DECONSTRUCTION: Enemy of the State

The ‘Enemy of the State’ trailer begins with a Green Band which is an all green graphic demonstrating that the following trailer has been approved for all audiences.

A simple shot of the ‘Touchstone Pictures’ logo demonstrates the production company that has been used to create Enemy of the State. Touchstone pictures are owned by Walt Disney Studios. Established in 1984, Touchstone Pictures release films of a more mature and darker tone nature.

Jerry Bruckheimer is an American and Film producer. He produced ‘Enemy of the State’ which is why this shot has been used at the start of the trailer to inform the audience. It can also suggest to the viewer the genre of the film, due to the fact that the majority of Bruckheimer films are Thrillers and Actions.

A montage of fast and quick shots of New York from a zoomed in satellite view.

Mixtures of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds have been used. Communication between two or more people is evident e.g. ‘Subject entering lingerie store’ and ‘Roger that’. Through the use of fast cuts and non diegetic electric sounds, it notifies the viewer that someone is under surveillance and being tracked. 

A gradual fade from one shot to the next has been used and is now conveying a medium close up shot of the subject in a lingerie shop. He is approached by a female who offers him assistance.

A non-diegetic score is being played in the background and the repetitive shots demonstrating the subject looking at the models shows that he may be confident and popular with women. 

Electronic shot of the subject being viewed under surveillance. Non-diegetic sounds of radio waves and digital effects have been used to highlight the fact that someone is tracking him internally and externally. The ‘REC’ indicates that his every move is being watched. The entire shot suggests that the subject has done something unacceptable, illegal etc in the past. 

A voice over is introduced with non-diegetic sound in the background. ‘Robert Clayton Dean was innocent’, identities the subjects name and the fact that he is innocent. This leaves the viewer confused because we do not know why he is being tracked.

 A long shot showing a middle-aged man being chased in the store by agents. The shot has been edited to make it slower in motion. 

  

Medium shot of Dean in his office. Demonstrates his everyday life. Use of artificial light provides high key lighting.

By observing Dean’s facial expressions, he looks very confused by what his visitor is saying to him.

Close up of Dean’s visitor. Conversation between both seems very secretive. The visitor says ‘We have some reason to believe that Mr Zavis may have passed sensitive material to you’. The lighting has changed to low key lighting, which creates more of a mysterious and dark mood. 

A short clip of detective saying ‘Let’s get into his life’. This informs the audience that Dean is being followed. We assume Dean has done something wrong in his past. Low lighting has been used. The inclusion of his formal wear, badge and office suggests that the issue is serious.

Zoomed in Satellite shot of Dean’s face. The shot of him looking directly in the same direction suggests that he is suspects something is wrong, or that he is being followed. Voiceover is introduced stating ‘He was unsuspecting’. Written in the past tense, which implies that Dean finds out in the end.

Short clip demonstrating Dean’s everyday life with his wife. Low key lighting, side angle shot of both of them in the same frame. ‘You’re the only woman in the world for me’, informs the audience that this is a loving, long term relationship.

A long shot showing the viewer that their house has been broken into. The clip has been filmed and edited as if to make it look like someone has secretly put cameras throughout their house. Low key lighting has been used due to the lamps having been broken. 

Rooftop scene, showing two ‘targets’ on the rooftop. Long shot showing the location as wells as the subjects. Dean is confronted by a man who explains why he is being followed. Non diegetic sounds of helicopters imply that the two ‘targets’ are being watched and followed.

Long shot demonstrating a car crash. Dean is in the Taxi being followed. Diegetic sounds of the cars crashing and car horns are evident to highlight the seriousness and harm that is being created.

Digital image of the structure of a building. Dean is highlighted in red and is being tracked. ‘Target’s on 21’ is being played on the trackers’ earphones. It is apparent that Dean is on the run from the police.

End credits are being introduced. The main character, Will Smith, is mentioned first. It is displayed in front of an American flag with a negative effect. The typography is in capitals and is repeated but in a smaller font.  

Another action crash has been created. Two cars appear to be driving in front of a train on the track. One car is on fire, whilst the other car flips up due to high speed. Highlights the fast pace of the film and the rush to find the two ‘targets’. High key lighting has been used to make the crash seem quite visible to the viewer.  

End credits are re-introduced. One of the main characters, Gene Hackman, is mentioned second. It is displayed in front of an American flag with a negative effect. The typography is in capitals and is repeated but in a smaller font.  

Rooftop scene with the sun setting. Sufficient amount of lighting being used, although large amounts of shadows have been created. Demonstrates the two ‘targets’ having conversation. ‘Live another day and I’ll be very impressed’ suggests the extreme situation that Dean is faced with.  

Medium shot of Dean running from the Police. A large depth of field has been used so the background is out of focus, however the lights and non diegetic sound hint to the audience that they are police cars.

The title ‘Enemy of the State’ has been showed at the end. It has been written in a Hellenic inspired font, in capitals. It has been positioned in front of the US flag and an outlines of the US, which highlights the word ‘State’.

The end shot is an overview of the production companies, producer, director, actors featured in the film, the official website and copyright issues. The title ‘Enemy of the state’ is highlighted in red, and is positioned in the centre of the screen.