Wednesday 26 February 2014

Alignment - Goodfellas


We are aligned with Henry because throughout the sequence, he is the person the camera is focused on. While the other characters are sleeping within the car, he is awake, driving the car. A reason the audience aligns with him in this way, is because the other characters are covered more so by the shadows. As the one performing the task the audience is also naturally drawn to the driver. In addition to this Henry only looks at Jimmy and Tommy through the use of his rear-view mirror, showing detachment from the other characters.


Another way in which the audience aligns with Henry is on the basis we listen to his internal monologue, as he speaks of a much younger self. He also does not engage in violence towards the man in the boot of the car. He merely opens the boot in order to reveal the body and shuts it when the brutal murder has been carried out. By not descending into violence like the others, it is easier for us to relate to Henry, on a level that has more compassion and humanity.



Jimmy is viewed as a violent man, he carries a weapon upon his person and it is clear that a gun is a tool of death or a means to threaten, promoting high levels of violence to be associated with this character. He also proceeds to shoot the body in the boot several times, even after Tommy has already stabbed him multiple times. This conveys the idea that the use of his gun was not to simply carry out the task of murder, but it was also for his self-sulfillment or possibly in relation to his sadistic nature.


After this brutal scene, the audience is left with fear towards Jimmy and Tommy due to their violence. Because of their violent tendencies, we are left fearing for the safety of Henry, relating to the unpredictable nature of the two other characters and the dangerous lifestyles they lead. Jimmy is conveyed as the largest threat,  on the grounds he has the most power in this sequence, the only one with a firearm,


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