Boyz n The Hood

In class we were asked to analyse 'Boyz n the hood' using the aspects we covered in class.

Camera

The opening scene shows a huge diversity of camera angles, the main is a tracking shot to display and set the scene for the movie. The children walk to the murder scene followed by a tracking shot to make the audience feel as if they are walking with the children, it also displays the rough area of America the kids live in to create a strong emotional attachment between the children and the audience in the first few minutes of the film. There is a significance of the upward shot of the 'STOP' sign, which I feel refers directly to the murder and outlines it's huge importance in the movie. The stop sign refers to ending of the person's life. There are many POV shots along with shots level to the children to make you feel as vulnerable as the children, and feel as if you are on the same level as them, also outlining their importance in the story.

Editing

The editing of the transitions in the scene where the children are walking to the murder scene establish the brutal nature of the murder. There are lots of shot cuts in the transition creating a harsh, brutal atmosphere about the murder. Also the scene with Trey's mother talking the teacher has significant editing. At first you can hear the phone call whilst seeing Trey walk home. He has to walk past people violently gambling in the street whilst his mother is arguing with his teacher. This displays how difficult and harrowing his everyday life is. When he walks past the gang it makes the audience feel as if he will end up like them, gambling in the street if he continues to fight in school and has his teacher call his parents.

Sound

There is a whole host of diegetic sounds in the opening scene, with sirens and people talking being heard. There is huge emphasis on the gun shot sounds in correlation with the music. Most of the dialogue between characters is typical for an African American 'Hood', reiterating the title of the movie. The majority of the scene between Trey's mother and his teacher is non-diegetic.

Mise en scene

Trey dresses much smarter and formal than his peers, but his slurred, slangy speech shows his roots, and upbringing in the 'hood'. The fact that his clothes are formal but his speech is slangy shows how much of a diverse character he truly is. The movie has a light blue/grey hue to it, especially in the opening scenes, creating a depressing feel, reinstated by the mention of murder. Set in a suburban hood in America, the setting is a comment on the characters and their lifestyles but also how difficult, different and secluded life in the 'hood' is.