TAKEN

A retired CIA agent travels across Europe and relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been

kidnapped while on a trip to Paris.

Director: Pierre Morel

Released: 28th September 2008

Actors: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen

Gross Profit: $226,830,568 (Worldwide) (5 July 2009)

Budget: $25,000,000

BASIC INFO

FUN FACT: Over the course of the movie, Bryan kills 35 people in order to get to his daughter.

Important Characters: Bryan Mills, Kim Mills, Kidnappers.

NARRATIVE CONVENTIONS

Contrast: Pace of camera movement contrasts the action on the scene.

Close Up: Of Kidnappers feet, shows a sign of mystery as we do not see their face.

Low Angle Shot: Used on Bryan when speaking into the phones, shows the power and authenticity

of his threat.

CAMERA

Diagetic: The diagetic sound of the music the daughter is listening to sets the mood as calm.

Falls Silent: When she is under the bed when she thinks she’s safe suddenly they pull her out and she screams.

SOUND

Costume: Both Kindnappers and Liam Neeson are wearing black this symbolizes the danger they both pose.

Lighting: The lighting where Liam Neeson is and his daughter is very contrasted, i.e he is in a dark room, she is

in a brightly lit bathroom.

Props: The mobile the girl carries is bright red., which is very stereotypical to her age group.

MISE EN SCENE

Parallel Editing: Between the father and his daughter.

Fast Paced Editing: When she goes from the bathroom to the bedroom.

EDITING

Personally, we feel it is good as the tension and drama is built throughout the scene very subtly. This fits the codes

and conventions of the thriller genre as the audience never knows the full story so it left wanting more therefore the

keep watching to find out what’s happening.

Liam Neeson takes the role of Bryan Mills and feeds a suspenseful enigma into the character. This is enhanced by the chiaroscuro at his location. Maggie Grace plays the key femme fatale (his daughter) adding a sense of innocence to

the role.

We feel this scene is bursting at the seams with codes and conventions key to the thriller genre therefore we give it

the thumbs up

OUR OPINION