TRAILER ANALYSIS
RESERVOIR DOGS
http://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=vayksn4Y93A
STRUCTURE
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Introduction of characters
Introduction to the diamond/jewellery heist narrative
Disruption to equilibrium is introduced through dialogue- ‘if they
hadn’t done what I told them not to do they’d still be alive’
Actors are introduced, accompanying shots of their characters
Film title shown, and Tarantino (director and writer) introduced.
The title ‘Reservoir Dogs’ is an expression in America for dogs
who hang around a reservoir- like the gang in the film, there
are brought together by something but do not like each other.
The colours of the titles represent aspects in the film- the black
and white resembles the black and white suits the men
famously wear. The red connotes the large amount of blood
shown.
Editing
Editing
• Black screens between scenes with titles saying: ‘6 perfect
strangers’ ‘are teaming up’ ‘to pull off the perfect crime’ –
this helps the audience to understand the narrative without
giving away anything crucial.
• In the scene (above) where the men are walking along
together the speed has been slowed right down
• Again at the end the men walk towards the camera in slow
motion emphasize that they are working as a team.
• The shots of the men hitting each other and suggesting
torture are quickly cut to imitate the action in the film.
Camera work and mise-en-scene
MISE EN SCENE
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Suits are worn by the men suggesting they are gangsters. These
black and white suits have become signature to the film.
Props: guns and cars feature throughout the trailer, typical of a
crime genre film.
CAMERA WORK
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Tracking shot is used when the men are first introduced, this shows
them looking around at each other, suggesting the tension
between them all.
Quick shot of a gun being loaded. This immediately introduces the
crime narrative to the audience.
Shots of the men hitting each other, and pulling out guns on each
other tell the audience that there will be a disruption to the
planned heist.
SOUND
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The song played throughout the trailer is ‘Stuck in
the Middle With You’ by Stealers Wheel, also
featured in the film. Because it is light and upbeat
it gives the trailer a lighter more comic feel.
3 times within the trailer there is a sudden bit of
violence that stops the music and is then followed
by dialogue which pushes uncovers a bit more of
the narrative to the audience. For example: you
hear a gun being clicked into place and then
following is the dialogue ‘what happens if the
manager wont give me the diamonds’. This
introduces the heist narrative.
Quick cut scenes of gunshots- both real guns and
people saying ‘bam’
Voice over introducing the starring actors.