Analysis of Sicario

How does this sequence engage the audience? 

 

In the film Sicario, there are a number of shots used to build up suspense and tension before a shoot out. One of the first shots in this particular scene shows the two characters in preparation for a dangerous situation shown by the costume and props of the guns and body armor. The use of cold tones foreshadows the dark events that are going to take place. The use of the unsaturated colour palette also suggests

to the audience how they’re supposed to feel because it creates a gloomy and melancholic mood. In this scene it uses an over the shoulder shot which appears to make the characters look closer together which may suggest the need of co-operation and teamwork.

 

 

I found the positioning of the camera interesting in this shot, it’s used to show the antagonists but it’s used to show them from the perspective of the protagonist which creates a tense atmosphere and makes the antagonists look vulnerable because it looks as if they’re surrounded. This can make a scene feel even tenser because it creates a feel of claustrophobia or the sense of entrapment.

This idea of entrapment is also reinforced in this next shot

where the antagonists are being surrounded. They’ve chosen

to use an over the head shot which establishes the scene and

shows the power and dominance of the protagonists. They’ve also used the diagonal lines in this shot to create a feeling of uncertainty and unease. This shot is also a sudden change because the previous shots show a lot of similarity in the way it shows the close positioning’s of the characters and the objects in the shot, such as the cars. However, this sudden change to an over head shot shows clearly what is going on in the scene and creates a sense of clarity for the audience and a slight ease because it feels as if we are only watching from the outside instead of being down in the cars with the characters.

The camera is then quickly brought back down to the action in where we feel as if we are in the same situation of this character and share the same fear as she expresses. This is because the camera is positioned at an eye-level shot which makes us relate to the characters as we are on the same level as them. In this shot they’ve chosen to film almost the entirety of the empty car and only her sitting in it. This is to reinforce the sudden isolation she is now in, which contrasts against the first shot where a sense of companionship is suggested between the characters.

This shot shows the complete surrounding of the antagonists and their sudden realization of having no way out. This idea is shown through no use of blank space within the shot because it suggests there is no way for the antagonists to escape to. Also the positioning of the camera shows the situation from the antagonists perspective and shows the audience the power of the protagonists. Especially the pointing of the guns which are very intrusive and make the audience feel uncomfortable.