The Bourne Ultimatum - opening analysis, Rosie

Bourne Ultimatum opens with a close up shot of an unknown characters feet stumbling across the ground. Mystery has already been created as the audience are wondering: 

• who is he? 
• and why is he injured?

The camera appears to be hand held, as though he is being followed, throughout many of the shots which helps to portray the genre of thriller as it builds more adventure and edginess to the scene. 

The diegetic sound of the mans panting suggests that he is worn out, meaning that he is probably on the run, common to the thriller genre. 

Non-diegetic sound is also present in the opening of the film - quick paced orchestral music has been used to create suspense to the sequence as it seems more dramatic. 
( http://filmsound.org/terminology/diegetic.htm )

The mans location is also revealed as it cuts to an extreme long shot of the man walking, it appears quite chaotic along with the sound of police sirens in the background. (these could have been created using a foley to emphasise them). 

The cut transitions are used rather quickly within the opening as it quickens the pace which makes it more suspenseful and the audience are kept on edge. 

The time of day that the opening is set in further connotes a more eerie atmosphere due to it being a dark lit scene with just street and vehicle lights to brighten it. The low key lighting restricts us from viewing everything fully which builds a more dramatic. 

As the character looks over his shoulder, we can connote that this man is on the run, but why? As of yet, nothing has given this away to the audience. 

The extreme long shot that is aimed down the stairway is effective as it presents the man to be very small which implies how he is hiding or is some sort of 'prey'. There is then a very quick cut to a medium close up(?) of a man getting rushing out of the car. The sirens on the car suggest the severity of the situation and how quick the shot lasts shows how manic the chase is. 

The constance of cross cutting between the man and the mob of people that are running after him, constructs fast pace action and creates a lot of suspense.  

A range of shot angles and distances are used on the main character to portray meaning:

1. The medium shot (also low angle) of him stammering up the stairs leads to more mystery as we are still not aware of who he really is but also a sense of control as he is prominent to the shot. 
2. The medium close up of the character is a good way of allowing us to interpret his feelings and emotions -  which look to be as if he's struggling. 
3. This close up of his face enables the viewer to see his expression and is also very intense.

This is a good example of the use of handheld filming.

The use of the hand held camera and over the shoulder shots is an effective technique because we are able to understand the characters point of view and it creates more tension.

The low key lighting continues on the train which continues the dramatic/mysterious atmosphere.

Another further factor that creates enigma is the foreign men that are chasing him. The language creates curiosity, and we are unsure of why exactly he is being chased. The tone of their voices is very low and are mostly shouting, which builds apprehension.

The mid close up of the man shot uses low key lighting to give a shadowy effect making it clear that he is hiding in an enclosed area and the next shot is over the shoulder shot which uses eyeline match, which allows the audience to know the characters thoughts and the next extreme long shot gives a clearer view of the location he intends to go. 

The continued use of low key lighting once he is in the building connotes that he shouldn't be there... the props of the medicine bottles and medical equipment signify risks and possibly danger so could lead the viewer to wonder what is he going to do. 
Cut transitions are very effective in this sequence as it creates a fast pace and also suspense. The man's body language also contributes to the suspense; as the camera follows him through the door, he then turns to look over his shoulder which shows that he is aware he is being followed. 
As he puts the gun into the sink, we can denote from this that this could be the reason he is injured, or why the police are chasing him. The way that he opens the packaging with his mouth implies that he's been injured. The next over the shoulder shot of him looking in the mirror suggests that he has realised or remembered something followed by the longer time shot of him looking at himself. 

The close up shot of the tap dripping water suggests that this is something significant, as it is quite a long shot in comparison to previously and is almost the shot right before his flashback, implying that it has provoked him and perhaps the accident involved water.. Also as this shot enters, the fast music comes to a stop, further suggesting its importance.

As the flashback begins the music fades back in and the diegetic sound of his heavy breathing begins which indicates his realisation but also that he is fearful and panicked. 
The slightly fuzzy and saturated colour of the film suggests that it is a flashback but that it is also a blurred memory to him.