Bourne Ultimatum Textual Analysis


Key:
Camera work
Editing
Mise En Scene
Sound
Narrative Story

Instantly the opening starts off with a big close up shot of the protagonists legs. From this shot we can tell that he is in a rush due to the fact that there is nothing else in the frame apart from his legs and the snow suggesting that the opening will be about a chase of some sort. The diegetic soundtrack also gives the audience information that he is running away or is in danger in view of the fact that the soundtrack is very tense and exciting (includes various crescendos). Therefore this emphasises that the opening will be pack full of action. A diegetic sound of a train is implemented straight away and overlaps the soundtrack to inform us that the train will pay a big part during the opening. 

We are also greeted with various camera angles and shots e.g. a close up, side angle of the protagonist walking as fast as he can while injured. Another close up positioned behind the protagonists. This gives the feeling that we are following him, also the camera not being steady strengthens this effect. Then straight after a long camera shot of the protagonist, it transitions to a POV of a long distance shot of the trains suggesting that he is on his way to board the train. Following a few cuts of other camera shots we are again greeted with another POV. However this POV establishes that the protagonist is running away from the police, making the opening more tense and exhilarating. The diegetic sounds of police sirens overlapping each other gives more power to the fact that the protagonist is in big trouble.

After the police arrive there is a fade in of diegetic sound (which is done  post production) of people talking in the background which foreshadows that the protagonist will have difficulty boarding the train because of the reason that he is injured and a crowd of civilians will slow him down. Therefore this makes the scene more apprehensive as the audience will be double thinking if he will make the train or not. Another diegetic sound of a car honking is used to add to the tense atmosphere being created. The car horn also establishes that where he goes danger is happening.

Quick simple cuts are used from 19 seconds to 24 seconds to place emphasise that the police are gaining distance on the protagonist. The quick cuts are also backed up by a long distance shot of a group of police running to the train, and a close up shot of the protagonist with a concerned and anxious look on his face. Shortly after there are three cuts of a close up and mid-shot. The close up being a MOA of him opening the door to board the train. The other two shots being a medium shot of the police attempting to chase him and stop the train from leaving.

Match On Action then plays a big role during the train scene as he is entering room to room trying to loose the police.After a while of hiding and running from the police in the train the protagonist manages to escape just before the train gains to much speed. A medium long shot is used to track him jumping of the train, however the camera is unsteady during this scene to increase the effect that the jump made his injury worst and that he is feeling uneasy and can not control his balance.

55 seconds in to the opening he is leaning by a wall waiting for the police cars to pass by. Behind him is a white wall which contrasts his shadow giving the idea that he is using the darkness to his advantage to make it to safety. Again diegetic sound of police sirens are consistently used as a constant reminder that he is on the police top wanted list. After a POV of the protagonist staring anxiously at the police cars passing by there is a transition of a out focus shot to the camera focusing on the hospital. In sync with this transition is the soundtrack where the soundtrack hits a crescendo and then suddenly stops in proportion with the editing of the blur then transitioning to a focus. This is an establishing shot informing the audience that safety is within an arms reach

Straight after the establishing shot there is a quick zoom, blur then fade in used as a short transition giving us information that he is in the clinic looking for medicine. Inside the clinic MOA is again used along with very quick cuts highlighting that he is in desperate need of medication to reduce the pain he is feeling. While he is looking for medication there is a diegetic sound of heavy breathing to foreground that he is in critical condition.

As soon as he finds the right medication to restore him he quickly finds a room to cure himself. Shallow depth of field is in use while the camera is behind the caging. The tempo of the soundtrack at this point of the opening has noticeably picked up pace and the instruments have all changed to percussion instruments to give an effect of his heart beating fast but to also make the audience go on the edge of their seats. 

Close up shots of the camera positioned behind the protagonist are used while he is healing himself in front of the mirror. However Shallow depth of field is also used to create the effect that the audience are behind him watching. This generates the feeling of stress and on edge. The mise en scene element of facial expression is noticeable as the audience can see the pain that he is in. At this point of the opening the camera shots are all mostly big and extreme close ups of the protagonists face.

The Narrative theory of Todorov is used in this opening however it starts with a disruption which not conventional for most films. Instead it starts with a disruption to equilibrium of the main protagonist running away while he is injured. However he then finds medication to treat himself, this is the reinstating of the equilibrium.


Conclusion
Despite the fact that the opening is unconventional that it does not start with a equilibrium. The whole opening is still effective as throughout the opening the audience are kept on the edge of their feet with the use of an amazing tense soundtrack and quick fast paced cuts of different camera angles using MOA to present and highlight important actions in the opening. Overall I think this film is suitable for people aged 14+.