Opening Sequence of 'Constantine' analysis! 1*

 


Constantine, directed by Francis Lawrence is a supernatural film starring Keanu Reeves.


This opening sequence starts off by naming the film 'Constantine'. The background colour is dark hinting that the film too may be dark and mysterious. Although very short, the music accompanying this title is extremly menacing and ominous. This again hints at the possible mood or tone of the film. This then moves on to the sound of a boiled kettle (a loud squealing noise) and a blank screen, after this appears a kitchen scene where a woman enters and pours some tea. The light and atmosphere of the 'Los Angeles' apartment seems very dull which is a contrast to the loud and thrilling sound of the boiled kettle heard just before. There seems to be a background noise of a television or radio, adding to the normal setting of a house or flat. When the woman is walking down the corridor, she is in the middle of the shot, hinting that the viewer should be focused on her movement. As we are focused on her calm movement and listening to the normal, quiet sounds of a background television, the scream and dramatic fall to the floor comes as a shock as the viewers weren't perhaps expecting something dramatic to happen so soon.
The next scene shows a high angle shot of the woman seen previously looking terrified at something that we as the viewer have not yet seen, building the viewers suspense and tension. She then gestures a praying movement again captivating the viewers attention as we still have not yet seen what has caused this woman to become so terrified. The camera then changes to a low angle shot as the door into the room opens very slowly, this is when when we see what the short scenes have been leading up to. As soon as we see this shot of the girl upside-down on the ceiling we as the viewer are then aware of the genre of the film. From the shot where the woman is looking terrified up to when we see the girl on the ceiling there is tense music that builds until the woman screams again. 
We then get a shot of a long 'dull' corridor and a winding staircase showing just how loud her terrified scream traveled.
A yellow taxi then crosses the screen and reveals the words 'Angel City', which contrasts to the devil-like behavior we have just see and it may also hint at what the film will involve. Then there is a low angle shot of a hand dropping a cigarette with a close-up shot of that cigarette and an enhanced sound effect of this action perhaps hinting that this could be an important factor throughout the film. The camera then moves onto a High angle crane shot of the man (Keanu Reeves) exiting the taxi quite calmly and in no rush, perhaps suggesting his character. The camera then tracks upwards to a mid-shot and we see our main characters face who then lights up another cigarette. 
We then see a mid to long shot of him with a man appearing from behind a wall in he background. We then get a close-up of his face. After the scene between the two male characters, the main character who we learn is named 'John' walks off with the camera still at a low angle.
We then see the same corridor as shown earlier, except for this time it is full of people with a baby crying in the background hinting that the situation and atmosphere is stressful. The camera then tracks John who is smoking and seems very laid back which is in contrast to the next shot showing two distressed people. We also notice that John's tie is loose again hinting that his character is very laid back and perhaps doesn't care. The camera then tracks him into the room where we see the girl laying on the bed. There is then yet another close-up of his lit cigarette being placed on the side, we can see a blurred image of the girl in the background lying on the bed. 
The viewer is now fully aware in the next scene that our main character 'John' has some sort of supernatural/immortal power. We are also aware now that the film title is named after the main character as he reveals his name: 'John Constantine' do the demon girl. When he also says 'asshole' the viewer may get an idea that John knows or has some link to the devil. When the girl is speaking back John shows little reaction or any emotion suggesting to the audience that he is completely used to this kind of event. 
After a few shots there is yet again another close-up of his cigarette, this seems to be shown as it could suggest what John was thinking about at that moment because his first plan on the girl ovbiously didn't work as he said 'what the hell' as if shocked and unsure. 
When the camera moves into a close up of Johns head near the girls, it is very silent and the audience may be prepared for something shocking to happen. This is when something jumps up inside the girls body causing the audience to have a visceral reaction. 
After this scene its is clear from Johns orders and gestures that he knows exactly what he is doing and  as if he has done it many times before as thought of previously by his facial expressions and gestures.  
    We are then introduced to a new character who mimics John Constantine's scene from before where he introduces himself. This provides some comedy for the audience, retracting away from the dramatic scene just before. Then we hear Johns voice again calling to the boy in the car. This is when the haunting, mysterious music begins and we know we are going to be viewing the dramatic scene yet again. In the next few shots the demon is finally removed and killed and the girl is returned back to normal. Then we see John Constantine looking fed-up that his cigarette has finished, suggesting that he did not expect that event to go on for so long. This says a lot about his laid back and un-fussed character which we see more of in the rest of the movie.