Silver linings playbook - Opening two minutes analysis

Silver Linings Playbook

Opening two minutes analysis

The genre is hard to identify in the opening two minutes as although this is a romance film there's very few genre indicators, the boy doesn't meet the girl, we as the viewer haven't even met the girl yet. There is the stereotypical supportive friend and pushy mother but not on the subject of love, on the subject of mental health, also as we haven't even met the girl lead or heard anything about her we therefore know nothing about her. This means the film doesn't conform to the conventions of a romance film as the female lead hasnt't been introduced, most conventions apply to how opposites attract and how the male lead may hate the female lead but secretly loves her or how the male lead is a bit of a womanizer, bit rough around the edges but in this film's opening two minutes there's none of this. None. All because the female lead hasn't been introduced yet, we can draw ideas of what the male is like and attempt to tie him into conventions but even the environment isn't stereotypical of romance. A stereotypical setting would be deep in the heart of the city or in a romantic cottage in the countryside not in a mental health hopsital. The music is a genre indicator as it's slow and peaceful and there's no tension or suspense like in horror, or fast paced, high tempo like in action - there is also a conventional monologue at the beginning delivered by the main character to give us a deeper insight into their lives.

The sound conforms to romance conventions as non-diegetic, soft, peaceful music plays from the start leaving the viewer feeling relaxed  and excites viewers for the film to begin and for them to see what happens in this love story rather than high tempo, suspenseful music commonly used in horror films to create drama and tension. This is contrasted by the main characters quite sudden and direct monologue that cuts sharply into the tranquil music playing underneath it, the more he speaks the more questions that are raised about this character as we come to learn more about him and his family. A loud knock on the door interjects this monologue and annoys both the viewer and the character as we're both annoyed as he was interrupted and we want to know what he has to say, this is effective as it brings us into the film and makes us empathise with the character but at the same time teaches us more about the environment he is in as someone has come to get him, he is being told what to do and all the viewer has left to ask is why? As he ignores the persons call for him to come out the room and instead continues to read whatever he is reading it shows that he dislikes the place he is in and doesn't like being told what to do. He doesn't like the authority others have over him and want's to be independent, his un-aggressive tone shows he can't scream at this person, however much he dislikes them he has to respect them - this supports the theory that he is in a controlling environment with people telling him what to do, the viewer may start to suspect he is in an institute of some kind. There is silence as he talks to the person outside his door, the calm music has faded showing that when he is alone, thinking, he is happy and relaxed like the viewer was listening to that music but now this person has come and spoken to him he is annoyed and therefore the calm music is gone - it could show he doesn't like other peoples company, another convention of love stories that the main character doesn't like people until he meets 'her' who heals him and makes him better. Alternatively it could be that he doesn't like the place he is in so being made to do something makes him tense, the silence represents his tension and nervousness to the the viewer. The non-diegetic music then starts which sounds like a low-pitched piano, this suggests that tone or atmosphere is rather mellow. A guitar is added to the non-diegetic music which suggests that it's acting like a build up to something or it's acting as a reminder to the character to carry on and not be put down. The piano track  that starts of slow and sad builds in tempo and creates a more optimistic environment in which we see these characters, when he is alone the music is depressing whereas when he is with people the music is more upbeat and hopeful, this contradicts my earlier theory that he prefers to be alone. Alternatively it could be that he thinks he prefers being alone and is in denial about the fact the hospital is actually helping him and doing good for him as he feels he could cope fine on his own. The music picks up dramatically though when he is alone doing exercise, supporting the theory that he does prefer being alone or it could be that exercise is the one thing he thinks helps him the most and a constant in his life that helps him seeming that there is so much change and uncertainty in his life. This changes when a woman, who we presume to be his mother, stands over him and the music slowly fades out which suggests that his state of content has been taken away as this new character comes into the picture.

The opening shot is a mid shot of a man with his back to the camera and he is talking to someone or something that we can't see yet, this conforms to the conventions of a romance (opening monologue from main character) and lures the viewer in creating a sense of mystery. There is an eyeline match of what the character was looking at which suggests that me may be preparing for what he wants to say or that he has nobody to talk to and has to rely on the doctor. This is followed by a tracking shot into the word 'excelsior' which suggests that it is indirectly giving the character hope because it means 'ever upward' which connotes that there is a firm belief that he can step off the emotional rollercoaster he is on and put things right. There is a fast paced pan around the side of his face which ends with a close up of his face, this suggests that the character is almost being exposed to us because he isnt saying anything and when you look at someones face it's as if your're judging them. Also the close up suggests that we are emotionally closer to him. The camera then subtly tracks away from him which suggests that we are being emotionally detached from him and that it's like a warning not to develop a personal attachment with him. It could further suggest that the character is unable to create personal bonds with anyone because when someone looks at him, they judge him and don't want to get to know him. This would conform to romance conventions as the new girl can help him and show he is capable of forming personal bonds. The camera quickly turns away from him which connotes that there is a sense of disruption or something isn't right, also it suggests that he is a quick thinker because he doesn't stay stuck on the same thought. A mid shot shows the viewers that he is on medication and possibly has a mental or physical problems that needs to be treated, a close up shot of his pill spat on the floor shows the character can't be trusted to do as he is told and suggest, once again, that he doesn't like to be told what to do and has his own way of doing things. There is a tracking shot that is going inwards towards the group which suggests that the viewer is becoming emotionally attached to the situation. A mid shot of the male character, his doctor and his mother with them in the foreground and him following behind in the background suggests he is less important and is being treated like a child because the 'grown up's' are deciding what to do with him. The camera then pans to the mother which suggest the focus is being shifted onto her and it's up to her to decide what to do with her son, also she isn't placed in the centre of the frame and is towards the left which suggests the place they are in is overpowering.