Thriller Research - Casino Royale

Casino Royale (Directed by Martin Campbell, 2006)

 

 

There is a small clip before the main opening sequence with titles which is of Bond shooting another man, a typical Bond moment with the blood running down the screen to start the film off with some continuity.

Camera:

• Majority of shots being close ups and long shots of Daniel Craig offer a contrast
• Shot onto a green screen and then edited in to highlight the importance of his character and emphasize he is ‘James Bond’

Editing:

• Card effects throughout to highlight Bond’s poker/ gambling attitudes – Links in with title, Casino Royale
• Gunshots edited into suits, keeps a strong theme of gambling as well as showing the film contains violence and drama
• Gun aim merges into gambling table
• People injured by suits (diamonds in chest indicates knife wound) Theoretical dangers of gambling?
• Faceless casualties = No audience emotion for people dying, outline of Bond to focus on main character
• Cash flying around to signify wealth/ loss of money over gambling?
• Uses target aim to hover over queen’s head, merging it into main character’s face, only the characters the director wants you to empathize with are shown
• Fight Scenes – When killed people dissolve into card suits, avoids giving the impression the violence in film is too extreme
• The backdrop has a card suit or billiards table theme – Emphasizing the main focus of the film and what the main action will be centred around

All of these features create tension as they foreshadow the future death that comes from the issues of losing other people’s money and gambling. By avoiding giving the antagonists of Bond faces when they die they avoid the audience’s emotions being attached to anyone else but him, the fact that when the people die they then merge into a suit type encourages the fact the film isn’t a horror, centred around death but more action packed and fast paced.
 

Sound:

• Music instantly starts as opening sequence commences – electric guitar and drums emphasizing the drama and tension as the tempo is quick and volume loud, linking in with the action of the previous fight scene.
• The guitar and drums then lower in volume and to a steady pace as the scene continues, encouraging the audience to take notice of the cleverly edited sequence.
• ‘You Know My Name’ opening song  – Reference to the famous Bond saying ‘The name’s Bond, James Bond’
• Certain lyrics like ‘The odds will betray you’ and ‘You can't deny the prize’ relate to the majority of gambling games – Another link to the main theme of the film
• Consistent drum beat adds tension to the fight scenes – keeps the sequence fast paced
• Small crescendos from the electric guitar, breaks in the rhythm to be filled with abrupt jump strumming, emphasizing the action taking place

Mise-en-scene:

• Guns, knives, weapons – Encourage factor of action and violence in the film, stereo-typically appealing to the audience of men.

The font is Sans Serif, the transitions for the font are a dissolve in and out, this allows for the titles to be noticed without drawing too much attention from the action and effects taking place. The font is white, helping it to stand out against the vibrant mixture of colour backdrops, red being most commonly used, a colour well associated with danger.

Titles: (In the order of which they were shown)

(Casino Royale)

Albert R.Brocolli’s EON Productions LTD.
Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007
Starring….
Daniel Craig
Eva Green
Mads Mikkelsen
Giancarlo Gianini
Caterina Murino
Simon Abkarin
Isaach De Bankole
Jesper Christensen
Ivana Milicevic
Tobias Menzies
Claudio Santamaria
Free running stunts by Sebastien Foucan
Jeffrey Wright
Judi Dench
Associate Producer – Andrew Noakes
Production Executive – David Pope
Camera Operator – Roger Pearce
Second Unit Assistant Director – Terry Madden
Script Supervisor – Jean Bourne
Publicity and Marketing – Anne Bennett
Promotions - Keith Snelgrove
Assistant Producer – David G.Wilson                
Sound Recordist – Chris Munro
Electrical Supervisor – Eddie Knight
Stills Photogrpaher – Jay Maidment
Makeup Supervisor – Paul Engelen
Hairdressing Supervisor – Christine Blundell
Wardrobe Supervisor – Dan Grace
Unit Production Manager – Jeremy Johns
Second Unit Production Manager – Terry Bamber
First Assistant Director – Bruce Moriarty
Casting – Debbie Williams
Stunt Co-ordinator – Gary Powell
Special Effects and Miniature Effects Supervisor – Chris Corbould
Main Title Designed by Daniel Kleinman
Second Unit Director – Alexander Witt
Costume Designer – Lindy Hemming
Editor – Stuart Baird A.C.E
Director of Photography – Phil Meheux B.S.C
Production Designer – Peter Lamont
Music by David Arnold
‘You Know My Name’ performed by Chris Cornell
Written and Produced by Chris Cornell and David Arnold
Executive Producers – Anthony Waye and Callum McDougall
Based on the novel by Ian Fleming
Screenplay by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Paul Haggis
Produced by Michael G.Wilson and Barbara Broccoli
Directed by Martin Campbell