SE7EN Analysis
Released in 1995 and directed by David Fincher, SE7EN is a
neo-noir psychological thriller starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman as
protagonists Detective David Mills and Detective Lieutenant William Somerset.
The opening of this film heavily rely’s on the use of mise-en-scene
in order to introduce the characters, setting and initiate thought amongst the
audience. Instantly before the on-screen visual has even begun, the location of
the film is suggested to be New York through the use of non-diegetic sound and
throughout the opening the audience are
shown 4 different settings within the New York location; Detective Somerset’s
home, the crime-scene, a New York sidewalk, and Detective Somerset’s
Bedroom. The first location in particular gives an insight into the character of Detective Lieutenant William Somerset portrayed by Morgan Freeman. His house (or even apartment) is very monochrome, with only elements of black and white visible in the scene including Somerset himself. The whole apartment is very bare and tidy suggesting Somerset lives alone and is not a family man he rather lives alone supported by the sound of the neighbours TV inputted into the scene to emphasise the quiet in his apartment.
In the foreground of the shot there is also a chess set. An intellectual and strategic game dictating Somerset is both of intellect but is constantly in need of mental stimulation, his mind is always turning. The audience is also given further insight into the protagonists mind in the following scene as the camera follows Somerset into his room. Here we witness him precisely do his tie and then we are shown a series of objects displayed meticulously on his dressing table. The highly regimented routine of making coffee, doing his tie, and then collecting each item in order suggests he may have previously been in the forces but the following shot of his perfectly made bed and the objects themselves could also indicate Somerset may even have OCD. Therefore in the opening scene we are able to decipher Somerset's character without any dialogue.
The next setting is the crime scene where we meet more
characters but most importantly the second protagonist, Detective Mills
portrayed by Brad Pitt. The key of this scene is to distinguish the differences
between the two characters. Having already met Detective Somerset the audience
have already made their first impressions however once Detective Mills is
introduced they come to realise they are both two opposite characters. Somerset
is very much the traditional detective and is smart both in appearance and his
thinking. Mills however is laidback both in appearance and attitude, and the
two detectives clash in the moment of ‘What kind of question is that?’ This
question instantly demonstrates how the two don’t have an understanding of each
other and arises the thought is this partnership really going to work between
the two?
After leaving the crime scene, the camera
follows the two detectives out onto the street. The camera angle remains low
throughout the scene and the director uses reverse tracking to be one step
ahead of the detectives as they walk down the street. The camera and so
detectives then stop and begin to converse. However the stance of the two is
what gives the audience the most insight into the two personalities. The shot
below shows a distance between the two detectives, and the proximity connotes
both the distance in the partnership having only just met, but also the
distance between the two personalities; they’re on opposite ends of the
scale. The shot also demonstrates the
two different styles, Somerset looking smart and having a strong upright stance
and Mills looking scruffier and not leaning back. The fact Somerset is looking directly towards
Mills who is looking elsewhere also demonstrates the powerplay between the two.
Somerset clearly has more power (and authority) in this situation and it is
indirectly making Mills look and feel uneasy.
Finally, we return to Somerset’s house and are shown a scene
of him in bed. The basis of this scene is the loud city noise and Somerset
using a metronome as a focus-point to block out the noise. This links back to
the idea that his mind is always working and he isn’t able to just relax and
so-called block out the world. At the point when the metronome starts the sound
of the city begins to decrease and the scene becomes calm (the first time in
the whole opening). This forms the calm before the storm concept as it builds
to the final moment where we hear the sound (non-diegetic) of thunder before
the title sequence begins.
Throughout the whole opening scene sound is prominent, with
the New York hustling and sirens being heard consistently. Also consistent is
the editing with little actually being used. They use simple cuts rather than
any extravagant editing to create a very realistic effect matching the visuals
on screen. The realistic effect is also achieved with the camera angles.
Fincher sticks to simple camera angles, with the majority of shots being medium
or long shots and the camera following and staying level with the protagonists
throughout. For me, this helps make the
audience feel present and instantly feel involved and as it’s a psychological
thriller, if the audience feel involved it will create more of a shock. All of
the factors included in this opening scene add to achieving the neo-noir
psychological thriller genre.
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