Gone baby Gone

Gone Baby Gone Opening.

Director: Ben Affleck

Genre: Crime Thriller

Distributor: Miramax

Year: 2007

Budget: $19 million

Total worldwide gross: $34,619,000

The opening scene of Gone Baby Gone follows many key signifiers of a crime thriller film. It consists of a monologue from the main protagonist this gives us a background and insight into his personality and aims in life. The narration does not give us insight into the story it just compliments the shots provided to give an insight into the protagonists views on the current world. Flags are shown in the establishing shots to give a specific location for the story setting, the use of the flags along side poverty instantly puts blame to government about the issue and how the flag is responsible for the surrounding poverty. No sound is used for the first 15 seconds of the intro to give an instant raw feel to the film allowing us as a viewer to focus purely on the mise-en-scene. Mid shots are used to show the poor people are insignificant in comparison to the previous close up of the flag, this complimented by a solemn soundtrack creates a very sad feel to the opening of the film. Key focus on family and community which is common throughout many crime films. Presentation of community within poverty soon creates a warmer feel to the sequence as sound track introduces synth. No violence throughout the sequence unlike previous film openings I have looked at. Voiceover shows good intentions to protagonist. Tracking shots of protagonist shows his journey through the local area and his reaction and acceptance for all people. Close up pan to police officer towards the end of the sequence hints at crime and the more negative side to society turning the mood of the opening to that of concern. The use of foreshadowing is also a key technique in this opening as the shot of the policeman follows with a shot of a missing girl who is the key focus of the whole film. Shaky camera also used to highlight the poverty and create an almost documentary style feel to the opening sequence. Cut to news report suggests further something very bad has happened to that girl that is in featured on the news. Minimal sound is used aside from the backing track which immerses us into the music giving it maximum impact and focus towards our main characters. Towards the end of the sequence the music fades and the foliage begins to increase in volume which brings us to the start of the story. The opening of this film creates a lot of narrative enigma leaving us as a viewer on edge to know what has happened.