Jordan Ilan A-Level Film Studies

Coin Toss: (Timecode: 20:21) - High angle establishing shot with Texaco sign: co-incides with Western conventions, desert setting, lifeless, the sound (e.g. the wind) -> similar to a saloon - Shot reverse shots - The camera slowly zooms in closer towards the shopkeeper as the tension builds -> slow tracking-in shot - Shots: medium close-ups to begin with -> tighter on Chigurh than the shopkeeper originally - Framing: Chigurh on right hand side & off-centre, Shopkeeper centre frame with window behind him -> character alignment: Chigurh is unbalanced as he's not centre frame, he's peripheral and marginalised, an outsider, also shows he has the power to move - Character alignment: empathise with shopkeeper, fear for him -> also magnetically drawn to Chigurh as his powerful - Moral code to Chigurh through the coin toss, lets the shopkeeper live - Imbalance: Chigurh moralistic but leaves everything to chance -> can link to framing - Lack of music ->

Micro-features with Chigurh: - Mise-en-scene - Costume - dark, incongruous to western attire - Colour palette - setting - scorched - burnished - arid - parched - Hair (no Hat) - Casting - Javier Bardem - Spanish - Blocking - placement of character within frame - body language - back to camera shot - profile - lighting - silhouette - cage effect - distanced spectator - enigma code - Shot size - Depth of field - Props - captive bolt pistol The introduction of Chigurh immediately distances the spectator due to the mise-en-scene surrounding Chigurh . This creates enigma codes within costume, props and his position within the frame. The enigma code through costume is created through his dark outfit that is incongruous to the Western attire which forces the spectator to question why he is in this setting. The close up of the captive-bolt pistol being placed on the car seat, paints the question of the nature of Chigurh's character due to the ambiguity of the purpose of the prop.