Textual analysis of Se7en
- 2. SE7EN
- 3. INTRODUCTION • We watched the beginning 6 minutes of the film Seven that stars Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt. The movie was released on 22nd September 1995 in the US and later released on 5th January 1996 in the UK. It was directed by David Fincher and was distributed by New Line Cinema.
- 4. MISE-EN-SCENE • The film begins with highly saturated and bright colours that may connote happiness and hope for the future. We then see that Morgan Freeman’s character is wearing a crisp white shirt, this may also link to the connotation of happiness but as he is an older man wearing this shirt then it may connote that he is powerful and well respected in his career. As he starts to get ready to go to the murder he is investigating, Freeman puts on a dark coat; the building that he then enters to investigate the murder inside is dimmer and darker in lighting. This could connote death as there is a murder investigation happening inside and dark colours are often what we think of when death is in question. In the extract it is pouring with rain, this weather may connote the sadness of the investigators and the family of the deceased. This bleak weather may also symbolise the direction in which the case is going or the direction in which the relationship between Freeman and Pitt’s characters is going.
- 5. CAMERA • When Freeman’s character is looking in the mirror an over the shoulder shot is used; this may connote that he takes pride in his appearance and may also show that he is of a steady and stable mind as he is taking his time to get ready. We see that blood is covering the wall through the use of a mid-shot, this allows the viewer to clearly see that something sinister has taken place here and at least one of the people involved may be dead as there is so much blood. When Freeman’s character is back at home and in bed there is a close up on a ticking device (metronome) on his bedside table, there is a close up on this; this may connote that the character is running out of time as he may die or something bad may happen to him. IN the opening credits the camera angle is constantly changing; this may connote that numerous different people are investigating the case and that they may all be seeing the evidence from a different point of view which may lead to confusion and the audience having to be active. • There is shot/reverse shot when the two lead characters played by Freeman and Pitt are speaking to each other in the street.
- 6. EDITING • In the extract to create the typical atmosphere you would expect in a thriller, the editing is very quick this may therefore indicate to the audience the pace in which the film will continue. We see evidence of jump cuts and cross cutting between scenes. An example of this will is from us seeing Freeman in his apartment getting ready for the day to him and Pitt at the city centre crime scene. Inserts are also used in the extract, for example, when Freeman’s character is getting ready in his apartment organising his possessions, there is an insert shot used to display the significance they pose in the characters life.
- 7. SOUND • There is synchronous sound when the character picks up his keys and they jangle, there is also the sound of footsteps on the pavement and the sound of the rain hitting the floor. As with most films there is a significant amount of dialogue (people speaking). There is non-diegetic sound when music is inserted over a shot to add to the atmosphere as the opening credits are rolling. During the close up on the metronome there is a ticking sound that would be associated with a clock, this may connote that time is ticking awy either for the character himself or time running out to catch the killer who did the crimes.