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Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Homefront- Still shot analysis


This is a wide shot showing ‘Broker’ with his daughter and a teacher in a class room. The teacher is well shown by her business suit in which her body language shows that she has more power in this situation because she is seen as superior as she sits at a higher level, however the teacher does not belittle Broker as all attention is focused on the daughter. The teacher’s body language also shows sympathy for the girl as she tilts her head. The daughter’s body language suggests that she is guilty as she slouches: it appears that she has gotten into trouble in school. The setting is in a school which is shown by typical educational props such as a world globe, desk and chairs, blackboard. The main source of lighting is coming from the large windows giving off a gleaming luminous light projecting feelings of safety and promise, the surroundings giving comfort as we are unwary of danger ahead. The audience is lead to believe that because of the daughter’s actions it may lead to consequences as in the previous shot we see the roughness of the other family involved in this situation and how loud and obnoxious they are. The silence connotes the seriousness of the situation.



This is a very wide shot showing a past event of ‘Broker’ (Jason Statham) seemingly putting an arrest on two criminals: by looking at the position of Broker,  he is holding a man down in an arrest position and pointing a gun at the other individual, giving that he has more gain of the situation than the criminals do. By looking at the criminal body language, it appears that he has just gotten out of the burning car with his limp; we see that he has no hope of getting away as he does not appear to be pointing the gun at Broker. Also with use of 4 police vehicles and a helicopter, we can tell that it is over for the criminals involved as we see the cops to have more dominance. By looking at the standing individual’s stereotypical attire and a crashed bike next to him, we can suggest that he is part of a biker crew.  The very wide shot establishes the setting of a barren part of the city with the building on the right boarded up, the use of a spotlight also sets attention to the main events and being the only strong light involved it emphasises the size of the characters as being small and inferior. In the previous shot we are shown the criminals driving carelessly to escape, this scene reinforces the idea of their carelessness as we see the car burning in which they had caused when driving into Broker.


The shot is a medium close up and a two shot of the DEA agent ‘Broker’ (Jason Statham) and a trouble making acquaintance. The shot shows the rule of thirds, in which we see another character the Sheriff looking concerned but as his body language suggests he is unusually relaxed about the situation, this may suggest that this is normal behaviour of this individual or the Sheriff simply doesn’t care.  It seems they have just exited a school in which we see the bright wall of a child holding a heart. Looking at Broker’s body language he is seen as unafraid and composed whereas the other character is not as he is pushing Broker and seeming to be losing his temper. The surroundings and it’s lighting seem bright and connotes hope as even the wall suggests with its use of vivid colours however at this point the atmosphere seems to change and we begin to feel as if Broker may be messing with the wrong people as we see the family looking rough beforehand, Broker’s opponent is seen as unwashed and rough with his unshaven beard and uncut hair. At this point we do not know who has authority over this situation as the neutral camera angle shows however ironically the Sheriff is seen as the character with the lack of authority as we see him as smaller and minor.



In this we see a two shot and a mid shot of ‘Broker’ and his daughter, ‘Maddy’. Both characters are wearing caps, this may symbolise their closeness and their relationship, also their clothing are casual yet bright giving the surroundings a more peaceful feel. The horses also project feelings of hope and peace in which their animalistic behaviour shows and suggest they live in a relaxed lifestyle. The setting is in a woodland area reinforcing the idea of isolation and emphasising the size of the town in which we are told it is small. Before this shot we are shown ‘Gator’ breaking into their house and so we find out how unknowing they are from danger, the lighting also seems to resemble their role as the lighting here is luminous whereas the previous shot of Gator is sombre, in which may hint who is playing the role of good and who is the bad. 



This is a low angled shot and an over the shoulder shot of the antagonist, showing the drug lord ‘Gator’ (James Franco) looking down at the so called meth addicts. Both these shots give impressions of power and dominance in which the antagonist possesses as the angled shots portrays him bigger.  Gator’s dominance is also presented with his pitiful look and that of his stance being confident whereas his acquaintance’s body language looking more self-effacing with his slouched and rough look. Gator’s dark clothing connotes that he is a mysterious and disguised individual as he looks like an average engineer however also a drug lord.  The surroundings and lighting both give off an isolated feel with the boarded up windows, this also symbolises Gator as a dark man in which he is dangerous and unescapable. The lighting projects a hopeless feel coupled by silence giving the room an eerie feel. Gator is also seemed to be well known and feared by the locals as they soon become silent and timid in the presence of him.

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