full metal jacket

The scene when Joker is showing Pyle how to lace his boots is very effective in encouraging us to see Pyle as a threat to the group and aligns us with the group’s view of Pyle.

The first thing we can notice is that Joker and Pyle in focus and the rest of the group are blurred in the background. This makes us see Joker and Pyle in same light and not as part of the group. Pyle is keeping Joker from being part of the group and prevents him from aligning with the group. This is reinforced by the fact that the group are polishing their boots in sync, whereas Joker and Pyle are still lacing theirs, which again prevents Joker from joining the group because he is slowing Joker down and therefore is seen as a threat by the group and Joker. Also in the shot Pyle is placed between Joker and the group, which tells the spectator that he is in the way of Joker conforming to the group’s mentality.