Case Study: 'Gangster Squad'

As with the majority of movie trailers, Gangster Squad begins with the green MPAA (Motion Pictures Association of America) trailer ID. The ID informs the viewer of whether the film is appropriate for them to watch. MPAA have rated Gangster Squad 'RESTRICTED' and have stated that 'under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian'. 

The first scene is a pan of LA at night; this immediately introduces an ominous atmosphere

and is supported by the crescendo of discordant sound effects that follow after. A pleading and apologetic voice then begins to beg for forgiveness which displays the contrast in power, status and authority with the scene of a man striking a punching bag. The audience is given the impression that this man is an antagonistic and vindictive character when his response to the grovelling man is "You're talking to God, so you might as well swear to me". His iconic attire is attributed to the era of the Great Depression when gangsters exploited people suffering from financial difficulty. The cross-cutting displays brief shots of sinister actions, synonymous with gang crimes such as kidnapping, and a spectrum of murder methods; in this case fire, explosions and gun crime dominate. The sound effects are amplified in sync with these sinister actions to emphasise their severity. 

The beginning therefore sets the atmosphere effectively in order to contextualise the following information.

"It's Mickey Cohen's town. You're not gonna change anything around here sarge" at this point, the audience are presented with the problem so they can assume that the plot will be to find a solution to this seemingly impossible task. As a new, casual voice over begins to tell the story, the atmosphere lightens; the setting also changes to a more accommodating bar. The opposing side (like any gangster movie) aka law enforcement, is introduced as the protagonists, "we're losing Los Angeles to an Eastern crook", one liners such as this tie the scenes together as it clarifies the story and continues to entice the viewers. The sound effects remain in sync with the voice over throughout despite the voices changing and alternating. They are especially effective after the voiceover announces that he will be forming a squad of 6 people where the sound of a gun shot is heard exactly 6 times and cuts to show all 6 members individually. There are also various group shots to emphasise the idea of the gangster squad. The theme of love enters the narrative but appears to be an issue as it conflicts with the idea of possession and ownership associated with women.   

Towards the end the sound effects cease and is replaced by a rap song; the phrase "American Dream" is the most prevalent line in the rap song which juxtaposes the calamitous events in the movie. The intertitles are only featured towards the end of the trailer where the preview is at a climax "To save the law" "Break it" connotes the notion of a good cop going against the law in order to take back LA from the hands of the Eastern mobster. Finally, the actors names are revealed along with a brief shot of them looking directly at the camera as if they are answering to their name being called. Before the title shows, the scenes appear in slow motion to maximise the conflict between the two opposing parties.