Textual Analysis of a Thriller Opening Chosen by You

Quantum Of Solace

The film Quantum of solace starts with an establishing shot of a mountain with the sea below to set the location. It also starts off with a quiet and smooth non-diegetic sound track to build up tension. This now cuts into the tunnel where we see close-ups of different parts of an Aston Martin. An example of cross cutting is used between the cars within the tunnel and the view of the island. A track shot is used to get closer to the tunnel where the cars are in, as the camera shot gets faster and closer to the zooming in on the tunnel the non-diegetic sound track also gets faster and louder to build up tension, which can be an example of four-shadowing as it builds up tension to show something is going to happen within the tunnel. An extreme close-up is also used on a man who looks like he could be driving, this could be used to show that this character will be important. Also there is a close-up of bullets which shows there’s going to be shooting and violence.

Suddenly a music sting is used to switch from the non-diegetic sound track to the diegetic sound of an Aston Martin presumably being driven by James Bond. Also rapid editing is used to emphasise the speed of the Aston Martin and also to show that there is a car chase happening within the tunnel. The Mise-en-scene is now of the tunnel within the island. A close-up of a rear view mirror from the Aston Martin shows two Alfa Romeo’s behind him which reflects that there is a car chase and that the guys in the two Alfa Romeo’s are baddies because they are chasing Bond. The Aston Martin and two Alfa Romeo’s are an example of props used within the film. Diegetic and accentuated sound is shown by gun shots from inside the tunnel. We see who is shooting when a mid-shot of a person shooting out a window of one of the Alfa Romeo’s is used. This confirms that these are the bad guys as they are shooting at Bond.

A point of view or over the shoulder shot is used of  one of the bad guys, this gives the audience and idea of what the scene looks like from within one of the Alfa Romeo’s, it also makes the audience feel that they are closer to the film and are actually there at that time.  An example of cross cutting is used between the two Alfa Romeo’s or the bad guys and the Aston Martin or actually James Bond. The cross cutting is used to give the audience a perspective of what is happening in the car chase. Next there is a close-up of a truck tire which is bursting, this shows that the truck is going to obviously crash within the tunnel. Also at this certain point there is accentuated sound with tire screeching which also gives the audience an idea that there is going to be a crash. To see the crash actually happening an over the shoulder shot from Bonds view is used to see the crash happening and also to see it happening from his point of view. As the truck is crashing within the tunnel reaction shots are used of James Bond and also the actual truck driver who is crashing. This is another example of cross cutting between James Bond and the truck driver. We see a low angle shot next from the pedal box view from within the Aston Martin. The low angle shot is used here to show the audience that a part of the truck is tearing through the metal on the driver’s door on the Aston Martin. Also car horns are heard in this scene which gives a sense of realism and also an example of ambiance sound.

Luckily Bond escapes the truck crashing and the car chase continues outside the tunnel on the same road. The road outside is now the Mise-en-scene of the scene. To show this there is a mid-shot of the Alfa’s and the Aston Martin driving out of the tunnel. The action still continues outside the tunnel though as an over the shoulder shot is used from bonds view as another truck comes towards bond head on as he is on the wrong side of the road, but instead of bond crashing he avoids the truck. This is shown as a point of view shot is shown from within an Alfa as the Alfa and truck collide head on with each other. To know that this is one of the Alfa’s a reaction shot is shown of Bond. As the chase carries on we can start to hear the non-diegetic sound track come back into the scene in the background to build up more tension. We now see a police man notice the car chase and a close-up of him is used for this. As the chase continues from only one Alfa now and the Aston Martin driven by James Bond we see a reaction shot of Bond being shot at again by the bad guys in the Alfa. Another example of cross cutting is used between the chase and the police noticing this. We know that these are police as the costume resembles this and the typical Italian police car in the background. This is a contrast from the bad guys and Bond which are all wearing suits and looking very formal.

By Joshua Thomas