Media source code analysis
- 1. SOURCE CODE ANALYSISbasic information, opinions from reviews, narrative conventions, technical conventions, not following conventions,opinions
- 2. SOURCE CODE STORYLINE Colter Stevens, a US Army helicopter pilot whose last memory is flying in Afghanistan, wakes up on a commuter train. However, he discovers that he has assumed the identity of another man. 8 minutes later, the train explodes and Stevens finds himself in some kind of pod. He then talks to someone named Goodwin, who tells him he has to go back and find out who the bomber is. He is sent back to go through the whole thing again and attempts to find who the bomber is but fails. The bomb goes off and Stevens finds himself in the pod again. He is sent back another time, yet still cannot find out anything.
- 3. BASIC INFORMATION A soldier wakes up in someone else's body and discovers he's part of an experimental government program to find the bomber of a commuter train. A mission he has only 8 minutes to complete. Director: Duncan Jones Writer: Ben Ripley Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga Box Office Budget: $32,000,000 (estimated) Opening Weekend: £1,306,661 (UK) (1 April 2011) Gross: $54,696,902 (USA) (8 July 2011)
- 4. OPINIONS OF REVIEWERS ➤ “insanely brilliant… A non-stop 90-minute thrill ride”- the sun ➤ “An exciting, intellectually stimulating science-fiction thriller which also connects emotionally. Everyone involved earns a promotion to the premiership”- empire ➤ "Source Code" is an ingenious thriller that comes billed as science fiction, although its science is preposterous. Does that matter, as long as everyone treats it with the greatest urgency? After all, space travel beyond the solar system is preposterous, and yet we couldn't do without "Star Trek." The "science" in this case is used to prop up an appealing story of a man who tries to change the past. - roger ebert
- 5. NARRATIVE CONVENTIONS ➤ Protagonist- captain colter Stevens ➤ deadline: he only has 8 minutes to uncover the bombers identity unless time runs out first. ➤ vladimir propp had a theory on key characters that should be included in a film, these included; the antagonist, the protagonist, the damsel in distress e.t.c - these all appear in the film source code. ➤ claude levi strauss had a theory on binary opposites which is seen in the film where the daylight contradicts the genre and mood of the film.
- 6. TECHNICAL CONVENTIONS CAMERAWORK ➤ a pov is used to show the characters view which makes the audience feel like they are part of the film and share the characters feelings. ➤ close up of captain colter Stevens face to show his emotions and confusion whilst looking out of the window. ➤ wide angle shot to show the location and setting of the film and where it is set (Chicago).
- 7. EDITING ➤ Fast paced editing is used after the explosion to show the confusion, drama and suspense that the character is experiencing. ➤ fade to white is used when captain colter stevens wakes up on the train and highlights he is an important character. ➤ shot reverse shot is used when captain colter stevens is talking to the other women on the train, an shows progression for the audience to understand.
- 8. SOUND ➤ sonically exaggerated sound is used when there is an explosion on the train to emphasis the scale and devastating result. ➤ music that builds tension: at the start of the film to set the mood of the film and build suspense as to what may happen later on in the film. ➤ Ambient sound is used in order to make the scene as normal as possible so the audience does not suspect that any danger will occur.
- 9. MISE EN SCENE ➤ Costume: Captain colter Stevens is wearing a business suit this foreshadows he is on a mission and to show his importance/status in the film. The women and others on the train our wearing casual clothes to portray normality. ➤ location: big city shows that in the event of a disaster mass destruction and death will occur ideal setting for a antagonists evil plot. ➤ special effects: the explosion on the train emphasis by the fire.
- 10. NOT FOLLOWING TYPICAL THRILLER CONVENTIONS ➤ Source code uses a variety of film conventions some which match the genre and some that do not an example of this is the lighting as bright daylight is used throughout the opening which is unusual in a thriller film as usually we would expect to see dark low lighting to reflect the mood and tension in the film. Another example is the women who informs captain colter stevens that he was in the past. most women are represented as weak and vulnerable in thriller films, however in source code she is shown as a strong independent women. This breaks typical conventions, this is a good thing as it represents women in a positive light which can entice people to watch the film.
- 11. GROUP OPINIONS ON FILM ➤ source code shares similar conventions to many other thriller films, this makes it unoriginal and can lead to a tedious plot line this can put off potential audiences including us. ➤ For a thriller film it feels to childish more in the action adventure genre than thriller, needs to make the audience be on the edge of there seats and captivated in what is happening in the film. ➤ overall an unsuccessful opening that we would not continue to watch ➤ rating: 3/10