Film Viewing Practice Essay "Agent Carter"

     The film Agent Carter, begins with a flashback from one year ago from the current time of the film. This scene switches in between Steve (Captain America) and Peggy Carter (Steve's partner). The constant cut of the camera demonstrates simultaneity, which also builds suspense leading up to the crash Captain America gets in. The low-key lighting and non-diegetic background music adds to the sad and depressing tone of this scene. As the two characters talk to one another,  the shots of Peggy are close-up shots, showing the tears that she sheds. The majority of the shots of Steve are from behind his chair in the ship, allowing the viewers to witness what his future is going to be without the ending really being known resulting in Steve's death. 

    The film then cuts to the present, one year after Steve's death. The opening shot of this new time is a shot over the city where Peggy works to establish the setting. The sunset behind the buildings represents a new beginning as Peggy continues to heal from the death of Steve. The scene changes to inside the building where Peggy works with all male coworkers. The low-key lighting here paired with the dark color scheme of brown and navy blue tones establish a serious mood. The camera focuses on Peggy's facial expressions throughout the length of the scene where her coworkers are leaving the building. This allows the audience to notice her thoughts for the people she works with, and her desire to work on an assignment out of the office she currently works at. As more components of the office are shown on camera, the mise-en-scene also becomes known. The main component made known is the time frame due to the leather furniture and old-fashioned attire of the characters which makes it known that the film is during the mid 1900s.

    When her coworkers have all left work, Peggy answers the ringing telephone, which is an example of a diegetic sound, warning of the antagonist's newly discovered location. As Peggy writes down the coordinates and information, she crosses out the words "3-5 agents", foreshadowing that she is going to do the job by herself. This showcases her determination and will to contribute to the crime-fighting that she had been held back from while working in the office. When she sets out to catch the antagonist, suspenseful background music plays as she walks up to an old office building. The antique cars in the shot and the costumes of the men in the office add on to the mise-en-scene. This scene is filmed with two different over-the-shoulder shots switching back and forth. One is behind Peggy's shoulder and one is from behind the mens' shoulders who approach her. These camera angles allow the audience to see all the character's faces, including Peggy's which displays confidence and the men's serious looks. 

    Peggy then begins to beat both of the men up, leaving them unconscious. Another man inside the building comes outside with a gun, looking for Peggy as he knows his men did not complete the job they were meant to do. This demonstrated a dolly shot, as the camera follows him out of the building. The shot along with the background music builds suspense, making the viewers wonder where Peggy disappeared to. Then, as the camera is focused on the third man's face and suddenly a gun was pressed up against the side of his face. This led to the defeat of the men and Peggy doing something she always wanted to do.