Gangster No. 1,Paul McGuigan, 2000

The film Gangster No.1 is in the British Gangster genre, however it does have a slight twist to the American style in the opening sequence. The generic expectations are fulfilled in the opening sequence as it portrays the top gangsters lifestyle, with champagne, slicked back hair and flamboyant tuxedos and suits. It has traditional conventions of the dialogue as well for a gangster genre with the frequent swear words. The text conforms to the characteristics of the the genre as the stock characters are what are expected in a Brit gangster genre, with their accent, which is cockney, and the way they are talking about previous encounters with people. Also the use of smoking can also conform to the stereotypical gangster. However part of it is treated playfully, as it is supposed to be a British themed gangster film there are conventions which are normally found in American gangster films, the stock characters are very well dressed and the stock location is very grand. Usually in Brit Genres they are more rougher with leather jackets and such and is usually located in a warehouse or back streets.

Mise en scene shows that the characters stock costume is very smart and flamboyant which can tell us that they have been very successful in the past, also the age of the characters can tell us they are very big in the hierarchy of gangsters and that they have been through a lot. Also the location is extremely lavish which can be used to show the audience what can happen to gangsters after the times they are on the streets, which is when gangster films are usually set in Britain.

Shot size conveys the happiness of the upper class and the contrast between the lower class boxers as it cuts from a laughing face of an upper class on a BCU to a face of a bloodied boxer on another BCU in quick succession, this can help convey the meaning as it can give a bigger difference in the emotions of the upper class and lower class at this gathering. Also the MS shot of the boxers fighting can give a better perspective of the upper classes personalities on what they do in their free time, which is be in an audience of a boxing match. Also on frequent occasions when a line of dialogue is spoken from one of them it is shot in an MS and have another character in a CU all in the same shot to show what the reactions of the other person talking, which gives off a good affect of how they react to what they say, which is mainly smirking connoting arrogance in them.

One of the first establishing shots of the location is a birds eye view angle shot, one half of the shot is the boxing ring and the other is the lavishly set out tables of all the upper class men sitting there which conveys the contrast of the two classes as there is a major difference. He also uses angle and shot to show the contrast in the way that he uses the boxers legs as a leading line to show the face of one of the gangsters in the background at eye level and as the stock costumes are different they give the contrast.

The Non-diegetic sound of the music anchors the images as it is laid back, the lyrics help as the words are "the good life," which connotes the men's easy lifestyle and the how trouble free these men are, even though they have a criminal past. However to anchor the contrast between the boxers and the high class men are the diegetic sounds that have been edited in to exaggeratethe sounds of the boxers, as they punch it sounds very savage which is totally different to the non diegetic sound of the soundtrack.

Through the dialogue of the characters we learn that they are very loud and abrasive through the volume of their voices which connotes their personality to be very arrogant and have a superiority in their status of class. There is a lot of swearing and colloquialism in their dialogue as well which can connote that they may have not had a very good education and can refer back to the crime genre and is evidence they have been involved in crime. Their does not seem to be a superior in the group, their dialogue can connote that they have known each other for along as they have been talking about people that are coming put of prison after a long sentence which also connotes to the audience that they have risen from to the top together. The Non-Verbal language also is very arrogant, for instance the over the top blowing out of the smoke on their large Cuban cigars and their extravagant way they posture themselves as they talk which connotes their intimidatory they have achieved over the years as gangsters. Their hand gestures as well as they all talk are very similar to each other, their body language seems to be a clone each other which connotes that they influence each other and copy each other with their habits.

Lighting has an impact on the different social classes as the upper class seem to be brighter and the lower class, the boxers have a darker lighting on them, even though they are supposed to be in the spotlight. Another visual technique is used to express the emotions of the men is slow motion which shows them laughing in slow motion which connotes how their happiness is long term.

The narrative is a linear narrative as it just a conversation about their everyday life whilst watching a boxing match, which takes second interest to what they talking about. It is structured so that the audience can have a slight background information on what is happening before more action happens, there is not much enigma in the opening sequence. The audience is positioned so that they are on the table next to them over listening on their conversation as there is one shot where there is a MCU of a man leaning over looking at the table, this is helpful for the identification of the group as the other table seems to be quiet as they are talking, but the other table are very loud with a lot of smoke coming from that table. The tension is created as the boxing match gives an indirect effect as tension building from the conversation as the fast paced background of the fight in the background is also maintaining tension as well.

There are two social groups represented in this sequence, the gangsters which are portrayed as the upper class groups, with their stock costumes and their personality with their stereotypical over sized cigars. Then their is the lower class which are the boxers which is traditionally known as a lower class sport and the spectators are upper class. The ideological discourse which is evident is capitalism, the difference in the social groups is great as the upper class are very rich, with a lavish dinner, with champagne and the boxers which are poorer are fighting for money and the upper classes entertainment.

As this is a gangster film as a main genre then its main target audience will be the young males which as this is very masculine and no sign of females about, a strictly male party. The opening sequence however does not have a typical gangster opening scene, it is more relaxed, which can target an older male audience as well as it is not as action packed and more easy going. Our age will think that this is quite aspiring as they are an older generation. My gender would find this more influential then females as of the large masculine presence involved and you would like to know the group of males in the sequence and females would find it less interest as there is no feminine character to relate to.