About a Boy

About a Boy ( Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz , 2002 )

Opening 3mins.10sec

Box Office

Budget:

 $27,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

 £3,747,966 (UK) (28 April 2002) (446 Screens)

Produced by: Universal pictures,studio canal

Distributors: universal pictures ,studio canal,united international pictures.

Gross:

$84,600,000 (Worldwide) (17 November 2002) (except USA)
Ratings : Rotten tomatoes 93%
                  Imdb: 7.2
                  My rating: 8

Wiki , Official Site

Twelve year old Marcus Brewer lives with his chronically depressed single mother, Fiona Brewer. Both Fiona and Marcus beat to their own respective drummers. Marcus will do whatever he can to make his depressed mother happy, even if it causes himself grief. As such, he realizes that he is perceived as different than most kids, as even the self-professed weird kids don't want to hang out with him as he is the target of bullying. Part of the taunts against him are the fact that he sings and speaks to himself without even realizing that he is doing it. Meanwhile, thirty-eight year old Will Freeman is a slacker who has lived comfortably off the royalties of a song written by his deceased father, and as such has never had to work a day in his life. He is a solitary man who places himself as the first and only priority in life. He comes across the idea that dating single moms meets his selfish carnal needs...

The directors are presented together in the opening credits 'A Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz film' They have used this to make there names more well known so its almost like there film regardless of everyone else who took part in the film making and who are perhaps more important than them. At the end of the credits they also have another credit 'directed by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz'

Hugh Grant is then introduced In bold First as he is more than likely going to be the most well known out of actors to follow in credits.The following credits then follow with main characters in different positions on the screen.The title then follows 'about a boy' the 2 words about and boy are in bold which high lights these words and makes the a not relevant  The other credits then follow with editors etc in groups. At the end of all this it says 'and introducing Nicholas Hault as Marces' this shows he is a new actor.

This is the first shot it is a high angle shot which follows him round the room it is a birds eye view.however this makes the character look smaller but does not make him look weaker it makes Here the sound is Diegetic as we hear the TV as the background.The camera is also on a tilt and is a match on action shot.

this is a mid shot but it is unusual as it is showing him walking. Rather than from head to waist like normal mid shots.He has now started to narrate as he talks about his life.This is also Moving subject it is framed with space to walk into.

This is a medium long shot as it shows the legs but we still have not seen his face yet which gives a sense of mystery. The sound is still diegetic as he plays his voice mails on his answerphone machine.The editing changes in transitions as we are shown his house and the setting.

this is a longshot which creates mood and location.

We have still not been shown his face after 2 mins but we see his body and his mannerisms.The first 2 mins is also just about him. We then have a high angle shot which is an establishing shot introducing the next character.it is a high angle shot which makes the character look vulnerable as soon as the audience meets him.This character then narrates his life.

This is a extreme close up and a point of view shot. It emphasis's emotion.the sound is non diegetic as the character is the voice over / narrator

this shot is a at a high angle and is from a birds eye view. It shows the character is vulnerable and is a repeat of a previous shot.The sound has changes to non diegetic as a sound track is added to the background.

the titles are also still going throughout opening intro.This shot is a closeup it emphasis emotion.The sound is the theme tune to film which is now playing in background it is non digetic and is used as an audio bridge to link scenes together between the 2 characters.

This is a close up .This scene is continuity editing which shows time moving forward as it switches between the 2 characters.It also features some cross cutting between the 2 characters to compare the 2 different ways of life.

This is a long shot as the scene finishes.it is also a mid angle.The titles finish with directors as they started with directors.This scene finishes with the editing transition where we watch the car drive away but then it switches from the car driving away to the closing of the scene where the scene jumps to the next and the credits have stopped

We can tell this is set in England by the actors accents and how the scenes compare the characters 2 different ways of life.We can also tell it is England from the setting such as the weather and the type of housing and the fashion.WE can tell the film  is a modern film from the cars and props used.We can also tell it is a modern from the way of life and by the opening TV playing in the background playing who wants to be a millionaire which we know is recent.

     We can tell the film is going to be sad by the dull colours and how they are already comparing the 2 different ways of life.we can also tell its going to be a serious film with a meaning as it stars Hugh grant as the main character who is typically known for being in films like this but also making it a bit comical.