1. Nine Frame Analysis Of
LA Confidential
I will be looking over nine frames from the
opening sequence of LA confidential and
analysing how they are shot and why they
are done in such ways.

2. Frame 1
The opening scene opens with a picture
postcard view of LA, showing all the
stereotypical views of LA in the 1950s. The
shot opens with many examples of why to
move to LA and how wonderful it is to live
and work there. The scene is displayed in a
montage which is shot from a number of
different distances, showing the landscape
and home life. By using this form it creates
an up beat and almost to perfect view for
the audience and so they no a twist is to
come. The full scene has a bright lighting to
create an upbeat mood that has no sign of
negativity.

3. Frame 2
As the montage moves on to the stars of LA
there are several close ups on the faces of
the celebrity's faces, once again depicting a
positive view over LA. The shot also
changes from colour to black and white at
this point, this is done because they have
used real footage from the times so that the
sequence is realistic, rather than using
actors to play celebrities such as Marilyn
Monroe.

4. Frame 3
As the sequence moves on the camera pans
round a T.V. store where it stops on a
specific T.V. and zooms in till it’s the only T.V
in the shop. The show is a police show that
was on T.V. at the time it shows a police
department that is totally against crime and
that is always on the right side of the law. At
this point the audience start to see a
change in the mood and see what LA is
really like. This is done by showing a change
in both lighting, the clips shown and mainly
the dialog the narrator is saying.

5. Frame 4
As the mood changes in the sequence and
the actual LA comes through to the
audience, so do the characters. The
characters start to become more suspicious
and obviously on the wrong side of the law.
This is shown through a pan of what looks
like a “gangster” and then a cut away to
what is described in the film as a bodyguard
who is clearly reaching for a gun. This shot
allows the audience to know what the films
really about and sets them up for what is to
come.

6. Frame 5
Once again there is real footage in the
sequence, this time it is of some of the
organized crime that is happening in LA at
the time. Most of these shots are shot with
close ups or extreme close ups, this makes
the shots much more intense and builds the
on the story for the rest of the film. This
contrast of a perfect LA and the “real” LA
exaggerates the noir genre even more than
it already is.

7. Frame 6
As the sequence continues more and more
of the “real” LA is revealed and the story
develops to the audience. There are a
couple of more medium and close up shots
which all compliment the dialog that the
narrator is saying. Once again these shots
are in back and white as they are real
footage, which once again makes the crimes
much more realistic. The lighting in these
shots are rather low which brings a negative
feel to the scene.

8. Frame 7
As the real footage finishes the dialog of the
narrator starts to bring the opening
sequence to an end, with the introduction
of how the LA police crack down on crime
and the ways they bring the criminals to
justice. They finish the criminal activity bit
of the opening sequence with one last
piece of real footage. This is a close up on a
roulette match which will have been one of
the main drivers of the crime in the city
(gambling).

9. Frame 8
The opening sequence then returns to the
the film and shows a typical arrest of a well
known criminal that is big in the press.
These shots that are shown through a long
shot and a pan which show how the arrests
are more about the ego of the detectives
and the promotional gains they get from
arresting big criminals. This also brings the
“bent copper” side of the story in so that
most of the characteristics of film noir have
been covered.

10. Frame 9
As the opening sequence ends we are
introduced to the narrator of the opening
sequence. The character is shown through a
close up which pans around him to show
that he is a writer for a newspaper. This
brings the final characteristic of film noir in
to the sequence and finishes it off so that
the actual story can start and the audience
can get stuck in to the plot. The lighting in
this scene is also rather low which makes
the newspaper and the character less
professional and more money orientated
and corrupt.
I feel this opening sequence is very effective
as it brings all of the characteristics of film
noir in to play by using a vary of techniques.