Media studies summer task

Chloe Forkes Media Studies Summer Task – Compare the similarities and differences between the Casino Royale and LA Confidential The two clips I chose to study were Casino Royale and LA Confidential. The Casino Royale opening is set in black and white, this emphasises the genre to the audience as black and white is typical of the action/thriller genre. Alternatively, in LA Confidential, not all of the opening sequence is shown in black and white.

The opening of Casino Royale, the first shot is low-angled. The low angled shot suggests that the person in the car is very powerful. The first shot is also an establishing shot and we also see establishing text on the bottom left of the screen which tells the audience where it is taking place. The music used at the beginning of the film is quite dark and mysterious which helps to build tension and matches the atmosphere created by the black and white opening.

In LA Confidential we see a complete opposite opening to the film as the opening scene is of colourful post cards. It is a lot faster paced and we hear a narrator along with some jolly music in the background. We see a montage which fits with everything the narrator describes. To some it may set a false tone for the beginning of the film and make the audience feel relaxed and eased into the film however to others is may make them question why everything is positive as it goes against what may usually happen in an action film.

After a few seconds, in Casino Royale, we are shown a high angled shot of the man from the car going up an elevator towards where he will eventually meet James Bond. This high angle shot signifies the loss of the man’s power as we are looking down on him.

Towards the end of the LA Confidential clip, the narrator is shown to be Danny DeVito typing on a type writer. The use of the narrator is to give an interpretation of the narrative from a characters perspective.

During Bond’s flashbacks the colour of the scenes are very light which contrasts to the previous sequences of what is happening at that current time. White tends to portray a pure and innocent image so this tells the audience that he once used to be a good man however, now because everything around him is dark, he no longer is. Also during the flashbacks, James Bond is the darkest feature in the scene because of his black suit. This automatically draws attention to him. Bond’s black suit is conventional of an action film.

In LA Confidential, we do not get a chance to be fully focussed on a scene in the opening of the film as each clip only lasts a very short amount of time. There seems to be no contrasts used through lighting. Similarly to Casino Royale, Danny DeVito is seen wearing a suit which fits the action film genre.

In conclusion, we see that there are both similarities and differences in the both Casino Royale and LA Confidential. Both films seem to follow the typical action film genre from the start and build up a sense of mystery very quickly using a number of different techniques.