Textual Analysis - Emily Howard

Emily Howard - Textual Analysis 

The film opening which I chose to analyse was Michael Mann's "Heat" (1995). The film itself often comes under the genre 'crime-thriller', 'crime-drama' and 'action', so it is likely that some of the conventions will coincide with those of our own production.

The thriller genre is supposed to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Since suspense plays such an important role in a thriller, typical conventions of the genre include fast cutting and dramatic camera angle changes. Both of these techniques combined creates the sense of disorientation for the audience, which is effective at creating suspense as well; the audience cannot see clearly what is happening. Shadows and low-key lighting are also common in thrillers as they make the subject seem isolated and vulnerable, especially at night (a conventional time of day for a thriller) when the setting can seem a lot more hostile. Props of a thriller can vary according to the narrative, however commonly everyday objects are seen in thrillers to add to the verisimilitude of the narrative and to help the audience feel empathy for a particular character. In terms of camera work, long shots used to establish a specific location for the scene are frequent, because setting can add drama and set the mood for the action which follows. Close-ups and extreme close-ups are also used to emphasise emotions of the characters (which again, increases the empathy of the audience and helps to immerse the audience into the narrative).
Violence is common in the thriller genre too, so in terms of iconography, weapons are conventional (guns, knives), as well as isolation from society (where violence can happen with no escape or attempt of rescue). The protagonist in thrillers is often introduced during the opening titles as a brave male who will be the one to restore the equilibrium. Most thrillers follow Todorov's narrative theory; equilibrium is restored at the end.

The opening titles of Michael Mann's "Heat" begins with the Warner Bros. logo, and then proceeds to introduce the production studio (again), the production company, the possessory credits, the starring actors and then the film title. In this instance, all of the aforementioned credits are featured on a black screen to ensure that the audience's full attention is on the titles shown, especially as these can be seen as some of the most important titles. After these titles, there is a fade in from the black screen and the featured actors continue to be credited. From this point, the titles overlay the action.

The first scene is made to seem hostile, creating an uncomfortable and nervous tone for the film almost instantly. The fact that the film opens at night, with low lighting, subconsciously sets an uneasy mood. This mood is further amplified by the mise-en-scene, which presents several pylons and electricity wires from the trains in the foreground and the background alike. All of the hazardous items in the opening shot establishes an insecure tone for the film and foreshadows what may come later in the narrative; thus labelling the genre too.

The music used in the opening has a slow tempo and is played in the minor key. It can be described as orchestral and melancholic. With the introduction to the protagonist in this scene, the music reflects the actions (and quite possibly emotions) of them. The protagonist appears neutral with their emotions and appears calm and slow in their actions. The music is composed with long duration minor notes, conveying a similar calm and slow feeling.The overall feel of the music is quite calm, which could suggest equilibrium, meaning the narrative is likely to follow Todorov's narrative theory.

The opening titles are all in capital letters and seem as though they have been painted with a thick white paintbrush, creating a rugged and blunt appearance. This fits well with the setting of the opening sequence, due to the fact that it is set in a busy city (Los Angeles), which is not always clean and tidy (similarly to the font) and where a graffiti style font may be common. The discreet style used for the titles allows the film to get straight into the narrative and focus on the

It can be assumed that the opening to the film follows the protagonist on his way into work. It can be seen by his costume design (grey overalls with a medical badge), and later by the setting, that he works in the medical industry.