Textual Analysis of Max Payne and Poster

In the start of this three minuite opening straight away digetic sound is used which is Max's voice (the main character) on the blank screen which signifies that he is lost also what he says creates the mood for the audience. The narrative of the opening sequence starts of with Max speaking on a blank screen, suddenly it then goes to a scene where Max is drowning and he is trying to escape, this connotates that he might of had bad experiences in the past or that the idea of him being lost. Next a fade in transtition occurs this suggest that time has past since the last scene. We then see him walking towards a door and he opens and see's his his wife and child murdered on the bed with blood everywhere the lighting in this scene is being controlled and is made very dull its at the point of just black and white, however, still some colour for example the colour red which is a generic convention because it make the audience think of action, thriller, someone has been murdered als the colour red is emphasised alot this is telling the audience that killings have happened and also danger, the lighting in the scene creates a very lifless and withered away feel which also tells the audience that someone has died. Max then wakes up then it suddenly goes straight to the police station where generic convention are used throught this scence such as guns and police men giving a action feel. Furthermore, we notice that a sign is shown which says "Cold Case" this is suggesting that this where people who have been murdered go this also tells the audience that the genre of this film is a thriller.

The representation of Max in this opening sequence is that he is wearing a black leather jacket, dark jeans and black t-shirt this gives a very macho man look also he is dressed in very simple dark colours which tells us that his character is very enclosed and dull

This is a poster for the Max Payne film, the generic conventions which are shown on this poster are the shotgun and the hand gun which shows that this film genre is action also I noticed that he has a police badge on his belt telling us that he is a police cop and as he is not dressed in uniform so he could be an undercover cop. Max is represented as a very manly figure because of this leather jacket, however, it is tinted red so this suggests that he is a dangerous man and that he is prepared to spill blood or he already has.

The mise-en-scene in this poster shows a huge bridge towering over the Max suggesting that he is powerless also the the bridge wires which are surrounding Max signify that their is tension within him. The shot of this poster is from a low angle, this gives Max some sense of power and authority, however, as the bridge is towering over him this may represent the city and how crime is more powerful then him as a cop. The weather which is being shown in this poster is snow which signifies its winter also that its cold and lifeless linking to the feelings of the Max.

Behind Max is the bridge and where the bridge splits in the middle it make it look like Max has wings and the lighting is brighter this is signifying that he is like an angel, suggesting that he will perform miracles and impossible tasks.