RESEARCH Macro/Micro Analysis of 1 Title Sequence

Gone Girl                       Crime/Drama/Mystery/Thriller

MACRO

- The opening sequence is kept mysterious and does not reveal too much of the plot. However, it does introduce the idea of how marriage is the key to the issues between this couple and that the husband does not understand how the wife thinks. It also makes it clear that this film is a very psychological thriller. 

- The characters that are introduced are the husband (Ben Affleck) and the wife (Rosamund Pike). They are both introduced in the first shot aits a shot of the husbands hand stroking the wife’s hair and narrating. The wife looks up and it appears quite menacing. The husband is introduced through his voice and he sounds quite calm yet very insane (this becomes ironic because the wife ends up being insane).

- The only social class that are represented is the upper-middle class of America. It is quite stereotypical because it’s shown as a pretty typical suburban neighbourhood populated with white Americans.

MICRO

- Camera= The scene begins with a close-up of the wife’s hair being stroked and then she turns and stares at the camera for the rest of the narrative. Then, many still-shots are used to give us a feel of the atmosphere, usually wide shots.

- Editing= After each still shot, it cuts off abruptly to the next one. The only smooth transitions are used between the idents and to transition between the opening narrative scene, the credits and the title; the credits face in and out and the title fades in but cuts off abruptly at the end.

- Sound= The sound starts straight away along with the idents, an ambient sound that creates mystery and curiosity. This sound stays throughout the whole title sequence. However, during the part where the characters are being introduced, there is a narrative (voice-over) over the sound as the husband talks.

- Mise-en-scene= The scene takes place in (I assume) a bedroom at first, and then the still-shots are of the area that the characters live by. Although we barely see the characters, their costume and makeup all look natural. They look like ordinary people in an early morning. The only props that are used are ones that fit the still-shots, like a stop sign on the road.

Credit Order

1.      20^th Century Fox (Production)

2.      Regency Enterprisers (Production)

3.      David Fincher (Director)

4.      Main Actors

5.      Crew