Film Language Essay

Hot Fuzz (Fight Scene), 2007

This non-Hollywood film, starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, is a comedy about city policeman that has been transferred to a small town, where he is paired with a relaxed and dim partner, who find that small towns are not all that they appear to be.
In the first 5 seconds, 3 cuts have already been used, going from a extreme long shot, closer long shot to a medium shot, connoting that the diecter wanted to portray the protagonist as strong, suggesting that in the next scene he is the most important subject. The music in these shots is contrapuntal to the setting as the props used are for celebratory purposes, and the non-diegetic sound used is suspense building that may be used in an oppositional Genre: western, this is also reinforced when the protagonist is chewing a prop: a cocktail stick, which is what characters in westerns would do. This reconstruction of a Western spoofed is used to continue the comedy through a near serious scene, which acts as escapism for the audience as rarely in life is there in chance to find something serious and make it into something funny.
The next is a high-angle shot on the school children, reinforcing the stereotypical view of juveniles, as vulnerable and passive, although the costume also reinforced this view as they are dressed in school uniforms that have 'hoodies' underneath them, suggesting that these youths are trying to rebel against the rules. Then having the protagonist in a low-angle shot portrays him as Proppian's idea of the hero. Both of these shots are from the point of views of the characters suggesting the conflictive mind of the character, as the protagonist is a police man, and now he is going to break the law and end up assaulting his oppositions, he is therefore torn with his occupation and standing for what he believes in: that these charcters need to be taught a lesson.
After this, the editing is sped up connoting that the action is starting, the use of cuts increases this speed and signifies the bluntness of the students. This is then lead on to a zoom in to all of the villains, connoting that the hero is about to come for them, in some of the shots, wipe's are used that signifies that these characters are all linked, in one of the shots, a close up of a sign :'come on in' is ironic as by the look of there faces suggests that they do not want the hero to come in. After this, there is a break where a long shot of the protagonist is shown, followed by a zoom of another character, but although this is still a zoom, the fact that there is a break from the villains and this character, it signifies that this character is different to the villains. A series of cuts are then used of the villains, the hero, and also the anonymous sided character.
After this, diagetic sound is emphasised throughout the shots, whilst the editing is sped up, connoting that a lot of things are now happening at the same time, which is the opposite of what the scene was like before, which is also parallel to the setting as it seems like a quiet and peaceful area, whereas now it is noisy and violent.
As the narrative has many villains, and the director has positioned them in all areas of the setting, it has now positioned the hero in a high-angle shot, connoting that he is now vulnerable and cannot do this alone. Using a hand held camera, or some of the camera work, puts the audience in the hero's position, therefore wanting the hero to succeed, this also creates the feel of actually being there, where they can give into their desires of being in a fight and winning it.
Using a tracking shot from the front, emphasises that one of the villains are coming for the protagonist, leaving the audience in suspense and fear as it feels that she is coming for them. Having the shot of the protagonist in a close up of the tip of the gun, connotes that even the audience may be at gun point, as he feels he cannot trust anyone, which leaves the audience on edge, wondering if even the protgonist can be trusted.
A pinncle point of the narrative is emphasised as the non-diegetic sound has stopped, but the diegetic sound still remains, highlighting the discovery of who the other policeman is siding with. The editing then goes to slow motion, where the diegetic sound comes back, but with an adrenaline rush feel to it, making the audience feel excited as the sound connotes that it is now time for the hero to win the fight with his sidekick.
The lighting through out of the scenes are natural, by this the audience can identify with the characters, or in fact the scenario, as many people are found that they are not what they appear to be, and are in fact the opposite of what they portray.
Overall, camera movement, editing, sound, setting and props are all a contribution to the effect on the audience and how they perceive the narrative and characters presented to them. From identifyng with them, to escaping from their lives.