First Textual Analysis

The Departed

Analysis

I will analyse the firs five minutes of the movie “The Departed”. This movie was made in 2006 as a remake from the Chinese movie “Internal Affairs”, and directed by Martin Scorsese. It was wrote by William Monahan. The writer is an american award winning script writer, he has directed other films such as “Kingdom of Heaven” (2005). In this movie, two police officers Billy Costigan (Leonardo Di Caprio ) and “Colin” (Mat

Damon) will be infiltrated in their oposite sides, the good policeman will be an undercover inside the force for the Irish Mafia and the low life cadet will be a police officer undercover in the Mafia. Violence, scams and betrayal will create a number of blood marked trails that will bring this story to an unexpected conclusion. This movie has an incredible cast including, Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin, Mark Wahlberg and Martin Sheen between others.

Martin Scorsese is one of the most recognised directors of all times, he has directed movies such as Goodfellas, Casino, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Colour of money and Raging Bull between others.

This opening scene has as a dramatic purpose to introduce the main characters to the audience and set the time and space, and specially to introduce in a much grater way to the character represented by Nicholson.

The movie starts with a scene were a riot of black people is taking place. This seems to be footage from 80’s news, or a documentary.

Scorsese has chosen a numeber of stylistic devices as to acomplish with his target.

In first place, the use of camera. Eye level angle is used the most in this extract, along with medium angle, but in a smaller frequency. The eye level objective is to create the feeling that the audience is situated inside the movie, in Nicholson’s place. This also means that at least this piece of the movie is based on this character’s point of view.

Medium shots shots predominate in this extract. The angle of the camera is used as to maintain the most important subject in this first minutes, this is Frankie Costello (Nicholson). There are some long shots and some close ups, as to show specifics, such as the money that “Ben” hands to “Mr. C.”

Also regarding to the camera use is the movement. In the first seconds of the action, traking shots and following shots move along with Costelo. This shows both his importance and how the action develops around him. Also, the use of zooming, mostly zooming in, will get “closer” to the characters face, showing the importance of this and to convert the shot into a close up, making the expression the action.

The framing in this scene is really Scorcian, asi in general, the characters are left to a side, as to show both the main character, but also his surroundings. Also, the camera changes the main focus whenever a hand on hand exchange is made, this is as to show one of the important parts of this movie, the exchange of money.

In second place, the use of sound is also very important in this extract. In the introduction footage of “some years ago”, diegetic sound will open the scene with the fight noises from the riots. This noises will continue, but will have a small importance. There is a part were a man is interviewed, and he says: But now, i don’t know, its a funny thing, they put hatred into your heart. In the beginning of the “action”, dialogue between Nicholson and the other characters. Most of the talking will be done by “Mr. C.”. As the action developes, Costelo’s voice will be a link between scenes.

Regarding to non-diegetic sound, at the first 10 seconds, there is no non diagetic sound, but in second 11, a voiceover starts, this is Costelo’s monologue, which will be an introduction for the action. Just 10 seconds after the monologue starts, the song “Gimme Shelter” by the Rolling Stones will start fading in. This song will remain as a backround untill young Collin speakes. At this point, the song will change to a bit instrumental song, and will return to “Gimme Shelter”, this song will sybolize two things. The fist one regards to the time this movie is stetted at the beginning, wich is the same time as this song was written, and on the other hand, is the theme of the song “ Rape, murder, is only a shot away”, representing the shifting shapes of people and the thin line between a cop and a gangster.

The editing of this extract is continuous and hollywoodian, and there are no transfers between scenes. The peace of the editing in this extract is settled according to the dialogue and the action. In general, this are long takes and have a fluid transition. A long take will in general be one in which the main character is tracked by the camera. There is no use of special effects in this extract.

The lighting of this introductory bit of the movie is really important. As the intention of this part is to introduce the audience with the action and specially with the characters, the entrance of Mr. Costello will be a very important segment. The cinematographer creates a sense of mystery and obscureness around this character, and as to achieve this, his face is always on the shadows, in a chiaroscurian way. Even when there is light in the room and the rest of the characters are illuminated, Costello’s face will always be on the shadows, and is illuminated at the end of the extract, when he makes his final statement: “When i was your age they would say, you can become cops or criminals, today, what I'm saying is this: when you are facing a loaded gun........What’s the difference?” This makes an ending for the establishing part of the character. Most of the lighting is artificial and pointed to specific subjects, but natural light is the sense that is generally intended, and in the execution it is fully natural.

Mise-en-sene in this extract is simply trying to get the senesce that this is settled in the 80’s or so. So, cars are from the 80’s, and the diner looks kind of around those times, classic american style, and some other key elements, such as an old fan creates the needed realism.

In conclusion, the opening 5 minutes from The Departed are one of the gratest parts of movies in history, and is really effective as it settles the audience with the main characters, time and space.