'United 93' - Camera Shot Analysis

It is important that the message of the film is portrayed to the audience, this is done with the use of appropriate camera shots because depending on the shot will depend on how the audience portray that scene, for example an intense scene may require a close up shot to show worry and stress where as with a medium shot this image may be lost in what is going on around the character.

I have decided to analyse the use of camera shots in 'United 93' as the film deals with an array of emotions that need to be portrayed at the same time which I feel will be important for my trailer. In the shot on the right the audience can see a medium shot of the passengers with one passenger centred in between the two aisles, by doing this the audience understand that this man is informing the passengers what they are going to do to take control of the plane. The shot is also low down in line with the passengers this gives the audience the illusion that they are with the passengers aboard United 93 which allows the audience to connect with the passengers on a personal level.

In this second shot the audience see a close up of a passenger on the telephone. With the positioning of his head resting on his hand the audience are given the sense that the entire weight of the world is resting on this man's shoulders whilst he speaks to a loved one letting them know what is happening to him. He can not believe what is happening to him, that he is in this serial situation, the close up shot is important in conveying this man's emotions the audience are given the understanding of how it must have felt to inform your friends and family that you are on a hijacked plane and that you will probably die. The man is also looking down at the ground which again adds to the stress that he is now under. Without this close up shot the audience may have only seen a passenger on the phone where as by showing him closely to the audience they are now experiencing what every passenger felt on that day.

 The shot on the right is a dutch angle which is often used to portray the psychological uneasiness or tension in the subject being filmed. Which is exactly what the audience can see with this couple. The husband is protecting his wife by embracing her and placing his hand on her head all of these aspects show to the audience that the couple realise their fate, they understand that they are going to die aboard United 93. Also with the use of the dutch angle it has made the husband appear much taller in the shot this shows that the husband is over powering his wife by protecting her from what is about to happen to them both. I feel that this angle works particularly well because the audience are still able to see what is happening around the couple but they are focused in on the couple themselves and the situation that they are in. This shot has also been able to to portray their emotions, despite being scared and angry with the people that are doing this to them, they are there for one another.