"Reservoir Dogs" (Independent Research)

Reservoir Dogs (15 January 1993) Director:Quentin Tarantino


The opening shot of the film is abrupt as it features all of the characters in the film gathered around a table which the camera revoles around. However the audience do not gather much of an idea of these characters as no names are mentioned. the costume worn by the characters is more associated with with those of the upper-class. But from the industrial cafe in which they are in this stereotypical view is incorrect, instead the costume connotes the dress sense of a gang. The transitions used at this early stage in the film are steady and change when a different character talks.

The opening titles/credits appear with an overlaying soundtrack. A Cross fade effect is then used to fade the soundtrack out, so that screaming can be heard. The film then restarts with two characters in the car, still their names unknown, one driving a vehicle whilst the other is drenched in blood, however the audience do not know why this has occurred.


A sudden cut then shows a change of location, that being of a unused warehouse. The dull lighting of the scenery connotes an eerie feel to the location. The emptyness of the warehouse could also connote the emotions felt by both the wounded and other character. The camera shots used in this film sequence are jittery as though filmed by a handheld camera, giving the audience a perspective in the film. the slight tilt is used to connote the feelings of the camera, whilst the use of the two shot shows the characters bond.
The colour disfiguration of the film is made to make the film look set in the 60's/70's as the saturation of the cinematography is toned a lighter shade.

A long shot through a corridor is used to distance between the newly introduced character and the previous mobile character. The emptyness of the bathroom could also connote their emotion and personalities.
The use of flashbacks show what has happen after the groups failed bank heist from different characters. This is where the characters names are established. Each character is referred to a 'Mr. (then a colour). For example the fleeing character in the flashback is that 'Mr.Pink'.
Towards the end of the flashback it is shown from the perspective of another character, showing the violence between 'Mr.Pink' and the police. The rapid interchange of shots corresponds to the gunfire. When attempting to flee from the cops the windscreen of the car which 'Mr.Pink' is in splits, connoting panic and fear.

Women in the film are seen as objects to the male characters this is shown at the start of the film and when sexual references are used constantly.
As the characters 'Mr.Pink' and 'Mr.White' draw armes the camera zooms out to reveal another character 'Mr.Blonde', again this shot is used to connote the separation within the group after the incident. The transitions fit to the dialogue in the film sequence as each time a character is cut up by another in mid-sentence the camera reverts to the speaking character.
A generic signifier in thriller films is the use of the car trunk, which connotes mystery as anything could be in it. In this film in the trunk is an officer. The low angle shot from inside the trunk is from the perspective of the officer looking up at the supreme, towering figures of the men in suits.
Blank transitions are used when the flashbacks end, the voice-over then cuts in before non-diagetic sound is heard. The use of the shot getting all of the characters into the mise-en-scene connotes a divide within the group as though nobody can be trusted, seeing as they know of one of them being a double-crosser within the group.
Close-ups are used to show the cop being beaten up by 'White' and 'Pink' before they leave the warehouse. 'Blonde' is left with the hostage cop, a soundtrack is heard an upbeat, fast tempoed track which doesn't bode with the genre of film or the mood within the mise-en-scene. 'Blonde' swaggers up to the cop, tapped to the chair and removes a blade from his pocket, the use of lighting reflects of the blade. For a split second the use of the close-up starts to show him removing the cops ear before the camera turns away making the audience feel as though they are there witnessing this for themselves. the writing on the wall reads "Mind Your Head" which relates to the removal of the ear.

'Blonde' returns to his car trunk to the then remove a cannister of petrol, a close-up of this signifies potential danger. A non-diagetic sound of children screaming/crying coonotes anxiety and fear. When pouring the petrol over the cop, specks of the liquid go onto the camera lense which again involves the audience.