The Firm – opening sequence analysis

Sam Cooke

The production company; Vertigo films, is shown before the movie starts, but the viewers can already get an idea for the film from this, the signs lighting is bright and neon like signs from the 1980s, the backing music (tainted love by soft cell) is also a signifier to the 1980s as this song was a hit from this era.

once the film gets started and the opening sequence starts it shows the films main character, the over the shoulder shot is clever as it uses a point of view shot and also we can see his reflection in the mirror, the man has a common haircut from the 80s, he is also looking tough which could indicate he's going to be violent later in the film. This shot also gives more away as it says london-the80s, everything is adding up to a football hooligan film.

A few shots later a mid close up is shown, it shows the main character in a London red phone box, he could be using the public phone box so the call he is going to make doesn’t get traced back to him. he rings another man and asks to arrange a fight, he tells the man not to bring the police, this shows he is a violent man, we also find out the main characters name, Bex. The outfit the man is wearing gives impressions and has connotations he is a football hooligan.