Opening Sequence Analysis (Task 2.1) - Drive (Thriller Analysis)

This is the opening sequence of the thriller film, Drive. This is a thriller but is a different kind of thriller. The most well known thriller is mainly a horror/thriller however this film as you can tell by the opening sequence is an action/thriller with an aspect of neo-noir.

As soon as the sequence begins, the first factor you really notice is the music in the background. The music played sounds modernized, like something you would hear on the radio giving you the impression this may be played in someone's car which therefore is relating to the title of the film, 'Drive'.

The first shot that you see is an established shot which shows the view of the whole city in the night time. The shot seems to be filmed quite high, this gives instant conventions to an action/thriller as heights are known for danger and intensity therefore introducing the genre nicely into the opening sequence.

This same shot is then moving slowly around giving a better view of the city by using a 'pan'. This shot is very useful as it gives you more to see as you get to see from different angles.

This the continues until the next shot occurs, this then smoothly transitions to a new shot of a low angle shot which is useful as low angle shots give the impression that the person above it is very powerful which may suggest that they are in charge so instantly you feel that this character is a very powerful man. The male himself is roughly 30 years old, blonde dark hair, who is good looking and has a facial expression which shows no emotion. The character himself is actually played by Ryan Gosling who is a very established Hollywood actor, who is mainly known for roles in the action/thriller genre which is very good as it shows experience but also the audience know that the film is going to be good.

Also the titles throughout are very professional. The colour of purple, makes the titles stand out so the audience actually look and take notice other than being discrete and just being non-existent to the audience so the bright colour is a good addition to the titles. The font itself is neatly joined up with a formal look to it which is unusual for action/thriller but it blends in to the scene which is very important and well done in this opening sequence.

Another aspect is the fact it starts off with the character in the car. The fact he is in the car relates to the fact the title of the film is called 'Drive' and he is actually in the car but also the same original music playing in the background does sound like music on a radio and it may be suggested that it is coming from the radio in the car the male character is driving.

This the cuts to a different shot where you see the male driving away. The shots used as he is driving vary from shots such as an over the shoulder shot but also a pov shot. These shots are used to show the audience what the character himself is seeing which can be good as they may get a feel for the character. 

The next shot in a birds eye view shot of the car itself driving along lots of busy roads. This shot shows the audience exactly where he is and where he is going. Giving the aspect of being followed which can be considered a thriller convention.

The next shot shows the male character in the car again, but this time from a side shot which is also a medium shot of the character. This shot gives you the sense of the male character is driving the car with you, the audience in the passenger seat which may connote the audience being a passenger in the movie as he is going to give you a ride the audience would have never experienced. This is a clever shot to use as it may feel like the audience are being involved in the film itself which gets the audiences attention.

The next shot shows the character parking his car, showing that he is stopping and about to go somewhere. The only thing about this shot is, you don't know whether the character pulling up in the car is the same character as in the previous shots. This can give a sense of mystery which of course creates intensity which are both conventions of the thriller genre.

 The next shot then tells the audience that it actually is the same character pulling up in the car. Even though this is an over the shoulder shot and as the audience, you can only see his back/shoulder you know it's the same character due to what he is wearing as the same clothing is being worn by the character in the previous shots.

Also similarly to previous shots the over the shoulder shot, then cuts to a pov shot in exactly the same way it did earlier on in the sequence. Additionally this gives the audience the satisfaction of knowing they see what the character is seeing and the pov shot itself clarifies that.

These shots show the male getting in an elevator to go upstairs/downstairs in what looks like an apartment building/shopping centre. As the elevator closes this jump cuts to a shot of the same male character opening a door to what looks like is his room/apartment therefore backing up the point that is looked like he was approaching his area of living.

As the male gets inside the property, he looks confused, looks around and then drops a bag and leaves. The shots used in the few seconds are a low angle shot, therefore showing is power and dominance once again but also a shot of the character walking away and leaving the bag. This then gives the audience the thought of 'What was in the bag?' and 'Why did he leave the bag?' therefore creating mystery which makes the audience think about possibilities. This is a major aspect of thriller as you never know what's about to happen so creating mystery and intensity is key in creating a successful thriller film in which this case successfully did.

After the character leaves the building there a jump cut to a birds eye view shot of the character driving his car along busy roads again at night. The fact the same shots are being used is useful as it gives the audience the feel that they know the characters moves and they are watching him. 

This then leads to the last shot before the end of the opening sequence. The last shot is once again, an over the shoulder shot. This time it looks as if as an audience member, you are in the backseat watching the drivers every move as he drives on. As the shot continues the same music that has been playing from the start begins to fade away as the opening sequence is coming to an end. 

In this opening sequence, it does exactly what an opening sequence should do in the thriller genre. This is to create a sense of mystery and intensity without giving too much information away. From this opening sequence nothing was given away at all, there was no dialogue, there was only one character present apart from the woman he walked past and mystery was created. One of the main reason I think this was done successfully was the way the camera was worked and how each shot was put into place. The pov shot for example really gave the audience the feel that they saw what the character himself was seeing showing them his every move but also the birds eye view shot showed the audience that they saw his every move once more but this time they were following him from a distance. 

So this opening sequence showed lots of conventions of thriller and really made that evident which was why it would be a successful opening sequence to a thriller film.