"The Usual Suspects" (25 August 1995) director-'Bryan Singer'
The opening credits features entire darkness, which appears to be the darkness of the sky, this is established when a sliver of white light is seen (chiaroscuro lighting, light on dark). The sliver of light is a reflection on the water from the moon, in the night sky. Just from this the audience can sense that the unnerving credits represent that the film is going to be a thriller film. After 36 seconds the title of the film appears. The music also cuts in, it connotes anticipation from the fast tempo it has.
After the credits, "San Pedro" appears at the bottom of the screen, to engage the audience.
The film starts with the ending. A close-up of an incineration of a match is seen as the first shot, which connotes danger. A character is seen. The camera then follows a stream of flowing petrol from the barrel which it came from. From the shots already seen, it appears that the character is in some form of engine room. The trickling of the liquid creates danger especially after seeing match being lit. The character drops the match on to the liquid.
The camera follows the trail of the flame which arose from the liquid. The flame is brought to an abrupt end when a liquid from above puts the flame out. The camera scrolls up to balcony where another character is seen, however this characters face can't be seen connoting mystery. The camera then reverts to the first character.
The unseen character is seen progressing down a small flight of steps. Then a close-up of his feet walking passed a dead body connotes mystery as the dead body is not known. Close-up of chest of unknown figure, the characters voice is heard for the first time. Still this characters face isn't seen despite the dialect with the first character.
The shadowy figure draws a gun, the camera emphasises the dominance of the armed character as it's pointed at the first character.
It then cuts to the location which hasn't previously been seen. The non-diagetic sound of gunshots is heard. After the second shot, music cuts in connoting death. Images from different sections of the boats are seen (non-ambient lighting). It then cuts back to the action where barrels are shot with the contents of them leaking. A slow-motion shot is used to emphasise the potential danger of the unknown figure dropping a lit cigarette onto the running liquid, like previously the camera tracks the flame. The figure is seen running up the small flight of steps, fleeing the scene. It then cuts to a shot of the location then suddenly a giant inferno is seen(sound of explosion, diagetic).
Cuts to point of view shot of a police interview.
A flashback is used to bring other characters who feature in film. During this sequence of filming this characters the establishing shots of them see get arrested in corresponding to voice over. The sound of a machine is used in one of the flashbacks represents gunfire, which connotes violence.
A close-up of the feet of a character suffering from a limp diagetic sound of footsteps is heard.
All 5 of the characters('Kint', 'Keaton', 'Hockney', 'Fenster', 'McMannus') that were shown is the flashback are then seen in a police line-up. As they step forward to say a statement. Each time a close-up is used, this sequence connotes imprisonment, as though convicted.
Again the voice over starts. During the course of the interviewing of the characters the voice over is used over the top of the dialect, telling of the characters previous convictions. This used on 2 other characters interviews.
Cuts to shot of 'Keaton' in front of jail bars as though imprisoned (close-up). This shot connotes what the future for the character could be, "a life behind bars". He is then lead into the cell where the other characters also are.
From the sequence in the jail cell the audience establish that 'McMannus' appears to be the ring-leader in the group, the alpha-male somewhat, from the shot of him from a low angle, looking down at 'Keaton'.
The voice over is used to engage audience, the story is being told from the perspective of 'Kint'.
Cuts back to San Pedro, the day after the incident. Close-up of dead body is seen. The camera then zooms out gradually to reveal more burnt bodies which are being covered by body bags. A new character is introduced 'Inspector Baer' ('Baer'). He is introduced by viewing the dead bodies(over the shoulder shot). The music used connotes anticipation. The camera then draws away from 'Baer' and rises to show the wreckage of the cargo ship where the explosion took place.
A body is then seen floating a fair distance away from the ship, close-up from behind body.
Cuts back to police station to show 2 new characters. 'Dave' and 'Jeffery' are the new characters introduced in a tracking two-shot.
After seeing a survivor from the inferno (Hungarian character), 'Kint' is seen speaking to one of the detectives, 'Dave'. 'Verbal Kint' doesn't look like a potential dangerman. The camera then zooms into his eyes (extreme close-up).
This transition leads the plot back to the restaurant the place where 'Keaton' was arrested. 'Kint' walks past 'Keates' and his partner and glares directly at the camera which connotes intimidation this is seen from the perspective of 'Keates'.
The title music cuts in to connote tension.
Cuts to a two shot which is used to portray 'Keates' dominance and power over 'Kint' when pinning him against a wall. Having discussed a heist the sound of ticking occurs, perhaps the ticking of a clock connoting a countdown to something, tension.
An aeroplane is seen taking off and landing. The voice over tells of what is taking place to involve the audience with what is happening. A point of view shot is used to show one of the characters point of view of the heist. First off a character is seen entering a police car (secret taxi service for crooked criminals). The car follows the police car.
32 minutes into the film, having pinned in the vehicle, the gang seize the police car. A close-up of one of the gang members is seen from the perspective of one of the policemen, smashing the windscreen of the car in. A gun is pointed at the character with the money this connotes the gangs dominance.
Having poured petrol over the vehicle, 'Keates' is seen spectating the action through the car wing-mirror(close-up). The gang then sets the vehicle alight.
It then cuts to what occurs after the incident, it shows news crews, firemen and policemen at the scene. A birds-eye view shot captures the burnt vehicle being seized by emergency vehicles.
Cuts to landscape shot of a large city, which appears to be 'New York city' at dusk. In the gang's hideout they are seen discussing there heist. Close-up shot of emeralds upon table next to stack of money.
It then reverts back to 'Kint' explaining what took place in interview with 'Jeffery', the diagetic sound of the tape recorder rotating and clicking can be heard.
Scene 15 of the film sees a trade, at a promenade under the noir lighting. The trade is with 'Red Foot'. the generic signifier of a briefcase is seen as part of the trade, the contents inside of the briefcase can't be seen to connote mystery.
Cut's to low angle shot of a large skyscraper building of a large corporation. On one of the levels is a carpark. The carpark has a damp and dingy look to it (generic signifier), the green non-ambient lighting makes the carpark an unnerving place.
4 Men are seen entering the carpark, and as soon as they get into the car the gang use violence in order to get what they want. The music used creates tension.
In a retreat the characters are seen celebrating their latest heist. However lingering in the shadows (noir lighting) is a mysterious character, 'Mr Kobayashi'. 'Kobayashi' delivers a briefcase to the gang (generic signifier) after giving them a brief on a heist what they help in, a heist on a drug-smuggling, Argentine cargo ship.
Within the briefcase are separate documents with the names of each of the 5 gang members on. Inside are the details on previous offences that they have caused.
Back at the policestation, 'Kint' tells of 'Sozai' having been asked who he is by the detective. He tells him of who he is. In the mise-en-scene the story of the 'Sozai' is told in motion, whilst 'Kint' tells the tale.
He then refers back to the night of when the gang found 'Fenster' dead in a dark and claustrophobic cave on the shoreline. The noir lighting creates fear, the light comes behind the characters from a rotating signal beam from a lighthouse.
In revenge for 'Fenster's' death the remaining gang members go after 'Kobayashi' who they believe killed 'Fenster'.
In the elevator shaft the camera looks down at an approaching elevator, which 'Kobayashi' is in along with his security guards. The elevator is an enclosed space/claustrophobic which connotes entrapment. When the power failure kicks in, the darkness within the closed space connote fear. When the lights are turned back on 'Kobayashi' sees that both men in the lift with him are dead.
At the port(1hr13mins)'Keaton' walks on the wooden footpath, lit by small lamps (noir lighting) could connote a path to death when walking towards the ship. 'McMannus' is seen on a roof, armed with a sniper rifle. When aiming, the close-up of his eye against the scope of the sniper connotes tension, whilst the sweat upon his forehead connotes pressure.
Having seized a car full of full of wooden crates, he lifts the lid on them to reveal money, however he is then shot from behind by an unknown figure (reference back to start of film). The close-up of the bullet wound through his waist connotes violence.
In the cargo ship, a point of view shot is used to show a creeping shadow in the background. A handle on a door being turned connotes mystery and anticipation.
The camera draws away from a cabin window the spray of blood on the window is seen whilst the sound of gun fire occurs.
'McMannus' is stabbed right before the eyes of 'Keaton' before he is then meleed. From 'Kint's' perspective he witnesses 'Keaton' being shot, by the unknown figure.
He then sees the figure drop the cigarette which causes the inferno.
It then cuts to the police department again with 'Kint' explaining to 'Jeffery' that the unknown figure is that of 'Kaizer Souzai'.
Yet when when told by the policemen that 'Keaton' is 'Souzai', then 'Keaton' can't be dead as audience have just viewed death of 'Keaton' being shot from 'Kint's' perspective.
He then lets 'Kint' walk free, having not being able to get sufficient information needed to push the case forward.
However moments after letting the crippled character walk free, 'Jeffery' is able to piece together the evidence. Slow-motion close-up of him dropping cup.
'Kint is seen walking free outside then suddenly he loses his limp and walks normally. A car stops by to pick him up. In the car is 'Kobayashi'.The sound of 'Kint's voice is heard as 'Jeffery' gives chase to him. But as he steps outside in the background 'Kint' is seen getting into the car.
