such as who he is and in terms of mise-en-scene we don’t see his facial expressions particularly. He remains shadowed.There is a difference in lighting from one day to the next. The first day he could be nervous to leave civilisation and worried about if he has anything and the next day he could be excited to start an adventure. These are both shown through mise-en-scene.

CAMERA SHOTS: In the opening sequence of ‘127 hours’ there are many different camera shots.

In the first shot, the screen is split into 3. The images shown in each section are similar as they all show many people crowded together, with lots of colour. As the images show similar things happening, it seems that it is acceptable to use 3 shots because of this. Therefore, the point being that the audience don’t get confused and struggle to look at all of them together because they aren’t unrelated images.The second shot above

shows a view of 2 rooms in his house. This can then show him walking from one place to another in the same shot, keeping the audiences attention.

The third shot along shows his hand reaching for different items, emphasising the items one at a time which helps to convey what he is going to do. The shot also emphasises that he forgets the penknife which is intentional by the film producers to make the audience notice that he forgets it. This type of shot is shot from the cupboard and this gives effect. This type of shot has been done many times and is shown in ‘Pulp Fiction’, done by Quentin Tarantino and shows such as ‘Breaking Bad’ where both feature a trunk shot. These shots provide the audience with a different view to the big picture.

The next shot splits the screen into 3 again but this time it shows the same thing, the tap, but with each section in order it increases, showing it close up then the drop of water as an extreme close up.

The next two shots show the next day. There is a contrast between the darkened windows on the door and the brightness of the sky when they open. The dark windows work with the dim lights in his house and how he is shown as a shadow. Then as the doors swing open it shows how it’s a new day and music starts again. Overall, camera shots can also portray emotion.

SOUND AND MUSIC:

The music at the beginning of 127 hours is called ‘Never Hear Surf Music Again’.

This song is fast paced and fits the sequence of shots used in the opening. The beginning shots show crowds of people and lots of movement and this fits the music, whereas slow music wouldn't emphasise a rush of crowds at all. As he is searching for each item, the music continues to play which also emphasises that he is rushing to find each item, supported by the camera shots.

At the beginning, as each section flashes on the screen one after the other, the music fits the timing as there is a symbol bash as each one appears. This is auditorily pleasing to the audience, which holds attention.

Overall, the opening sequence of ‘127 hours’ is a good example of how music can change a scene because if slower paced music was used, it have the same effect. The song here reinforces how the crowds are fast paced and how the protagonist is in a rush to find each item.