I also noticed the lighting hitting the character's faces. The board they are looking at is a board that tells the future and helps Anderton catch crimes before they are committed. It could be argued that this is a board of enlightenment, hence, the characters are physically brighter as they are obtaining more and more knowledge. The light is also casted down on the characters, coming from above them. Anderton's arms cast a shadow over the other two characters as well as himself with the gloves to show that he is above the other two men are usually in his shadow. Anderton clearly is used to running the show at PreCrime.
This shot is a medium close-up shot of all three characters. Not much of the background is shown, it is plain, suggesting that the director wants us to strictly focus on the characters in the scene, not what is going on behind them. In fact, because of the lighting and the type of shot it is, our eyes are drawn to Anderton first and then fall to the rest of the characters in a line, following the rule of thirds. We learned in class that we often read shots like we read English, from left to right, that is why our eyes are immediately drawn to Anderton.
One specific prop that catches my eye is Anderton's gloves. The little lights on the tips of the his fingers draw my eye immediately. People are drawn to looking at light, especially fine points of it in a big picture.
This is another picture of Anderton, with him on the left showing that he is again depicted at the hero on the heroic side of the frame, following the left, vertical line of the rule of thirds.
Nice job, Jamie. I learned something new by reading your post!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it's interesting that in your second example he's portrayed on the left, but this is just before he's getting ready to do drugs -- maybe another ironic twist and portrayal of the hero in this film.
It is very interesting that they typically put the hero on the left, but there are some images with John Anderton on the right side. Could this show that Anderton isn't always the hero? Do heroes have flaws?
ReplyDeleteWow Jamie that is a terrific observation! Early in the film when we don't know his character yet, is he ever in the middle of the frame? Or does he never play a neutral role?
ReplyDeleteI've got to hand it to you the right/left distinction is something I never would have seen on my own. I also liked the point about the shadows of his arms demonstrating his superiority over the other two characters. I was wondering, though, what you make of the fact that the shadows also cover him?
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting observation, Jamie! I wonder why villains are usually portrayed on the right and why heroes are on the left. Do you think it has anything to do with the rule of thirds? Maybe directors want viewers to be drawn towards looking at the heroes first.
ReplyDelete