Max Payne - Sound Analysis

Max Payne opening sequence - Sound Analysis

Shot	Technique	Effect
1	Motif	Brings you into the film
2	Ambiance sounds (wind) Non-diegetic Narration – voice sounds quite hard (strong)	Creates a sense of a harsh cold environment Shows you the characters thoughts and feelings also gives you a sense of what the film will be about
3	Sudden burst of sound Diegetic heavy breathing and gasping for air	Provokes emotion and helps you to feel the panic and desperation of the character Helps the audience to make a connection with the character
4	Sound muffles as character (and camera) are submerged in water	Makes you feel like you are there and experiencing the same things the character is
5	Diegetic splashing and gasping	Creates an emotional connect with the character
6	Diegetic band general under water noises	Helps to create the sense of being under water and create a sinking feeling, as if you are going down with him The contrast between the loud splashing and now the quite muffled noise of the bubbles helps to create the sense that he has given up
7	Non-diegetic  Defining noise as shot is shown Diegetic bubbles Non-diegetic  Narration	Provokes feelings of shock Create the feel of being underwater Keeps the main connection to the main character and also gives a little insight into the story
8	Sound bridge (sort of watery noise through the black leading to the shot of the door) Non-diegetic  Baby crying	Connects the two shots – shows us there is some sort of link Creates an eerie feel
9	Non-diegetic  Baby crying Non-diegetic  Eerie wind chimes Non-diegetic  Eerie music Non-diegetic  Clock ticking	Make the shoot seem unreal and somewhat spooky and sinister Makes it feel like time is moving very slowly
10	Non-diegetic  Sound bridge (baby crying) Non-diegetic  Sound bridge (clock ticking (getting progressively slower) Diegetic bubbles (letting out his last breaths) Non-diegetic  Narration	Creates a link between the baby and the main character Makes us feel like everything is slowing down and coming to an end Connects you to what is happening to the character in the present Connects you to the character and makes you think about what he might have done
11	Non-diegetic  Sound bridge (clock ticking) Diegetic creaky door Non-diegetic wind chimes Non-diegetic flashing sort of sound	Links all the shots Focuses you on that one point – makes it seem significant Brings thoughts of innocence Helps create the feel of moving through memories
12	Sound bridge (Non-diegetic flashing sort of sound) Sound bridge (Non-diegetic wind chimes) Ambient sounds (something goes past the window and makes a noise (maybe a car))	Links the shots Brings up the thoughts of innocence and links to the wind noises (wind chime) Odd as it gives a sense of normality and yet the shot we are seeing does not portray this
13	Sound bridge (non-diegetic wind chimes) Sound bridge (non-diegetic clock – becoming distorted)	Links the shots Makes us feel like something is wrong
14	Sound bridge (non-diegetic wind chimes) Sound bridge (non-diegetic clock – becoming more slow and distorted) Sound bridge Thunder (could be diegetic) into next shot under water Non-diegetic Narration Diegetic underwater noises	Links the shots Continues the eerie feeling Creates the sense that the characters past is quite dark Insight into how the character is feeling Creates the sense of a 3D world
15	Narration Sound bridge off screen diegetic police cars	Leaves us with a strong message Creates the sense of normality and gives us pre-emptive thoughts about what  might come next, also links with what he was talking about (dead criminals)
16	Sound bridge off screen diegetic police cars Ambient sounds (people talking, cars, general city sounds) wind	Links the shots and establishes the scene Sets the scene and creates the sense of normality Links slightly with the beginning