10) The Coen Brothers

The Coen Brothers

The Coen Brothers;

We have studied four of the Coen Brothers thriller openings to help understand how they have used similar techniques and aspects of creating distinct thrillers of their genre.

We have focused on the editing, Camera shots/angles and sound they use to create an anxious atmosphere to the audience leading to the build-up of shock, tension and suspense.

The Hudsucker Proxy

 

Mise en scene:

The characters was wearing a suit which makes him look very sinister and suspicious, this creates a mysterious atmosphere for the audience as it signifies intelligence and makes us weary of what he could be capable of, which creates tension and suspense.

The lighting was mostly coming off from the big clock which the face was lit making it very dull and focusing significance on the clock which creates mystery.

Sound

There is not any dialogue in the first part creating a mysterious atmosphere for the audience and with the classical soundtrack it adds to a build up of tension.

The voiceover at the start is with a western accent this with the establishing shots creates a very sinister anxious atmosphere which helps to set the mystery of the scene. The western accent could represent the trouble that he has got himself into. “Out of rope, out of time”, this leaves the audience questioning the meanings it could be suggesting;  it could end in death or even suicide. The character could be torn between the good and bad in themselves.. This is effective because it leaves the audience on a cliff-hanger wanted to watch more, making it effective to use in the opening.

Camera shots/ angles

• 
  Establishing shot of the city - awareness of the surroundings of the character, sets the scene engaging the audience in the suspense and mystery. Also shows the relationship between the setting and the character.
• High angled shot of buildings, to set the scene in a weary atmosphere.
• Zoom into the big clock on the side of the building- “Hudsucker industries”
• Close- up of the character looking out the window and then climbing out of the window – makes the audience feel on edge and tense of what is going to happen.

• Zoomed into the clock hands striking twelve- A New Year, or even a new life, relating the voice over “out of time” again creating a tense and levels of uncertainty to the audience.
• Panning of the city, in a dark and snowy setting could signify danger.

Barton Fink

Mise en scene

The clothing in Barton Fink is similar to the main characters clothing in Hudsucker proxy where they are both wearing suits which again makes them look sinister. However in this there is more than one character shown in the introduction. The women are wearing dresses; femme fatal – suggesting danger, and conflict in the thriller.

The lighting was mostly from the stage where the main character is stood watching his creation. The lighting was high key, with very little shadowing, making the audience tense because they are not too sure when the twists will come into it, but are expecting it from the setting and sound.

The actor who played Barton Fink was John Turturro. Putting glasses on the character could signifies that he is a very intelligent man. When they are finished watching his play they go inside.

 The femme fatal also joined the table with the married men, however, the red lipstick she was wearing made her look dangerous and seductive which instantly suggests to the audience that she is dangerous adding to the tension of the plot.

The props used was a rope, which had been followed down to the stage which made the audience feel a bit suspicious and tense on what’s going to happen, this was also created through the dialogue because we could hear it but couldn’t see the people speaking which shown significance on the rope, and took away the importance of what was being said.

Sound

In Barton Fink there is much more dialogue than The Hudsucker Proxy. “I feel I’m on the brink of success”. Seeming like a he’s much more pleased with his work than the character in The Hudsucker proxy. The soundtrack used created the same effect as it did with the voiceover, setting up the narrative and creating a sinister and mysterious atmosphere.

soundtrack was jazz music which also helped create a sinister atmosphere.

Jazz styled music relates to gangs like the mafia and suggests danger which makes the audience feel fearful of the narrative, and anxious of what is going to happen .

Camera shots/ movements

• Close up on some old fashioned wall paper, slowly zooming in, creating mystery of significance of the wallpaper.
• Point of view shot of the man walking into the eating area- suspicious character, villainous, troubled. Audience feeling anxious.
• Mid shot-Still image of Barton Fink- Making the character look cynical.
• Close up of man with something suspicious in his hand- Might have something dangerous in his hand, audience start feeling curious and tense of what’s going to happen.
• Being introduced to the other characters by close ups- through reaction shots on thecharacters faces. Helps keep the audience in the loop trying to unravel which character is significant and the protagonist and antagonist, could suggest a twist because of their uncertainty.

Editing

Quick cuts between the characters faces- Identifying relationships between the characters. Builds suspense, audience think something bad is going to happens with the involvement of the characters.

The Big Lebowski

Mise en scene

The first character we see is wearing pj’s making the audience feel uncertain of what is going on creating a mysterious atmosphere.

In this the lighting is natural outside. However, mostly its low key lighting creating a gloomy and weary atmosphere, which adds to the build-up of tension and shock.

The character Big Lebowski, known as “the dude” was played by an actor called Jeff Bridges. His character seems troublesome due to the fact he doesn’t care about anyone or himself, which creates anxiety for the audience as he could be potentially dangerous as he has a careless persona.

The tumbleweed is a good prop to have at the start because it shows that they are out in the middle of no where making it easier to inflict some crime. It is set in Los Angeles where there is lots of deserted land therefore making the audience weary of what could happen as anything can happen, building tension.

Sound
·         Voiceover is western which is slow and suspicious. Give the idea of what kind of character he is through the words; “he’s a man for his time and place” suggesting that he’s no amateur of what is going to happen making the audience feel the suspense of the plot. Also suggests he’s rebellious, the audience are aware there is going to be violence involved.

·         Soundtrack- Old country and western, suggesting gangs and conflict. A tie in with the desserts and vast open areas- connotes freedom.

 Camera shot and movements

• 
  Establishing shot- Going from dark to light. This implies that there may be trouble or conflict and that there is a good side and a bad side, creating tension for what is going to happen and the significance of this lighting.
• Crabbing- Following tumbleweed. From an abandoned area to where people live. Story started from the abandoned area. Starts of all quiet and calm and has a quick cut to a action violence scene which is unexpected and  makes the audience jump and shows shock, keeping them on edge and builds up suspense.
• Long shots of land, Characters, surroundings, not many people out there, shows that it is abandoned which makes the memorable quote ‘theres a time and a place’ from the voiceover effective as there’s nobody there which creates anxiety.
• High angled shot of men in the bathroom, they are superior, more power. Shows significance in the characters; protagonist, antagonist and the looser character it catches the audience off guard, going from laid back to all of a sudden conflict.

Editing

Quick cuts- conflict, fast paced, makes audience fearful of the unravelling mystery.

Fading shots and dissolving shots into panning creating a weary atmosphere.

No country for old men

Mise en scene

The main character is in a dark costume, black top and black trousers, making him look a bit grubby and instantly makes the audience see he is the villain.

This becomes clearer once we see the officer in his police outfit. Showing power and authority in contrast with the villain creating tension of the police and shows that the villain is capable of being dangerous.

The lighting used seems natural due to being out in the middle of nowhere on abandoned land. This shows the different shadows from the mountains giving it the effect that it’s alone and an abandoned place.

The actor who plays the mysterious man is called Javier Bardem. The character seems very dark and lonely, the audience don’t entirely get to see his face in the introduction which makes them feel vulnerable and curious in what is next going to happen.

The props used were mostly a part of what the police officer normally has. Like a police car, handcuffs, a desk and a phone etc. These props seem like everyday things, which causes more tension because it seems so realistic and calm. Knowing that something bad is going to happen next when the police officer arrests the strange man. The setting was like The Big Lebowski where there is nothing but vast land and desert which has been abandoned. Makes the audience feel unsettled that they know that no one else can see what’s happening but them.

Sounds

·         There is a little dialogue when the police man has caught the man and whilst on the phone reports it. However, when it is reported something gruesome happens. The man may prefer silence, his own company creating suspense and tension.

·         Voice over- Western cowboy. Suggesting conflict, groups/ gangs. “im going to hell in about 15 minutes”. He might be the man committing conflict, guilty conscience so he wants to tell his story until he’s sentenced to his death. Audience pity on him and also feel guilty that they are the ones he has come out to.

Camera shots and angles

·         Establishing shot of mountains, abandoned area, still shots of the horizons. Set the scene- freedom, setting gets darker setting the scene for something bad to happen, which creates a sinister and anxious atmosphere.

·         Long shot of them driving in the police car into the horizon. Makes audience feel tense whilst following, which builds on the suspense.

·         Two shot of police man putting the culprit into the car. He’s the Villain, audience know he’ll probably hurt or kill the police officer makes the audience feel tension.

·         Mid shot- guy on the phone reporting him whilst we can see the man coming closer, raising the audiences feeling of tension wanting to help him and creates the atmosphere for the to feel guilty, causing more suspense

·         2 shot/ high shot looking down on the police man struggling whilst the villain is strangling him with his own cord. Quick paced conflict, shown through the quick cuts, creating the audience to feel scared of what else is going to happen and adding to the mystery because they can’t see his face.

Editing

Quick cuts when the violence is going on- causes audience to panic, quickens the story, building more tension suspense and shock throughout keeping the audience engaged and thrilled in whats going to happen.

Watching the openings of the Coen Brothers movies are good to see the distinct conventions used which are succesful in all of their movies by using similar aspects in most of thethriller openings to make them successful in setting the scene for the entire thriller, he also uses the same types of characters to create conflict and se the narrative for violence.

All of the Coen Brothers openings are successful in creating tension, shock and suspense through creating sinister atmospheres and causing anxiety to his audience, I particularly think the voiceovers are effective as they help to set the scene whilst showing the setting through a variety of establishing shots and panning, we can use these aspects in our final production which will be effective in creating shock tension and suspense.

 Natasha & Dannielle