Public enemies opening analysis

Public Enemies (2009) Opening scene film analysis

The film opens with a blank screen.  The date of what is to happen in the film is shown, then a brief explanation of the date and situation of some of the main characters in text.  The font is plain but in almost a military style making a very serious opening.  There is also very little dialogue in the opening scene and this means any explanations of situations have to be figured out by the viewer.  This makes them think and be curious of what might happen next.

The sound of marching footsteps is heard before the camera cuts to show a line of prisoners marching in the typical striped uniform.  The camera shows both long shots and close ups of the prisoners.  One is shown lying dead on the floor by a guard; this shot its self possesses a tense atmosphere.

The camera cuts directly to a close up shot of a car pulling up outside the prison.  A man appears to be taking a prisoner into the prison.  The camera cuts back to the prisoners, now being inside the prison, sewing.  Music creates tension as the camera shows the prisoners discretely pass round guns to each other that they have taken from what was thought by the guards to be just thread for sewing.  The camera focuses on the box with the guns in it, at first this confuses the viewer but all becomes clear when it is opened.

This opening is bound to directly interest and excite the viewer from the very start.  

This Film relates more to the sub-genre of an Action Thriller than a stereotypical thriller film.  Because of my target demographic that I am targeting for my thriller, If my film were to have similarities to this in terms of filming/action style it would be more popular within my targeted demographic.