Reservoir dogs opening scene analysis

Reservoir dogs opening scene analysis

Opening scene to reservoir dogs:
The first shot used is a mid-shot focused mainly on the manager of the diner, the use of a mid-shot suggests this character is not significantly important to the entire film. Also there is no use of non-diegetic music and only hushed, whispered conversations as the diegetic sound. This gives the entire scene a feel that these individuals are intimidating and/or threatening to the people around them but the dialogue in the seen never addresses this making the viewer believe these individuals just carry a menacing air about them.

When it finally cuts to the first person sat at the table you realise he is sat in a suit, a clothing choice which would be a peculiar choice for somebody at what seems to be late morning in a diner. This adds to my previous estimation that these individuals don’t abide by society’s code of conduct. However to contrast with this the dialogue in the scene is about the etiquette of tipping, an act which you would not relate to people whom come across threatening since it is perceived as an act of kindness. This makes the audience feel uneasy as they are unable to fit these characters fit into an obvious stereotype.

The bright lighting, due to the morning setting, also relates to this feeling of unease since the stereotype of villainy and criminality is that it’s performed in the dark, in the shadows. This is likely to be the reason that these characters wear suits since its dark formal evening attire, this will be what the characters believe is ordinary clothing since they are meant to have come from society’s darker side, one which thrives at night.The conversation in the scene quickly evolves to the flaws in society tying back to my previous statement about how these individuals do not follow the rules society has laid out for everybody to follow.