HW 1a - Existing Film Still Analysis (DYM)




Jared Leto as the joker, Suicide Squad Summer 2016.

Narrative

The Joker has had many forms over the years, yet in my opinion Jared Leto has gone for a more modern and abstract approach to the role.The first impressions of this film still are either that this man is crazy, very violent (or most likely both) mainly due to the knifes arranged in a pattern around him - creating a sinister vibe to the shot. The juxtaposition between these weapons surrounding him and the smile on his face gives the viewer an insight to his 'sketchy' and unstable persona as this is undoubtedly unusual behaviour. This shot also  portrays his characters vulnerability as (spoiler alert) he is without Harley Quinn who he is very much attached to, due to the fact that the knifes are completely surrounding him and almost closing in on him... trapping him. The dim earthy colours, supported by the yellow washed light intercepting the shot from a window and  framing the Joker, all contrast with his neon green hair, giving the viewer an image of how he does not fit into his surroundings even when they are as unusual as this.

Genre

This shot in particular connotes an action, superhero and thriller film, however Suicide Squad has many genres as a modern hybrid film including; comedy, romance, Sci-fi and Crime. The character himself can be seen as mentally unstable mainly by his expression and his infamous appearance as the joker. The props and lighting make the thriller genre very obvious in this case as it sets the atmosphere for violence/ conflict etc. 

Audience

In this still the audience can get different impressions due to the fact that the Joker is a well known character. A new viewer may feel frightened by the still, as it could create suspense due to the knives apposed to his facial expression and The Jokers 'odd' appearance. However a solid fan base of DC comics could interpret the still differently due to prior knowledge of The Jokers vulnerability when it comes to Harley Quinn (which is emphasised in Jared Leto's version). They may realise how 'trapped' he is by the positioning of the weapons, and even relate to his 'psycho' grin.