.. Film Language Essay...x

Speed 2: Cruise Control...

The film clip I am going to be analysing is called: Speed 2- Cruise Control. I watched this film clip up to 3 minutes and 30seconds.

Throughout this clip of the movie a use of all different aspects of film language have been used. Firstly I will be talking about the lighting of this clip. The lighting used throughout this clip is low and high key lighting. Throughout the beginning of the film clip a use of high key lighting is used to show the beautiful place the film is shot in and also the whole scene. Moreover even though the film is set in a beautiful place a use of low key lighting is used on the characters faces in the clip that are in danger. Reasons the director may have used low key lighting on the scared characters faces is to show the characters facial expressions as this makes the audience feel more of what the actual characters are feeling themselves. The chiaroscuro creates an intense atmosphere and feeling for the audience.

Secondly I Will be talking about the sound used throughout the clip. The use of the diegetic sound being used is easier for the audience to understand what is going on in the clip. The importance of what the characters are saying is important to the character as they understand the clip more and feel like they are actually there in the scene. As the clip that I viewed is an anxious one for characters to watch the director made sure that also the diegetic sound of the actual boat and crashing and the voices of people screaming were also used so the audience can feel the pain and scariness that the characters are feeling. Moreover whilst all the diegetic sound is being used a use of non diegetic sound is also being used at the same time. The soundtrack being used in the background is a slow paste classical music however gets louder and louder, the director therefore has used a use of parallel sound and this therefore emphasises the audience reaction and builds up their tension.

Moreover a use of cinematography has been used throughout this clip. Firstly the camera framing. In the beginning of the film clip a long shot is used of the boat so that the audience can see the whole frame which helps them understand what is going to happen. Moreover uses of close up shots are used on the actor’s faces to show their facial expressions and just how worried they are. The most shots commonly used in this film clip are long shots as the director wants to show the audience what exactly is going on and who or what cab get hurt during this film clip. Also low and high angle shots are used throughout this clip as it creates tension and anxiety for the audience. A low angle shot is used when the ship is coming closer to the screen and people are underneath it, this makes the audience feel like they are the ship and if these certain people don’t move something bad is going to happen, moreover the high angle shots used are to show the audience the full frame and too see everything around or near the ship.

In addition the camera movement being used is mainly the same throughout the clip. As the clip is being followed along the same track throughout the clip a use of a tracking shot has been used as it follows the action along tracks laid for the purpose which is obviously whether or not the ship actually crashes into something big and if the characters survive or not.

Also the style of editing varies throughout the film clip of speed 2. The director in this film clip used a various amount of jump cuts. Reasons for this is because he wanted the audience to be very focused on the ship and what is going to happen to it, however jump cuts the shot to a shot of a little boy watching the ship coming towards him this creates an enigma for the audience as they are wondering what is going to happen to both things. The director has used a use of continuity editing, as this helps the audience understand the scene more as from seeing a house and then the next shot seeing the ship crashing into the house this shows that the editing has been continuity edited. Also a montage is used as there is a timer in this clip of when the ship is going to actually stop, this creates an anxiety impression for the audience as they are wondering if the ship is going to stop in time and if the director is going to be able to show all shots and scenes in this time used.

Lastly I will be talking about the mise en scene used in throughout the film clip. Firstly the costumes used. The costumes used in this film represent the characters more and give an idea of who the character is and what their personality may be like. For example the use of the little boy being played is dressed in a casual orange striped top. This shows the audience that he may be an innocent child just minding his own business, this therefore creates an enigma for the audience as they are now worried if anything bad is going to happen to the child.

Moreover the props used throughout the clip have an effect, as there are many props being destroyed and damaged. The audience would think that the props in the frame are there for show as they are expensive things however getting destroyed by the crashing of the ship. The director has done this so that it shows that people may be in danger if the ship is doing this to expensive props. Also the prop of the timer in the ship is very important to the characters and the audience as this decides whether they are safe or not. This timer is repeatedly shown throughout the clip and also shown as a close up to emphasise the audience’s thoughts and actions.

To sum up all points the director has been very successful in this film clip as all of his editing and camera techniques have had a massive effect on the audience’s views and thoughts of the film. The director used a various amount of aspects of film language and has therefore been successful.