Leon is my favourite thriller. I can't get my hands on the DVD - it isn't for sale anymore in shops and my VHS is broken. So I have had to get what I can off the internet. It stars Jean Reno, Natalie Portman, Gary Oldman and Danny Aiello. This is also a Crime-thriller.
The opening to this film is amazing - as is the rest. It is simple, but effective. The only version I could get my hands on was from http://www.metacafe.com/, and has no sound whatsoever. There are two main camera shots, both very long. The first is probably taken from a helicopter, it is an aerial shot. The camera usage is very clever, it goes across the trees and towards New York city. Straight away we get an establishing shot. It's almost like a point of view shot of a bird or of a fly, flying through the air towards something. The camera travels a fair distance into New York, into Little Italy and straight through the entrance of a restaurant. There are then 19 close up shots. A conversation between Jean Reno and Danny Aiello. The camera shows eye contact through shot reverse shots, close ups of cigarettes, a photograph and Reno's drink (milk). This shows that they are talking quietly, they wouldn't exactly be shouting at each other.
I think we recognise what is happening straight away.
- Quiet Italian restaurant in Little Italy
- Secluded area with two people talking
- Both are very serious
- Man in dark sunglasses and black clothing (hitman)
- Hitman being shown a picture of an overweight businessman
It all adds up and show every convention I need to know what's happening. All in a matter a 3 minutes.
Image source: bloviatrix.wordpress.com
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