Case Study #4: The Game

1997's The Game directed by David Fincher.

The Game (1997) — Art of the Title


David Fincher's The Game, 1997, is a mystery thriller film which is constructed with the use of micro features. The opening titles show a flashback to a family at their child's birthday party. This adds to the narrative enigma as the audience question what relevance does this flashback have on the film.

The sequence begins with the company credits to which it breaks into puzzle pieces. This could refer to the 'game' which the audience needs to solve. In addition, this carries the enigma as the we question why these credits are broken into puzzle pieces and also emphasises the mystery element in the film as we are left to figure out what is happening. White simple typography is used for the title of the film yet it's effective as it's bold and strong. The use of capital letters conveys there will be an element of action in this film. Similar to the company credits the screen breaks into puzzle pieces, taking the film title name with it- again, this shows the audience needs to figure something out that happens in the film.

The audience are introduced to a young boy with his father, from a mid shot we can see the boy who  constantly looks up to his father both literally and possibly figuratively. This could tell us this film has a family element to it. Their clothing could tell us they are wealthy which is further suggested through the use of the orchestral non diegetic soundtrack. It's slow tempo adds a sense of elegance and sophistication. In addition, the music also conveys a sense of mystery within the sequence and makes the audience question whether the characters shown are hiding something. The scenes are made to look as if they are old home videos, we may know this because of the grainy affect used in the scenes and abrupt cuts in between. Furthermore, cellophane jumps are used to transition the audience from the majority of the clips creating a sense of mystery as we may question whether we are getting the full clip as we are shown short snippets through the use of abrupt cuts.

The scene flashes to a group of people in a kitchen. This use of editing could convey a flashback, giving the audience a sense of nostalgia as they watch the sequence as if they are looking back on the boy's life. Through this mid shot, the audience can see a table full of food which further suggests that the family comes from a wealthy background. We can see the use of low key natural lighting creating a sense of realism in the sequence yet the shadows can also connote there are secrets that are yet to be revealed. They characters appear, from their body language, to be calm however, a sense of mystery is created as we question the significance of this home video.

We then see a close up of a person, presumbly male, placing an ingredient into a cup. The audience can suggest that the man's white shirt looks like a lab coat, suggesting an element of science or intelligence is involved in this film. In addition, this shot could tell us that there is more to the main character than we know and throughout the film we will be discovering all aspects of his personality. This shot has various jumps to it, emphasizing the style of a home video in the sequence.

The shot then cuts to the identity of the man through the use of a mid shot. This use of match on action makes the shot flow and shows continuation from the previous shot. The audience sees the man happily smiling into the camera possibly suggesting those at the party are all friends and are enjoying their time together. A sense of community is conveyed as we can see people from different races all getting along together. The man is positioned in the center of the frame showing he is of some importance however, the mid shot does not draw a focus as his face does not fill the entire screen. This could suggest the distance between the audience and him are vast and he could play an important possibly antagonist role in the film.  

The sequence continues as a close up shows the audience of  a woman's hand arranging flowers. Throughout the scene, white is heavily used suggesting safety and purity- this could possibly represent the children in the sequence and could suggest children and/or childhood plays an important role in the film. The black gloves and pearl bracelet connotes the woman is of high class and wealth. Similar to the previous shot, match on action is used to show the audience her identity. She is positioned to the left on the frame, suggesting she is not of importance in the sequence and possibly the film.

A long shot is shown as the sequence goes on, parasols are shown in the garden and the characters, presumably waiters, are seen carrying a cake. This further establishes the family who threw the party are from a wealthy background. The classical piano music along with the style of the home video could make the audience feel uncomfortable as the shots could be seen as disturbing and eerie as we wait for something to happen.

We are put in the position of a child watching a puppet show through the use of a POV shot. The style of the puppet show could suggest these 'home videos' are set in the older times presumably the 1960s. The use of puppets could be associated with mystery and crime as commonly criminals are referred as 'puppermasters'. This may convey the main character is to take part in criminal activities in the film. The camera cuts to a long shot of the children who were watching the show. They are mostly dressed in formal attire of white clothing which can connote they are all of wealthy backgrounds.

The camera quickly cuts to a mid shot of the majority of the children leaving as the show has finished. This sharp cut could represent the pace of the film- it can be suggested, in terms of narrative, that the film will be sharp with plot twists that keep the audience interested. The abrupt cut could show how quick the puppet show lasted which could represent how quickly childhood lasts. This could be a reference to the film as the main character could feel as if his childhood went too fast as he now could be in the adulthood.

A mid shot of a person's silhouette is shown to the audience- we automatically assume it is a male due to the figure of the man. This use of low key lighting adds a sense of mystery to the sequence as the audience questions what he is hiding from us.

The sequence continues to an extreme long shot of a man walking towards the grand house. This shot shows the audience the wealthiness of the owner. It can be suggested, the owner could be this man as he is a focus in this shot- his white suit also shows his wealth and can also connote innocence. As he is walking, he abruptly turns back around and walks towards the camera. This mid shot shows us his body language, he looks as if he is hiding something, raising our suspicious on his intentions. The dullness of the shot could suggest this 'home video' is incredibly old and worn out, adding a sense of nostalgia to the sequence.

The shot cuts away to a toy boat drifting away in the water; which could represent the main character's childhood drifting further and further away from him. It can be suggested that this shot represents a calm before the storm, possibly suggesting that something bad is to happen.

Another reference to the water is constructed, this time a long shot shows a two boys pushing another boy in a swimming pool. The audience can suggest water plays a important role in the film, possibly a tragedy could happen involving water. This use of the swimming pool further shows the audience of the family's wealth.

A shot of clowns are shown, suggesting this is a child's birthday party. Although clowns have positive connotations of cheerfulness and laughter, the solemn soundtrack makes the clowns seem sinister. It can be suggested these clowns represent fear. We can suggest the main character may face a childhood fear of his in this film.

As the sequence almost comes to the end, the father and son shown at the start reappear. This time the boy is given a model boat from his father which further adds to the references to water in this sequence, it could be clear to the audience that water will play an important role in this film. The father stays for a while before leaving. His son is left looking vulnerable as he stares right in the camera not at his father. This adds a sense of uneasiness and helplessness for the audience as we want to help him but we can't. Slow motion is used as the father walks into the darkness which suggests he is walking into something we can't see. The audience can suggest he is walking into something sinister, possibly his death as we do not see him again. 

A contrast is used as a close up of the young boy is replaced with a close up of an adult man, presumably him, rising after splashing his face with water. This shot could suggest how quick we all grow up from a happy child to a miserable adult. A final reference to water is added in, furthering our suspicions and adding to the mystery of the film, a mystery we must watch on to resolve.