HW 1a - Existing Film Still Analysis (DYM)

A still from the first segment of the James Bond film 'Spectre,' which I will be analysing as if I have not seen the film and only have the still to get information from. Click to enlarge.

Narrative

The fact that he is wearing a suit in a place completely inappropriate for wearing a suit implies he is some sort of secret agent, and his gun implies that he is not on a reconnaissance mission- he is either hunting someone or being hunted. The gun looks quite modern, as does his suit, so even though the surroundings don't quite give away the time period it seems like this scene is set in the present. He seems out of place in the sandy environment, suggesting he is in a foreign landscape, for him and possibly the viewers, and in fact the stark monochrome colours of his suit really stand out against the faded yellow palette, leaving no doubt that he is out of his 'natural habitat' yet still important. He is walking towards the camera, somewhat involving the audience in the scene and possibly making it more tense and/or exciting, especially as he seems to be walking at some speed, having been able to get one foot out of the frame before the camera presumably moves to centre him in the longshot once more.

Genre

One obvious hint to the genre is the recognisable actor- Daniel Craig is well-known for his recurring role as James Bond, the titular spy of the James Bond series of films. This, combined with his stereotypical spy appearance due to his suit, implies that this is a spy action thriller. The gun only serves to reinforce this- he is most likely either walking towards or away from a fight, further cementing the genre. The foreign-looking (to the average western viewer) environment also conveys the idea that this is a spy film, as spy films often show the main character travelling the world to take part in foreign affairs and international plots as part of their storylines. The fact that this character is up on a roof, walking along the edge of a building, also conveys the spy thriller genre, as he is in a dangerous situation yet seems very calm and focused, typical of his character archetype.

Audience

If this is indeed a Bond film, as mentioned earlier, it is most likely around a 12 rating, designed to be a family blockbuster. The gun means that it is probably not lower than a PG, and thus is probably only suitable for families with older children, but from this particular still we cannot tell if there is gratuitous violence and/or gore, and thus it may not be much higher than a PG- hence 12. An adult is the focus of the shot, which means it is likely not aimed at kids, and it is live-action rather than animation, which further cements the idea that this is not marketed at children exclusively. However, the fact that it stars a famous actor (Daniel Craig) means it could realistically be aimed at anyone and everyone.