Extract Blog

Our extract was a 3-minute clip of the movie 24. In it the author uses a pretty shady interrogation to portray his theme. His theme was that violence is not the answer and its best to solve things in order. Using violence makes you just as bad as them. This is better represented by the editing, camera usage, sound, and Mis en scene of the movie. These techniques help make the theme clearer and helps develop theme. I will explain these techniques and the way they are used as they are presented chronologically in the movie due to there being one scene.

                All of these happen near the beginning or right as it starts continuing throughout the rest of the extract. Firstly, this theme is supported by their dialogue which is the first we hear. The way they speak to each other is strange as he walks in with a very hostile tone. Even so she keeps calm and doesn’t crack under pressure though he’s yelling and screaming at her. This shows that no matter how violent you are it is not the way to solve things he got nothing from screaming and got nowhere. Next thing you see is the use of no tripod the camera is shaking. What this does is reflect his anger and the tension through the camera’s movements. This develops the fact that he truly is violent and angry showing that things get really heated and as he gets angry the camera starts shaking. But even though nothing was gained. At the same time this is happening you here the score. The score gives off the feeling of tension between the two. It helps you see the disconnect between this two showing his anger through the use of eerie tone while also being quiet and calm like her. This disconnect helps show how the tension builds and how throughout all his attempts nothing worked. With the ending of the score sounding very low in bass showing that his actions were wrong. At the same time, you also see the actors. The way that he shows his emotions using speech and facial expressions shows his anger and violent intent. But even with all the pressure put onto her nothing happened. All of these happen near the beginning and show that through the use of emotion what he did was wrong and wasn’t the way to approach the situation.

                Throughout the actual footage that we were shown a lot of things happened. All of these are events that occur presented in chronological order. First thing that happens is the flipping of the table. The use of this prop shows his anger. The way he flips it over and the way it bangs on the ground shows how mad he was. Now this approach to interrogating is a very violent approach in which nothing was gained. This develops the idea that no matter how violent you are not everything can be solved that way. Next that happens is a crosscut showing the people outside and how surprised they are and uneasy about what just happened. The woman looks panicked while the man looks concerned. This builds off the fact that this isn’t the usual approach and isn’t what they wanted. By the way they acted it can be said that what he’s doing is morally wrong. This builds off the fact that you are just as bad as them if you solve manners through violence. Next, he pushes her against a wall which gives us a high angle of what’s happening. This angle is like a metaphor saying that this is the peak and the extent that he goes will go to for justice. This develops the idea that he doesn’t hold morals to heart and will do anything to get what he wants even violence. Especially when compared to the scene where he’s choking her. His violence did nothing no matter what lengths he took. And lastly it shows the reaction of those watching outside with a split away shot. This shot shows their panic and them running to her assistance. This shows that what he did was wrong with people rushing to stop the situation. Which develops the idea that this shouldn’t be the way to solve problems a nonviolent approach is best. All of these points use the events and actions taken as ways to help the theme. Showing that being incredibly violent gets you no where but in trouble as in the end he was taken away and ended the interrogation all it did was set them back.

                All the use of camera angles which are high angles, and the use of no tripod. The use of editing is cross cuts and split away. The use of sound is dialogue and score. And the use of mis-en-scene is props and actors. The use of all these techniques help develop one theme that violence is not then answer and its best to settle things through peace. They each show that no matter how violent and angry he was nothing was accomplished. Instead all his violent approach did was set them back now they have less time and he’s going to be int trouble with higher ups for laying hands on the suspect. It got them nowhere. All of this shows that the theme is definitely this or is closely related to this.