Dorian Gray (2009)

Dorian Gray (2009) - First 5 Mins

Camera Work

The first shot we see is a low-angled, medium close up shot of the main character ‘Dorian Gray’, low angles help give a sense of confusion to a viewer. The background of the scene is just of the ceiling, the lack of detail about the setting adds to the disorientation of the viewer. The added height of the character creates a sense of fear and insecurity for the viewer, this is as it makes ‘Dorian’ seem more dominate and powerful. The medium close up helps the audience to see the blank and life-less expression on the characters face. This shot is then followed by a worm’s eye shot (also a point of view shot for the victim), giving the character more dominance and importance, the shot is still a medium close up but now the viewer feels uncomfortable in being that close to the character who is doing wrong. The shot cuts to another low angled shot as the blood spatter hits him, using a close up this time so the audience can see the blood and the amount, making the viewer feel unnerved by this character. As the character pulls the knife out we are looking at eye-level to the body, using a big close up so that the audience can see fully the body, blood and knife – as beforehand the audience didn’t know for sure if it was a person he was killing (creating an enigma code). The camera then cuts to and from low angled, medium close up shots to eye-level shots (still at a medium close up) – throughout this montage of clips as it is a medium close up you can see the expression on the characters face, so you see as the character goes from looking distraught about killing someone to looking pleased and happy about himself. The next scene is of the character ‘Dorian’ in a carriage drawn by horse. The shot starts at a medium close up (to show the emotion on his face, so the audience knows how he feels about the murder) and peds down the subject to reveal the trunk which is dripping with blood. The carriage pulls away from shot still at a low angle (long shot), this and the low-key lighting creates an evil and criminal atmosphere. In the next scene the character is over-looking the river with the trunk by his side, by using a long shot it shows how the character is alone and the low-key lighting gives the scene an uneasy atmosphere, all this insinuates that he is going to get rid of the body by dumping it in the river. More (extreme) long shots are continuously used as ‘Dorian’ is disposing of the body. When the trunk is floating in the river a big close up is used to show the trunk in full detail – this is because it is a flash-forward so the audience will see the trunk again.

The next scene shown is a year earlier, it starts with a big close up of the trunk we saw in the previous scene. The camera then pans up to show the same character ‘Dorian Gray’, looking a lot more innocent than before. Throughout the scene on the station platform we see ‘Dorian’ through eye-level and high angled shots (long shot) – this is a major contrast to the scene before as he is now shown as inferior and insignificant, he is also shown as getting pickpocketed whereas before you would of expected it to of been the other way round. When he gets into the carriage a low-angled shot is used, but here it is to show his wealth and power as we soon find out he is very rich. The camera then cuts to an establishing shot of the roof tops of large and expensive homes – this sets the setting for the film. The camera pans right to shows the audience the surrounding area, before pedding down (using a crane) to the protagonist who’s getting out of the carriage. The camera continues to go down, until looking at the character at a low angle, making him and the home seem bigger, adding more importance, power and wealth to the protagonist. Then as one of the characters says ‘welcome home’ the camera tilts up making the home seem bigger and grander. When ‘Dorian’ is inside the home (using a long shot) a statue is shown in the foreground and is higher up than him, this also makes ‘Dorian’ seem less significant and smaller. As the character moves throughout the home we see everything through his point of view, to show how daunting it is for the character and so the audience can experience what the character is experiencing. A point of view shot is used for the painting of his father, showing how the father is more important, the medium long shot of ‘Dorian’ shows the audience the characters expression and how he stands – here ‘Dorian’ looks intimidated and uncomfortable (we later find out that he was abused by his father when he was a child).

Sound

During the credits low pitched piano chords are played building up tension and creating a haunting atmosphere. Orchestral music (as the film is set in the Victorian era) is played in the first scene – when ‘Dorian’ is just aimlessly looking around the room the music (mainly high-pitched strings) is unnerving, putting the audience on edge as they know something bad is going to happen. The sound of drums then build up, wind is then heard and flocks of birds are heard flying off creating an uneasy atmosphere. When the victim gets stabbed haunting piano chords are heard along with the sound of blood spattering creating shock and horror for the viewer. The texture then builds (strings and other instruments join in). In the next scene (disposing of the body) eerie music is played – low stringed music with high notes putting the audience on edge.  As ‘Dorian’ dumps the body the music stops (building up the suspension) enhancing the sound of the splash (diegetic) the trunk makes when it hits the water, when the trunk does hit the water the eerie music starts to play again.

As the next scene it starting you can hear a train (creating an enigma code, as the audience questions where the sound is coming from). As the character is walking along the station platform the orchestral music plays again, although this time it is not creepy but more relaxing. You can hear people yelling in the background, this is so the audience can experience what the character is hearing and to make the scene more realistic. As ‘Dorian’ is travelling to his home the orchestra play shorter, quicker notes to build up tension and curiosity as to where the character is going. As the character pulls up the orchestra hold on the notes, so the audience knows that the journey has come to an end, also so that the viewer can take in the setting.

When ‘Dorian’ is walking through the home only diegetic sounds are heard (opening of doors, footsteps) to make the scene seem more realistic. While ‘Dorian’ it walking towards the painting of his father there is a drumroll playing in the background, to build up the suspense to the unveiling of the painting.

Editing

There are fast cuts at the beginning of the film as the character ‘Dorian Gray’ is stabbing the victim, the fast cutting adds tension and action to the scene. The cuts get faster towards the end of this scene as he brings up the scarf of the victim up towards his face – with each cut you see the characters expression change from looking distraught about killing someone to looking pleased and happy about himself. The cuts then slow down afterwards to decrease the tension as there is no action happening as he is disposing of the body.

The cuts speed up in the next scene, as in this scene the character has less confidence and appears to be a bit bewildered. The cuts here speed up when he walks into things and gets pickpocketed – this shows how this person we are seeing is completely different to the character we saw in the previous scene as he seems intimidated by his surroundings. The faster cuts show how uncomfortable he is in this obviously new environment.

Slow cuts are used when the character is at home, showing how he feels a lot more comfortable in this environment compared to the previous

Mise-En-Scene

During the credits parts of paints are put in, suggesting to the audience what the film maybe about. In the first scene the character is smartly dressed, showing that he is a wealthy person. After ‘Dorian’ has committed the murder all the characters shown are all dressed in black connoting evil. As ‘Dorian’ looks over the river he is wearing a long dark cloak making him seem evil and mysterious. In the next scene ‘Dorian’ is well presented and tidier looking (hair groomed, wearing a tie), also seeming to be a wealthier person. The children that are pickpocketing him are clearly poorer as they wear scruffy and cheap looking clothing.

In the opening scene it uses natural lighting for when ‘Dorian’ is murdering a character to make the scene seem more realistic. When disposing of the body low-key lighting is used to make ‘Dorian’ seem creepy and evil, also to build up tension and suspense (audience are wondering what he is going to do with the body). When ‘Dorian’ is on the station platform and at home natural lighting is then used again to make it all seem more realistic. All characters wear natural make-up, this is to make the characters more appealing to the audience.

The film is set in Victorian London, the audience can work this out by the transport (carriage pulled by horse), the way the characters are dressed (women in elegant dresses and men in suits) also by the choice of colours used (mainly browns).