In Sin City, mise en scene is used effectively, the setting is a built up place showing how insignificant she is compared to this wide stretch of civilisation, although they are overlooking the city higher up which could show that they’re higher up in society.(which is shown in the screenshot below) By just showing the two of them it makes them seem more isolated from everyone else. Props like the cigarette could give an impression of their character and that they could be quite wealthy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hair of the actors’ are both very slick back and neat which could indicate that they are well off and smart, which makes it effective as at the end he says about cashing her cheque which must have been big. Although this contrasts from her character as her hair is tidy and organised while it sounds like her life is the complete opposite as she is having to run away from something. The make- up used and costumes reflect the ideas given by the hair, her lipstick is a rich red and her skin perfect showing that she can afford such luxuries. By making her look so perfect the audience is lead to suspicion of her, which is falsely led as we soon find out. All this is shown in this screenshot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lighting is quite dark giving the atmosphere an eerie feeling; it also tells us that something is about to happen which makes it very gloomy and creates tension. All the colours in this scene are all muted and dull showing that it’s not going to be very happy. In contrast, this screenshot shows that the woman is wearing the only colours with bright red lipstick and a red dress; this makes the audience believe that she has a big significance to the film when in fact she doesn’t.  The man is merged with the background wearing very dull colours to make him seem insignificant, however, this is a trick for the audience as it seems to end up going the other way, the director wanted us to believe that the women would be the main character so it shocks the audience when she is suddenly killed by the man. Now the red dress is thought to have been a clue to what was about to happen as it could represent the blood split and her death that followed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The positioning of these characters are usually in the centre of the shot or slightly to the side using dead space around them to bring the audience’s eye to the main focus in the middle.

Their facial expressions are plain, not giving anything away, although the way they look at each other without looking away shows the affection between them. The women is very delicate as she takes the cigarette, this relates to the end as she is helpless, this gives the audience the idea that she’s a very fragile person. As he talks about her he gives little smiles which show that he likes this about her, reinforcing the ideas upon the audience.

Her face drops as he talks about running away from something, she turns from him so that he can’t see the worry etched across her face, suggesting that she doesn’t want to seem weak or have him pity her. Turning back, she realises he knows her pain, which could indicate to the viewers that they are quite close as he knows her well. As they kiss they are pushing against each other showing how passionate they are.

Even after he shoots, he holds her close as if his love is true and doesn’t want to lose her, although his actions make the audience question this. He blinks repeatedly as if trying to hold back the tears. This is used to confuse the audience, filling up their heads with questions to grip them in the last screenshot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beginning of Se7en is much different from Sin City; first of all, the setting isn’t shown, instead the atmosphere is used to give an impression on the type of film. The atmosphere is haunting and makes the viewer uneasy with the uncomfortable series of sounds. Close ups are used effectively throughout to raise suspicion and mystery as you can never see the whole picture. The props are used here to add to the tension as tools are being flickered onto the shot raising questions on what they’re being used for. A blade in particular is shot for a long time, he chips away at his flaky flesh which could be a hint of what he intends to use it for- cutting flesh, which is shown in the first screenshot. This also links with the text that flashes on and off repeatedly as the font used looks as though a blade had cut it as it’s very uneven, the following screenshot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lighting has been used effectively by the contrast of light and dark to add to the effect and the sudden flashes of light are used to shock the audience and keep them unsettled. Some areas are using natural light, which looks like it’s coming through a window to keep the scene dim, to support the atmosphere. Although, through the paper there is black lighting as it show more of a contrast between the black writing and the paper, which isn’t a pure white as this would indicate that he is an innocent person, which he is not. Also, by bringing out the words more on the paper it quickly gives hints on aspects this character doesn’t like as he’s putting a black marker over the words such as ‘intercourse’ and ‘transsexual’ which is a clue to what the film is about as he kills people following the seven sins, shown in screenshot one. This is reinforced again at the end of the scene, in the next screenshot,  when the word “God” is cut from a newspaper and a voice over shouts “You got me closer to God”. This also ends the scene with the audience questioning the character as he seems to be troubling with, in a way, good intentions to God as a religious man.  All the colours used are all muted and dull to show the audience that this isn’t a cheery film but very serious and disturbing
(Indicated by the disconcerting images flashing up of the dead) which links to Sin City as they use a similar colour scheme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In conclusion, both opening scenes are very different as one focuses on close ups to show all of the opening while the other uses a range of shots including a wide shot to show the setting. Unlike Se7en, Sin City doesn’t include any text and presents characters clearly showing the killer, which is left as a mystery for the other film. While Se7en foreshadows using words, such as those being marked out or linking with the pictures, Sin City conveys messages using colour, body language and setting. Both scenes end with the audience confused with questions floating in their mind, so all the techniques used are effective as it keeps the viewer watching.