Sherlock Film - Essay

Grace Watson

4 February 2020

Media Studies

Essay

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In the video snippet from the Sherlock Holmes film, gaps are bridged between ‘heavier’, more suspenseful moods, and ‘lighter’ ones. This is achieved through the effective camera work, lighting, props, costumes, both diegetic and non-diegetic sound and so on.

The initial mood of the clip is heavy and suspenseful. A theme of confusion is immediately introduced through the style of camera work and angles as well as the editing that has been used. Beginning with an establishing shot of the location; a swimming pool, sets the scene. It instantly stirs up question within the viewer as to why the event would occur in the area of a swimming pool. Usually swimming pools are places enjoyed most specifically by children... places where the mood should be light and full of laughter, however it now seems to be in the opposite use. It is dark, scary and could possibly be the location of a death scene. This stark contrast is ironic and successful in highlighting the strangeness of the situation, encouraging the viewer to begin questioning from a place of confusion. It falls under both the effects of camera work and mise-en-scène.

Effect is portrayed through camera work and editing by the continuously alternating camera shots from different angles (camera work) within the large room with quick fades (editing) between them which could almost resemble blinks, which furthermore enhance that confusion. Just as when one blinks you cannot see anything for that moment, the alternating of the shots interrupts the vision of what can be seen, infusing confusion and mystery within the viewer. The edits of short takes with longer cuts generate an anxiousness and the fades enhance the suspense.

The second shot reveals a pillar blocking the camera vision, and thereby the viewers vision as well. Here, the camera work is efficient in heightening the suspense as the viewer begins to become worried, questioning what is happening behind the pillar. At this point, the viewer feels uncomfortable and slightly bewildered.

The beginning of the clip is intense.

Later on in the clip, close-ups and extreme close-ups reveal how each character feels. The viewer is able to more vividly and clearly see the determination, and even terror, on their faces, and may begin to wonder what is going to happen next. The confusion and suspense that was introduced earlier now arises once again as the viewer has a deeper look into the stressed faces of each actor. In contrast, the ‘bad guy’ appears completely confidant. This can be detected in his stiff posture and calm self-assured sentences whilst he makes threats.

In the moment when Sherlock holds the gun towards the ‘bad guy’ opposite him, an over-the-shoulder-shot is successful in depicting the situation from his perspective. The viewer sees the matter through ‘his eyes’, the eyes of aiming a gun at someone in effort of scaring them out of what they had planned to do, i.e. murder someone. The viewer may hold their breath at this point, exactly as each actor is probably doing internally.

Meaning was created in mise-en-scène through shadows. Throughout the clip, the deep use of intense shadows is efficient in consealing the faces of the actors, implying that something is hidden, secretive. This links to the constant confusion as what is actually the matter coming through in the scene. The person viewing the film begins to feel worried as to what is to come in the clip as they feel aware that something is hidden. The lighting is that of dark, gloomy unclear greys and blacks, which enhances the shadows as well as fogs the clarity of vision of the viewer as they struggle to clearly see what is happening in the scene.

The costumes worn by the actors in general all appear to be smart suits. All the actors seem semi-smart (some more than others) as if they are carrying out an important, serious procedure. This can also be detected in the facial expressions of determination in each actor which are revealed by the close-ups discussed. This scene is definitely not a casual moment.

Sherlock seems to be dressed in an outfit that is slightly more modest. The modesty and softer feel to his outfit, although still semi-smart, implies that he is on the ‘good side’, whereas his ‘enemy’ (as depicted in the film) appears to be wearing a hard, sharp, expensive-looking black suit, which implies that he is successful and powerful in some regard, perhaps even an assassin. The black colour of his suit, which in some way matches the black and brown feels to the lighting, hints to the fact that he is the ‘bad’ person in the situation as black is often a colour associated with evil and darkness. This is ironic as the viewer questions how he is able to actually go out into the real world and earn money (hence the expensive-looking suit) whilst keeping secret the terrible fact that he is involved in atrocious acts (hence the guns and bomb jackets).

Sherlock holds a gun towards him and alongside him is a bomb jacket. Therefore, the black colour of his suit is also effective in symbolising the death that he may be soon to experience, black being a colour associated with death.

This ‘bad guy’ displays a disconnect from reality. It’s as if he thinks that he is superior. This is implied in the fact that he would answer a phone call in the serious moment of having a gun aimed at him, locked and loaded. In some moments he seems more humane, such as when he says “Do you mind if I take this?” which reveals a sense of him perhaps having some sort of manners, that at least he would have the decency to ‘excuse’ himself for the call. However in other instances he displays utter psychopathic tendencies. He fluctuates between those slightly more humane comments, to completely strange and inhumane comments, such as “I will skin you alive!” He often makes threats, and talks with a control that is creepy, emphasising his ill-character. He often speaks with a high-pitched voice, complete contrast to the deep suspense of the beginning and end of the clip.

His skin has been made to appear somewhat ashy and grey, not human in colour. This further highlights his inhumane nature and the fact that as he stood before Sherlock who had a gun aimed straight toward him, he was near death. The ashy grey is a colour often associated with fear. Perhaps even though he appeared confident and unworried externally, his loud comments such as “.....” highlighting this, he was actually worried internally, which was being revealed through his skin tone.

The deep, dark and ‘heavy’ tone of the beginning is instantly shifted at the moment of the phone call. The use of sound is highly successful in adjusting the mood completely, from one of utter heaviness and intimidation with a gun being aimed at someone, to a lighter, slightly ‘calmer’ tone, allowing the viewer a slight breath. The phone call is an example of diegetic sound, sound which can be heard by the actor. With that being said, although it may appear calmer, it is more confusing and could increase suspense as the viewer may think that one, it’s an exceptionally important phone call, hence the fact that the actor saw the need to interrupt such an intense moment to answer it, and two, it also evokes further questioning within the viewer who begins to fear what may happen in this moment. Perhaps he will be shot whilst on his phone. The ringtone is light, upbeat and joyful. The song of the ringtone is ‘staying alive’ which is ironic as he is essentially about to be shot and killed. It’s as if the phone call breaks the heat and focus of the moment.

Where previously the diegetic sound of the door creaking at the beginning of the scene introduced that sense of intrigue, the phone call’s ringtone, also a diegetic sound, introduces that sense of a change in mood.

Where before the non-diegetic sound was a heart beating resembling internal fear and worry, there is now a diegetic sound of the ringtone “staying alive”.

Finally, the tone shifts once more and reverts back to the initial mood of deep suspense, and the camera returns to the beginning shot of the swimming pool. Both full circle. Intense to calmer to intense. No one died. Confusion was evoked. External confidence despite internal fear was revealed.