Shutter Island - Opening Sequence Analysis

Here is the link to the video, the opening sequence commences at 0:00 and is analysed till 2:00 http://www.movie2k.to/movie-116256-Shutter-Island-film.html

Shutter Island;

• Director; Martin Scorsese
• Budget; $80,000,000(estimated)
• Gross profit; $294,804,195(worldwide)
• Production Companies; Paramount Pictures, Phoenix Pictures and Sikelia Productions
• Starring; Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo and Ben Kingsley

Camera:

The opening sequence of ‘Shutter Island’ shows the Opening credits showing the production companies paramount, phoenix, Sikelia and Appian Way. The camerawork used in the first shots is font against a black background the first establishing shot comes in of a boat appearing from within the sea fog long shot shows the entirety of the boat. This is a classical establishing shot as it autonomously sets the opening narrative. The next most memorable use of camerawork in the opening sequence is by an over the shoulder shot not with another character with a mirror showing the characters reflection, the camera has been deliberately positioned to reveal this shot. This shot screams connotations of dual or split personality. Another shot which provokes the idea that the this character is troubled or of dual personality by the shot of him looking out of the porthole as if he is looking out at the world from an enclosed place, as if he is in a prison cell possible enigmas for the later narrative. This can be backed up by the sort of CCTV view shot overhead of the character while he is washing his hands in the sink as if the character is being seen from a variety of directions like he is being watched. The camera is also positioned at one point in the same place as the mirror breaking the 180 degree role and also that maybe we are now looking at a different aspect of the character. There is finally the ending shots of the opening sequence where a two shot has been used from behind showing the entirety of the characters and the surroundings there in. the shot then edits to a close up version of the characters talking among each other creating a link together something which will be present throughout.

Sound:

Opening sequence and credits there is orchestral music that’s is ringing very spooky and chilling, with the use of stringed instruments. The sound a fog horn and then the boat sounds, sounds of heavy breathing followed by the dialogue, ‘pull yourself together teddy’ ‘that’s a lot of water’ ‘come on’ all of this is said to him self as if he is psyching himself up for something or possibly connotations of crazy. There is constant ambient sound of the boat and clanking of metals which is visible on screen. There is also often the sound of a foghorn slightly pitched at various points as if to draw attention to them. There is also dialogue between the 2 characters when there a stood beside each other checking if the person is ok. Main theme of the dialogue throughout is a clear phobia to water or sea sickness.

Editing:

There are two types of editing used in the opening two minute sequence is straight cuts and the use of a wipe to reveal the title of the film. This exclusively limited use of editing techniques makes the opening sequence and the whole feeling surrounding the film to be one that’s just normal and straight, like nothing is out of the ordinary however with knowing it’s a thriller there is clearly going to be a twist and thrills and excitements throughout. This all makes the production seem tedious, and slightly boring.

Mise en Scene:

The Mise en scene in the opening two minutes to ‘Shutter Island’ has significantly positioned and deliberately used props and costumes to set the scene and also leave enigmas for the rest of the film. The first major prop or narrative extra put in is the use of a mirror, which immediately seems that the character either has a dual personality with looking at one face and another with the use of over the shoulder shots, makes you think you’re not seeing this person properly your seeing a reflection of him. In addition to this the director has used chains and handcuffs dangling from the ceiling to incite the feeling of slavery or prisoners the way in which the chains are clanking together its clearly evident that of something to come perhaps in someone’s past or an enigma left for the audience to discover. The plaster on the characters head also raises questions as to why its there or what happened? Something the audience doesn’t know is relevant or not but could be so is focussed upon. Could show that the character has been involved in a fight or has been the victim of some sort of attack of some kind. The costumes worn by the two characters we meet in this opening scene are typical to that of a detective or reported with the long overcoat and suit with a hat on.