Casino Royale- Film Noir

How does Casino Royale use conventions of film noir, and what meanings/ connotations are created?

 Within this shot we see the bleak location of a business office, conventional to film noir in the sense of corporate business and police/detective offices.  The single light source of a lamppost, dark windows and darkening edges of the building connotes a cold serious mood, but also enigmatic with the smoke and strong shadows. The shot itself is a low angle, looking up at the sheer size of the building, portraying that that is where the next seen will be held; up in a top room. Another thought, taking into consideration status, higher up/ascending connoting power and good (heaven), and descending connoting the opposite, the shot could possibly foreshadow that by ascending, the audience will encounter a hero character. The shot is somewhat obscured by a pillar and corner of a roof, creating a sense of secrecy and claustrophobia as the vast, empty sky has been closed off; there is less room to escape. This is helped by the light reflecting off the snow and onto other surfaces.

In this shot we see a character, unknown from the angle and also light, enter the room. A sense of enigma is created by the extremely dark shadows, especially the two shadows upon the door and wall closest. The top right hand corner of the room is faded by a dark shadow, increasing intimacy (along with the obscured object) and decreasing the special awareness in the room. Again, the angle is looking up, connoting a powerful status upon the character. This time, in comparison to the first shot, this one is more obviously obscured, by what looks like a round glass table. The obscurity creates confusion as the shot is not completely clear, connoting the plot also. This is conventional of film noir, as the plots often refer to flash blacks in order to unravel/make sense. As well as this, the low angle and object express a sense of secrecy, as if the audience as spying on the situation, connoting that we are not meant to be here, or anybody else.  The character himself is wearing a hat and coat, typical of film noir, connoting his serious, and business occupation. His face is overcome by shadow, connoting that he is a bad character as he is in the dark. However, the audience can only see half of his face, with a slight bright outline showing. This connotes that the character has possibly got another side, a good side, to him, supported by the light. This is moral ambiguity. Also, the glass in the object is a see through material enabling us to look through to the character. Could the glass suggest that the audience should be able to see straight through this character? Or is there in fact, more for us to see from him?

Conventions within this medium, slightly low angle shot include the extreme contrast between shadow and light, especially across the character’s (Bond’s) face. The character’s face being half in the dark and half in the light connotes the stereotype of good and bad (dark and light), and, by the face being half and half creates the meaning of moral ambiguity, meaning that the character’s morals have more than one meaning and/or interpretation, hence the “good and bad” sides to him. This ambiguity then helps create enigma, as the audience question certain actions, creating mystery. The light source also seems to be only focused upon Bond, connoting that that is where the audiences focus should be concentrated upon. The slightly low angle connotes the character’s importance and power (over the audience and other characters). Again, there are two obscurities in the foreground of the shot, possibly portraying the traits of Bond; obscured, not quite clear cut and open. This links in with him being morally ambiguous. Finally, the character is situated slightly to the left of the frame, supporting the Rule of Thirds, in which our eye is naturally attracted to certain points within a frame. By positioning Bond at those certain points, we, as an audience are naturally attracted to his direction.

  A conventional film noir prop is seen within this shot (Mise en Scene), which is a gun. The prop choice of a gun connotes crime and bad, harmful choices. The high angle, as if the audience are looking upon the gun, and the light brought upon it from opening the draw connotes that the gun itself is a revelation and new idea (as if it will be the next action completed) brought into the current situation, despite being a conventional feature.  However, in comparison to the other sparse objects within the draw (files), the audience get a sense that the gun is out of place, in society and simply compared to the other objects.

This still of a fighting scene between Bond and an unknown person is particularly bright; the room filled with artificial light, reflecting off the white tiled walls and mirrors. This bright white connotes harsh interrogation and possibly truth. However, this is in contrast to the above statement that white light portrays the good, pure and angelic, and the action within the shot is none of these things! However the tiles have a dark black outline. This outline could connote the moral ambiguity of the situation; that potentially on the whole, what Bond is doing is good, because is defeating a bad character. But, how he is completing this action is particularly bad and violent, ending in death (the black outline). Also, Bond himself is wearing black, connoting evil, and the other man is wearing white and black, resulting in an enigmatic question of does that “bad” character really deserve this action? Finally, the low angle and tilt shot creates disorientation and confusion, much like a fight. The low angle, again, connotes that Bond is the hero, and evidently, he at this precise moment is the more powerful character. 

The final shot is a close up of the protagonist. The close up enables the audience to experience the characters emotional reaction(s) and this one in particular is full of moral ambiguity. Not only is Bond sweating and mouth open, creating an uncomfortable tone, but his face is full of shadows, connoting the good and evil within him and his choice. His eyes are distant; no direct emotional response between the character and audience connotes that the character is somewhat isolated, and doesn't want to make any emotional connections. This also connotes confusion as the audience cannot relate to him, and understand his choices.



Here is an image of the group analysis we did on the opening of 'Casino Royale', in which we have brainstormed the presented conventions of Film Noir, and their connotations.