Casino Royale analysis

The black and white opening scene in "Casino Royale" is very different to the rest of the film. It uses many conventions of film noir to represent an enigmatic theme.

The first shot we see is a low angle shot looking up at the tall dark building exaggerating it's size. The shot is also wide. This is key to include at the beginning of most films because it sets the scene nicely. It also makes the building seem quick far away and as if it is alone making it seem like quite a scary or threatening location. Just like in most film noir movies, this shot includes a lamp post. This -along with other typical pieces- is what makes up most film noir shots that are taken outside. It shows that it is dark and though this shot uses very intense lighting to put shadows across the building, the lamp post is there to make the scene seem less artificial and as if it is ambient light. The use of dark intense lighting to create shadows in the windows and up the building walls is very typical film noir, along with the spooky gust of smoke/steam.

The character is the first character we see. The shot is taken from a worm's eye view forcing consumers to look up at the character making him seem more domineering and powerful. The light is shinning on one side of his face, this creates moral ambiguity and makes the audience question whether he is trustworthy or not. He has a very stern, serious look on his face as he looks out into the distance which creates a sense of foreboding and instantly puts us on edge. His hat and suit suggests his high status and that maybe he is a business man. This type of character is very common in film noir. We often see this type of wealthy looking man dressed in a suit and jacket and often all men in film noir wear some form of hat to show authority/profession (for example, police men).

 The use of shadows in this image shows that very intense lighting is used in this shot. Often film noir created extreme/exaggerated shadows. The light is meant to look ambient as it appears to be coming through a window, however the lighting is extremely artificial -this is a common factor of film noir.
The long shot used here makes the audience feel very distant from the character and as if we are bystanders watching him or spying on him. It completely detaches us from the character as we do not yet have any idea what he is doing or why. It also makes him seem very vulnerable and puts us on edge to watch him alone. The camera is positioned in a very obscured way, this is a typical convention of film noir, it adds to the enigmatic feel and re-enforces the feeling of spying on the character. Still there is light shinning on half of the characters face as the rest of him is camouflaged  into the dark room, this created moral ambiguity. However, the way in which he is sneakily shutting the door behind him suggests that he does not want to be followed/seen/caught and suggests that he should not be in that building. This makes the character  seem dangerous.

This over the shoulder shot now shows the first character without a hat. This suggests that he is not panicked and isn't in a rush. It makes us think that he might not of been sneaking into the building as he seems to be quite comfortable. There is intense lighting used to create shadows around the room and to make Bond seem as if the light from outside is shinning on his face, this suggests that he is a good character however half of his face fades into the shadows along with the rest of him making his character seem morally ambiguous. With Bond sitting down it makes him seem as though he has a lower status and suggests that the character standing up, looking down on him, holds power over him. However, the way in which Bond is sitting, slouched in the chair, feet spaced out, hands in pockets makes him seem as though he is very calm and comfortable and though the angle suggests authority in the man standing up, James Bond's body language just seem so care free and patronising.

This is first time we see a close up of James Bond's face. Again the light is shinning on half of his face with the other half fading into the shadows- making him seem morally ambiguous. The camera is at an obscured angle as if we are spying on him, it is also slightly titled to have us looking up at him suggesting his authority/power.
His face seems very angry and directed at the charcter standing opposite him, this creates an uneasy feel and makes it seem very tense.

This shot in comparison with the previous shots at the beginning of the scene is very different. There is a lot more intense light artificially used in the scene making it very bright and contrasting with the context of the scene. It's quite ironic that a violent scene is being shot in such a pure and light environment. The camera is at a high angle looking down on Bond looking over someone else, it makes him seem powerful but also makes him seem as if he isn't a nice character as he is standing over a body. This is very much typical of film noir as most 'heroic' characters in film noir have a very mean side to them which makes it hard to differentiate good with evil. Morality is often questioned in film noir.