The scene I have chosen is a critical chapter of the movie The Blind Side directed by John Lee Hancock. The scene displays in part, what it is like to be a second class black American brought up in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, afflicted by crime and poverty. This pivotal shows the drawbacks that a life of poverty can inflict on a young adult. The chapter shows the contrast between being underprivileged and well off, providing the viewers with the crux of the film. Director John Lee Hancock reveals that the main character has never had his own bed. Shedding a sympathetic light on Michael, hence evoking compassion for him throughout the film.
The scene opens with a slow moving pan looking into Michael’s new bedroom through his door. The pan …show more content…
The body language is also a most important part of this shot. Leigh Anne looks to the floor crossing her arms with a half bemused, half-startled facial expression. The body language is another example of how Hancock sets up the situation for the catch phrase.
Cut to a medium, slightly under eye level shot of Michael, When Michael talks he is looking down and says two simple words ‘a bed’. This catch phrase sparks emotion in the audience as they realise the severity of his situation. Hancock enhances this situation by using a slight undershot of Michael when speaking the catch phrase. Using an under shot makes the audience feel small and insignificant and not in control of the situation on screen.
Cut to a close up of Leigh Anne’s shocked expression, then cut back to a medium shot of Michael. Hancock has directed Quinton Aaron (Michael) to give Leigh Anne a slight smile. This tells the audience that Michael is accepting Leigh Anne for her honest mistake. This is then cut back to a close up of Leigh Anne’s facial expression, enforcing just how disheartening the state of affairs is. This is further enhanced by the acting of Sandra Bullock (Leigh Anne) who drops her eyes to the ground. To portray someone in shock. During these cuts both Michael and Leigh Anne remain silent, therefore creating suspension of disbelief. The silence lasts approximately 10 seconds. Hancock uses this technique to build suspense and increase apprehension in the viewers. The suspense is finally broken when Leigh Anne responds in a matter of fact tone ‘well now you have