SSC Film Studies

Boogie Nights Analysis: Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

The first shot of the 3 characters (Dirk Diggler, Reed & Todd) entering the house shows a close up of only a man's face through a small window, small enough that his face doesn't even fit. This gives the atmosphere a trapped tone due to the restricted framing. As soon as they all enter the house, the atmosphere completely switches as there is a lot of open switch which automatically gives an audience an insight that this is going to be a very unpredictable night. When they enter the house, the door, with bars on, locks and a soft instrumental begins to play. This positions the three characters as imprisoned as there is no way out. Due to the music starting just as they walked in, this creates the impression that the music is playing as a timer and the countdown has begun.
Upon entering the room with the drug dealer, firecrackers begin to inconsistently pop which contrasts the effect of the soft piano. The sound of the firecrackers is unpredictable as they pop at any given time at a high volume with a very sharp, piercing sound. The contrast it has against the music already playing provides an uncomfortable sound for the audience to listen to. The 3 guys also experience this same emotion. The firecrackers create a tense atmosphere as the characters are now in a dangerous environment. All the sounds overlapping each other creates an overwhelming and chaotic atmosphere as it is too much noise to consume whilst still concentrating on the unravelling scene. The sound here plays as a juxtaposition as the meaning created is anticipation for the unknown.
As there is no non diegetic sound this emphasises the tense atmosphere as the audience can only hear what the characters can hear. Normally, diegetic sound provides an insight to the audience on what is about to happen next so the fact there is no diegetic sound means that the audience are left in suspense due to the unpredictability of the current environment.
The main character in this scene is the drug dealer. The camera positions him at a low angle and he's surrounded by symmetry making him the audience's focal point. The camera shows him via a point of view shot when he's standing over the other three. This heightens the threat and unpredictability of him as the audience is watching him through the characters eyes therefore we do not know what is going to happen and the fact he is standing over the characters at a point of view level, both characters and audience feel threatened.
As the scene develops the framing becomes more restricted. The feeling of entrapment magnifies more as each shot is framed closer as the camera tracks closer. When the drug dealer stands over the characters, the shot switches from a POV to a high angle of Dirk, Reed & Todd portraying them as vulnerable and powerless. At one point, the camera shows the three characters's reactions on the couch as the drug dealer cackles whilst more fire crackles explode. Their body languages drastically varies. Reed and Dirk both look very uncomfortable. For example, Dirk's eyes stay glued to the floor, refusing to look up showing how frightened and nervous he really is. Reed sits forward very stiffly and coiled over showing how nervous he also is that he cannot relax. Todd however, remains sat back and laid back showing how comfortable he is and conveying how this tense environment isn't phasing him whatsoever. This gives the audience an insight on Todd's mental stability as he isn't affected by the current dangerous environment.