How Does The Use Of Mise-en-scene Essay Example

the background of Detective Nyback's shots. This reinforces his patriotism and reveals some of his character traits as a small-town cop who may be somewhat naive compared to homicide detectives Dormer and Eckhart from Los Angeles. Burr and Nyback's differing characters are also reflected in their clothing, both of them wear their police uniforms consisting of blue polo shirts with police badges on them.

The jacket worn by Burr is uniform and quite baggy, which suggests that she may not be fully capable in her role as a police woman. This use of mise-en-scene evokes a sense of sympathy compared to the other detectives. Dormer and Eckhart, on the other hand, wear leather trench coats, which are typically associated with noir film protagonists. Despite this similarity, their modern leather trench coats differ from the traditional ones. This is just one of the many associations between the film and classic noir. Additionally, the isolated setting where the two detectives are stranded resembles the isolation felt by noir characters in a vast, dark metropolis.

The small, quiet town in Insomnia is illuminated by constant light (at that time of year), replacing the darkness of traditional noir cityscapes. When the detectives are in the autopsy room, the set design incorporates background props such as pipes, taps, and chemical bottles to achieve a cold, clinical feel, while the coroner's lab coat reinforces a scientific approach toward death. The scene uses overhead lighting to emphasize the actors' cheekbones and relatively low key lighting to create an atmospheric, sombre mood reminiscent of film noir's essential component.

The use of low key lighting creates a dim and emotionless atmosphere, which matches the detachedness of Dormer's

character in response to the incidents and death of the girl. This convention of classic noir portrays a 'hard-boiled' and unemotional detective with less color than usual, as seen in the sterile autopsy room. Furthermore, the lighting from above highlights the cheekbones and eye sockets of the actors, giving them a skeletal appearance that ties in with death themes. Detective Dormer's face is often shadowed on one side throughout the scene.

Chiaroscuro lighting is employed in the film to create an atmosphere of suspicion around the detective. Shadows are consistently present throughout the sequence, adding a connection to noir films. This, combined with an ominous soundtrack and frequent close-ups, generates a strong sense of curiosity and fear in the audience over the unusual murder circumstances. Meanwhile, during the autopsy scene, the detectives examine various details about the victim, including bruising, washed hair, and clipped fingernails.

While discussing how the body was modified after death and what the victim was wearing, close-up flashbacks from the murderer's perspective create intrigue and curiosity for the audience. Extreme close-ups limit the viewer's perspective, deepening the enigma. The performance of the actors is another element of mise-en-scene. It involves casting, costuming, and movement. Al Pacino, known for his role in Michael Mann's Heat as Lieutenant Vincent Hanna, was chosen specifically to play Detective Dormer. In Heat, Pacino's character becomes personally invested in investigating a gang of professional criminals and confronting one of the suspects.

The character played by Pacino apprehends the man he is pursuing but opts to have coffee with him instead of arresting him. They converse at a cafe about their goals, lives, and principles. As their talk ends, they

both acknowledge that they may have to kill each other if necessary. Pacino's character, Dormer, becomes excessively involved in the investigation and finally meets the suspect, Finch, on a boat. Dormer informs Finch that he's just like other criminals and will not escape punishment. In response, Finch tries to deceive Dormer into feeling remorseful by implying that he intentionally killed his partner when it was an accident.

There are elements of neo-noir in the film Heat, which is linked to the similarities between it and the noir film Insomnia. Detective Dormer's character background feels unnecessary to explore, as it can be presumed to be similar to Lieutenant Hanna's. The protagonist's enigmatic and cynical past, a common feature in noir films, is also present in Heat.