Face-Off Analysis

Face Off

 The first shot is a moving shot and is very blurry, the viewer cannot see what is being filmed, this creates a sense of suspense and mystery. The blurry pictures are in dull colours, mostly grey and brown which is not usual for a thriller as this creates the sinister atmosphere. The shot becomes clear and we realise that it is a moving carousel and this explains why the close up shot was blurred. A shot filmed from the other side of the carousel shows two character riding the carousel. We then see a little boy and a man in a closer shot, they are laughing and smiling whilst spinning on the carousel. The man is also wearing a dark brown shirt, as well as the little boy wearing a plain white t-shirt accompanied by a grey and brown checked shirt. The colours are washed out and dull, which is unusual as usually at a fair ground everything is bright and colourful. However, the washed out colours compel the audience to believe something negative is about to occur. As we are close up to the faces of the characters, they fade out as we see from a distance the whole of the fairground. As we are looking at the fair ground a white cloth appears at the bottom of the screen which is then taken ff to reveal a gun pointing towards the carousel. The silhouette of man stood in the grass with the grey sky behind him and the blurry trees next to him. The man throws the white cloth onto the ground. He then starts to kneel down as the shot fades out and cuts to him drinking from a straw. The camera moves upwards and we see his eye looking straight into the camera, making the audience feel uncomfortable and intimidated by this character. The fact that the killer has brought a drink with him shows that he is confident and suggests he has done this many times before. He places his eye into the lens and squints his left eye to gain focus. Through the point of view shot of the gun lens we see John Travolta and the little boy spinning on the carousel laughing and happy. The killer moves away from the gun and his emotions look resentful and sad, this suggests that he is not going to commit the crime as he feels guilty for what he has planned to do. John Travolta lifts up his child and places him in front of him on the same horse, facing each other. John Travolta strokes the child on his face to connote the affection and love they have for one another. They are both laughing and smiling as Travolta puts his hands round the child’s head and kisses him on the forehead. As he is hugging the little boy another point of view shot from the gun lens shows the back of Travolta and we see the killer release the trigger of the gun. The camera angles right in front of the gun and we see the bullet be released and watch it enter into Travolta’s back piercing through his jacket and blood pouring out. The force of the bullet causes Travolta to jerk back and fall off the carousel with his child in his arms. We then see the blood of the face of the horse which suggests the bullet went through the child as well. Balloons are slowly released into the air away from the carousel. John Travolta is facing down on the grass, he tries to pull himself along the ground to reach the child. A shot of the little boy on the ground not moving suggests the child is lifeless. We then see the emotion of the killer, he looks remorseful and upset as he sees the child lying on the floor. As Travolta reaches the little boy he places his head on to his heart realising he is not breathing. He then picks up his head and hugs him whilst the child is in an upright position, he cries into the child’s shoulder.

The non-diegetic music that accompanies the titles at the beginning of the film is a gentle high-pitched sound of bells accompanied with a more sinister deep tone. The bell sounds effectively sounds like a nursery rhyme, this is to create the contrast between happy and sadness. The sinister atmosphere, because it is a thriller, is created through the lower pitched piece of music in which is much quitter than the other piece. As the titles fade out we see a carousel, which parallels the up-lifting atmosphere of the music. As the carousel spins round the intensified diegetic laughter of a child echo’s above the music. The laughter occurs again as we then see the child. The music suddenly becomes quieter and is cut off by the intensified diegetic noise of the cloth being pulled off the gun.  The music changes into a much more sinister sound with no bells or high pitched instruments, the music sounds as though it is being sang by a large choir, however the voices are drowned and prolonged and the words are not apparent. A loud non-diegetic clicking noise becomes apparent as we see the killer through the lens of the gun. The same sinister music carries on, however a higher note as been added that plays over the music. The music changes, into a familiar happy tune whilst the camera focuses on the father and son on the carousel. The faded noise on gun shot plays over the music as the killer once again looks through the lens. Although the sound of bells are playing they become invisible as a really loud sinister tone takes over as the killer pulls the trigger on the gun. The exaggerated but diegetic noise of the bullet piercing the mans body becomes apparent with no music or non-diegetic sound to accompany it. A loud piercing screeching noise becomes present as the viewers attention is brought to the blood on the horse. The non-diegetic piercing noise continues along with the diegetic ‘chugging’ sound of the carousel spinning. For the first time in the film we hear John Travolta speak as he tries to wake up his son. The screeching noise has gone and it has changed into a deep, low pitched constant melody to create the sad atmosphere. The diegetic noise of John Travolta crying as he holds his son in his arms. The screeching noise returns once again but higher pitched and more intense and this time accompanied with a dark sinister melody and the faint diegetic noise of people talking and screaming.

The first shot is a swish pan which creates the blurry shots of the moving carousel, as a viewer we are unable to identify what this is portraying. A close up shot of the horses on the carousel moving around. A medium long shot of two characters on the other side of the carousel, this soon turns into a close-up shot of their faces as the carousel moves round. An establishing shot shows the whole of the carousel from a long shot view. A close up show is used to establish the gun, which is shown at the bottom of the frame. A long shot shows the killer stood up straight, which then become an extreme close up of the killer drinking from a straw. A tracking shot move upwards to capture the killers eye on a straight on angle. The camera stays on an eye-level angle as the man tilts his head towards the gun. A point of view shot from the killer looking into the gun shows a long shot of the man and child on the carousel. The shot is being taken through frame of the gun lens, and tracks the characters as they move. Another close up of the killer, the camera zooms out to allow the audience to see his full face. A medium close up shot is used again to enable both John Travolta and the child to be in the shot whilst on the carousel. A medium close up on the killer drinking from a straw. A close up shot of the man and child, and an eye line match to show they are looking and interacting with one another. A superimposition is used in a close up shot when the killer is looking through the gun lens. A close up shot of the bullet being released from the gun and a small elipses shot of the bullet leaving the gun and entering John Travolta’s back. A medium close up shot of John Travolta’s reaction as he shot, then a tracking shot to show him falling off the carousel onto the ground. A long shot of the balloons flying away turn into a dissolve shot, then a medium long shot of John Travolta sliding across the ground. It then cuts to the killer, a medium close up establishes his face, then a zoom into a close up shows his emotions. A medium close up shot shows John Travolta realising the child is dead and he cries into the child’s arms, this is all filmed straight on with the camera in one place.

We are introduced to the first two characters whilst they are riding the carousel (John Travolta). The characters are happy and smiling, which connotes they are enjoying themselves and are care-free. Throughout the opening scene the pin become more affectionate and loving towards one another, suggesting they are father and son. John Travolta seems to be a very caring father and idolizes his son, which is portrayed through his behaviour towards him whilst they are on the carousel. As we know Face Off is a thriller, therefore contains a protagonist and an antagonist. Through the way he is portrayed we are compelled to believe John Travolta is the protagonist. He is middle aged,male, fairly strong, he looks courageous and intelligent, therefore creating the ideal image of an thrillier protagonist.

Nicholas Cage is represented as the antagonist as he is the one that commits the crime in the first scene. We are made to believe he is not a stranger to crime as he seems very relaxed and calm about the murder. Cage is also drinking a drink, which shows his confidence and arrogance as he is not wanting to get it over and done with as quick as possible. His aim was also very impressive which again suggest he has experience. Nicholas Cage creates the perfect image for a villain, he is male, dark, mid 30’s and his pointed and structured facial features make him look more stern and harmful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiwA3C2qeRo