Textual Analysis

Thriller Poster Analysis

Taken 2

Denotations:

• A man
• Dark and Light Background
• Title 'Taken 2'
• Slogan is 'They Want Revenge, They Chose The Wrong Guy'

Conotations:
The man within this poster represents a typical character from the thriller genre. He is wearing a leather coat which symbolises that he is a man within an industry that normally involves crime or killing. He is also holding a gun which is also very typical in the thriller genre as the most commonly used weapons are guns as they are loud and kill quick, this shows that the character is going out after someone or a group of people that he wants dead. Another typical of thriller movies are that he is within the age group of 30-40, as they are more mature.

The background being both light and dark shows me that the character has two very different sides to him, like the background. One being within the light, a good side of him where he plays a role within society and a family. However as with the background he also has a dark, secretive side that is hidden away, and is only bought into the light when its needed. The fact that there is more dark background then there is light portrays that there is more darkness to him than light and that the dark side over powers the light. The dark background is typical for thriller movies as it shows a sort of sinister and evil look, which is contained in most thriller films.

The title Taken 2 is written in bold red text. This could convey that the title 'Taken' needs to stand out and has an important role within the film as it could be a bold theme as it is a bold title. Also the title is written in red, this colour is commonly used to associate with blood, this could also show that the film could be about violence which is a typical thriller theme, but however red is also associated with love and could link in with that as well, so maybe he is using violence to help something he loves.

The slogan is very typical of a thriller with one of the key elements of thriller being revenge mentioned within the slogan. The fact that it is also a threat connotes thriller as it foreshadows violence a typical narrative in thriller films. 

I,Robot



Denotations:

• A man
• Robots in the background
• Title 'I,Robot'

Conotations

The man within this poster is once again a typical thriller character, as within Taken 2 as well he is wearing a leather coat which shows that he is in a secret, but hard industry of work, also that he is within his middle ages shows that he is more mature and would more likely play a much larger role within society and/or his workplace.

The robots in the background could resemble that they are a friend but yet again a foe as they are an army of them. The fact that there is an army of them also shows that whether they are good or not they would have some force behind them, and could pose a threat. This is typical within the thriller genre as there is also a division between the good and bad, whether it be criminal/cops, nationality or even human/robot.

The title is in a silver tint, this links in with the colour of the robots and show that they are important within the storyline as they are involved with the title. Also the 'I' is bigger then the rest of the title this could say that the character himself might be a robot, or something very similar, this adds a potential twist within the storyline before the viewer has seen the film, creating a much more interest in the film.

Thriller Film Openings

Payback  1999   Brian Helgeland

I have chosen Payback to analyse the first ten minutes of its opening. I have chosen this film as it has a very typical opening for thrillers and contains a lot of stuff you would normally find throughout a thriller film.

Payback is about a man (Porter) who got betrayed of his share from a heist by his wife and best friend. Left to die, he then changes his identity and goes on a revenge spree to get back his share of the heist.

Within the opening segment of this film, there are a number of enigmas i was asking myself, these are;

• Why is he on the medical table?
• Who shot him? and how? why?
• Where is he going?
• Why has he changed his identity?
• Why does he need a gun?

Within the opening segment we only get a glimpse at a few of the characters, the main tow in this part being Porter and his now ex wife.

Porter- straight away we see him on the medical table which establishes immediately that he is a shady character, with possible and criminal background at this point. During the title sequence we find out a few of his traits, he is cunning but also very bitter and filled with hatred. We also learn that he is good with guns as when he handles the pistol he does it as a professional, this gives me an idea that he has been trained in some way. The way his character is introduced is via a voice over when he is laying on the medical table, this could suggest that as with his body that his character as a whole needs healing.

Wife- We only get a minute or so look at his wife in the opening but straight away she is perceived as being a drug addict, or alcoholic which shows a lack of self control. This could also link in with the typical woman of the thriller genre being vulnerable and drawn into situation that they just cannot control.

The locations within the opening is in a very built up town, so as with most thrillers it is situated within an urban environment. The scene then cuts to several different parts of the urban area as we follow Porter through his daily routine leading up to towards the end of the opening where he ends up at an apartment. This is also very typical as it is general an isolated area, the apartment normally just contains one person, and it is within an urban area.

The camera and editing within this opening isn't as effective as some other thrillers. At the beginning you get extreme close ups of the surgeon who is helping Porter recover, this made me think that the storyline will follow this guy and that he was the protagonist, however the use of the voice over then twists that to focus the attention more on Porter. For most of the rest of the opening you get medium to long range shots of Porter, this could show that he is far away, and that his mind set isn't close but more wondering further away.

The title and credits were all in red at the start, this is a typical colour within the genre as it is associated with blood and danger. This could be setting up what will be coming later on within the film by giving the audience an idea. The title as well was in bold, this could stand out just like what Porter does, he wants to stand out and get his revenge.

I think this film is based at a more mature audience, I can tell this by the some of the instant themes that are picked up on like revenge. This is seen as more mature then what most children would watch. The fact that the main character is older would appeal more to an older audience as they will see him as being mature and almost trustworthy, so its someone they can relate to.

I think that the opening to payback is very good, as it is different to the rest. It doesn't contain any action which is a downside, but it makes up for it by using the voice over to say the story.

Copycat  1995  John Amiel

I have chosen to analyse the first 10 minutes of copycat. I will be looking at what enigmas are held within the opening along with what camera and editing tools are used alongside how details of characters and the locations are typical within the thriller genre.

Criminal profiler and psychologist Dr Helen Hudson becomes entangled in the deadly mind game of a vicious copycat serial killer Peter Foley. Due to the horrific attack Helen suffered in her past as an agoraphobic she is confined to her apartment. The killer uses this against her in his murderous attempts to become a famous serial killer. Detectives M. J Monahan and Reuben Goetz they have the challenge of trying to capture the killer before he kills again and uses his chance to commit another atrocious murder.

Within the opening there are many different enigmas, these are;

• Why is she giving a lecture?
• How is that guy she saw? and why does she get scared of him?
• Where did that guy go? or was he just in her imagination?
• Why is he trying to kill Dr Hudson?

There are two main characters within the opening segment of Copycat-

Dr Helen Hudson- Dr Helen Hudson is portrayed as the protagonist within the opening of Copycat. She is shown as being smart where she is giving a lecture, this also shows us that she is very confident and doesn't get scared easily. She is also guarded by police and gets police escorts around the building, this conveys that she could be seen as a target for some, maybe her line of work is dangerous, or that she is deemed to be regarded as someone with status, a celebrity. This could also link in with her vulnerability of being dependant on others, and as we see when she gets alone, she ends up being within a situation she cannot control, very typical of women in thrillers.

Criminal- The first glimpse we get of the criminal is when she sees him in the audience, straight away we see something dodgy and suspicious about him, which makes us think that he is criminal and immediately makes the audience go against him. The character comes across as a hillbilly, this is shown through his accent and the way he is presented, in a rough, unclean way, this leads on to showing that there is a status change in between him and Dr Hudson.

The location of the opening is in what seems to be a university in a built up town. This is typical within thrillers as most, if not all, are located in a built up area. It then moves on to be shot in the toilets, this is an isolated area as not many people are in the toilets in one go, this adds to the suspense of what will happen in the opening.

The use of sound throughout the opening is non diegetic and creates a very sinister atmosphere. This helps to add suspension towards the scene at the end of the opening where she is confronted by the criminal. This is very typical within thrillers as the use of music is heavily relied on to create that suspense as we've seen in Jaws.

The title stands out at the end of the opening as it is plastered onto the screen in bold red writing, and then its copied and plastered over and over again onto the screen. First of the colour red is important and typical within thrillers as it is a symbol of danger and blood and fore shades what is to come. The fact that it is also plastered onto the screen over and over again could show that as with the title, the story of the film is never ending and will always show somewhere else.

The targeted audience of this film is from teen upwards as its a crime thriller, the themes aren't really age specific and can be aimed towards anybody old enough to understand and view the film. 

I found the opening to copycat very good, it got me on the edge of my seat which is what a thriller should do. It immediately makes you care for Dr Hudson and when she gets put in danger, the suspense kicks in which was done perfectly.

Leon  1994  Luc Besson

I have chosen to do Leon because I have seen this film all the way through and I think it is an amazing thriller. I will analyse the first 10 minutes of the film and deduce why it is a typical thriller opening.

This thriller directed by Luc Besson concerns Mathilda (Natalie Portman), a 12-year-old girl living in New York City who has been exposed to the sordid side of life from an early age: her family lives in a slum and her abusive father works for drug dealers, cutting and storing dope. Mathilda doesn't much care for her parents, but she has a close bond with her four-year-old brother. One day, she returns from running an errand to discover that most of her family, including her brother, have been killed in a raid by corrupt DEA agents, led by the psychotic Stansfield (Gary Oldman). Mathilda takes refuge in the apartment of her secretive neighbour, Leon (Jean Reno), who takes her in with a certain reluctance. She discovers that Leon is a professional assassin, working for Tony (Danny Aiello), a mob kingpin based in Little Italy. Wanting to avenge the death of her brother, Mathilda makes a deal with Leon to become his protégée in exchange for work as a domestic servant, hoping to learn the hitman's trade and take out the men who took her brother's life. However, an affection develops between Leon and Mathilda that changes his outlook on his life and career.

Within the opening there are several enigma codes I have seen;

• Who are these two men?
• Why is the man a target?
• How comes he then let him go?
• Who is the girl smoking and why is she smoking?
• How did she get the bruises?

We have only two main characters within the opening;

Leon- He fits the typical traits of being a thriller protagonist as he is a man within his 30s-40s, this is normal in thrillers as the main character is more mature then what most films are. We also learn that despite being a hitman, Leon has a kind heart as he stops to check on the girl smoking and asks questions about how she got the bruise, this is a big contrast to his occupation which is deemed as being dark and secretive.

The Girl- We don't learn much from the opening about her, only that she is young and from a rough background, the fact that she has that bruise portrays that she is being beaten at home, which makes her fall under a typical character of thrillers being the vulnerable girl who needs help and saving from a situation she has no control in.

The location of the film is in an urban town, this is normal within thriller as a town is a busy, built up area. In the opening we see Leon kill people within an apartment which is another typical location as the apartment is in an urban area but is more isolated as its a private property.

The title is in white and long text, this could show that the title is over powering, just like what we see Leon is, he is an over powering man. The title then fades away, just like how Leon will at the end of the film, when he dies his memory in life just fades away.

I think this film is based towards a more mature viewing, as it is based around revenge and has mature themes throughout which will take some knowledge to understand. 

The opening to Leon was very typical of a thriller and I enjoyed it, there was action and there was enigmas as well. Unfortunately there was no suspense within the opening which made it be more relaxing to watch.

Magazine Cover Analysis

Empire

Masthead - The masthead is a key part of the magazine cover. It provides the cover with identity and a brand, and is immediately recognisable by the audience. The masthead is 'Empire' written in bold and in red font. This makes it stand out and attracts the audiences attention to it. This helps them distinguish what type of magazine it will be, as with Empire they would expect a mainstream film.

Pug - The pug in this case is also a free gift. The pug is there to inform the audience about what they can get with this issue of Empire. It is in a blue circle as they want it to stand out from the rest of the magazine cover, making it easy to read and spot.

Main Cover Line - This is a typical convention of a magazine cover, it relates to the main image and provides the viewer with more insight into what will be the main headline within the magazine, for example in this cover line we can tell that the main story will not only be about Mission Impossible 4 but also about Tom Cruise himself.

Cover Line with Graphics - These cover lines also provide us with some insight as to what else will be in the magazine, as you can see with this issue it looks like they are doing a lord of the rings special edition. The use of graphics just emphasises the cover lines and provides some visuals as to what to expect. These cover lines are here to mainly help with the appeal of the magazine as for example if the viewer didn't like the Mission Impossible movies, but they do like Lord of the Rings then chances are they would still buy it.

Date of Issue - This is there so people know whether it is the current edition of the magazine or if it is a more recent version of it. This also provides a way of people who collect the magazine to look back at what movies or the magazine itself was like previously.

Main Image - The main image is the heart of the magazine, it is the first thing people see when they look at the cover and it will be the main attraction point. The main image normally corresponds with the main cover line, in this case the image is of Tom Cruise and then his other Mission Impossible actors around him. The image is also placed over the masthead, this could convey that the image is more important then the brand of magazine, for example if Empire had a main image of Spongebob but Sight and Sound had one of Superman, regardless of the stature of the magazine just the image alone would draw in the audience.

Banner - The banner stands out from the rest of the text as it is in a red rectangle, this catches the audiences attention before reading the cover lines, the text within it is also short and snappy with it saying 'Cruise Exclusive!' which also gives away what the main cover line will be about.

Rule of Third - This magazine cover follows the rule of third perfectly in a horizontal manner. As in the top third you have the masthead with a little bit of information about the Lord of the Rings segment. The next third, being in the middle, contains all of the information regarding the main article in the magazine, in this case it being the main image of Tom Cruise, and also the main cover line of what will be talked about in the article. The final third is at the bottom, this contains the special article in the magazine, with this cover it is about Lord of the Rings. These divisions provide a clear layout for the magazine making it easier to read the cover as you know what text belongs to what image, rather than it being all over the place. 

Sight and Sound

Masthead - The masthead of sight and sound is very simplistic, with the font being Times New Roman and the colour being black. This could convey that the magazine doesn't need to have a flash 'in your face' title, that it can be recognised just through its simplicity. There is also a yellow background and a red '&' sign, this could insinuate that despite its simplicity it also have a bit of flare to it.

Main Image - The main image is again very simple, with just a close up shot of Michael Haneke. Again this shows that sight and sound don't need to do anything for major and they can stick to their simplistic ways to help build their own individual brand up. This is different to the norm of what other film magazines do as not only is it a shot of a director, but it has nothing to do with a blockbuster film, also the image doesn't go over the title which other magazines such as Empire and Total Film do. This could portray that they are trying to be different from the norm, creating a new way to look at films.

Main Cover Line - The main cover line is a further example of Sight and sounds simplicity, as it is in a simple block white writing. It also has its own unique style, as opposed to Empires style of using big blockbusters, Sight and Sound focus upon other film aspects, for example with this main cover line being about the director Michael Haneke. The text also relates to what is being said by the main cover line, with it being about 'White Ribbon' and the title being white.

Cover Line - The cover line within Sight and Sound is small compared to the one in Empire, it takes up less space and doesn't catch the audiences eye. This could convey that they would rather sell on their main cover line then their other ones, or equally they wanna make people have to pick it up in order to read it. However, they do put the film titles in bold which makes them stand out, this goes against what I just said making the film titles jump out at the viewer.

Date of Issue - The date of issue follows the same style as what the masthead does with it being on a yellow banner, with red and black colour font. Similar to Empire the date of issue is there so people know what version of magazine it is, alongside this it is for the collectors to them go back and see when this particular issue was out. 

Rule of Third - This cover also follows the rule of third horizontally. As in the first third at the top you have the title and the date of issue, this is the branding section. Within the next segment you have the main image which will be the part the audience sees first as it is central, this then grabs the interest of the audience. The last segment at the bottom is the part where all of the cover lines are and the information of what will be in the magazine. 

Little White Lies

Masthead - The masthead on this magazine is also very simplistic with it just being black bold writing on a white background. However due to this it does make it stand out and catch the audiences attention almost instantly. It is also in a circular banner which aids in the use of it standing out to the audience. 

Main Image - The main image is an unusual one and doesn't follow the norm of what you would expect a magazine cover would look like.. It just consists of a mans face but with a different sort of effect on it, However where it is simple and takes up the whole magazine space it focuses the attention on just the picture and nothing else. 

Main Cover Line - The main cover line just consists of the word 'Shame'. This relates to the main image as that is the film that he is staring in. As well as the image it is also in a different style and goes against the norm of magazine covers. 

Film Campaign