Analysis of LA confidential: Interrogation scene

In one of our recent lessons we have learnt about the effects and impacts of why directors have decided to cut at a particular point in the scene. For example, we looked at an interrogation scene from LA confidential which I have added the link for below.

At the beginning of this scene the cutting rates are very slow as a continuous shot is used to follow the characters to the next part of the scene. This sets the scene and displays the atmosphere at this time in the scene. Not only this, but it begins a relationship with two police officers as we follow them in. This almost persuades the viewer to be on the side of the two police officers as it is almost like the viewer is a third police officer.

Then, towards the middle of the scene, the cutting rate speeds up dramatically when the man's head is smashed into a mirror. This effects the viewer by building an atmosphere of excitement and action. This fast speed is kept up when the man is thrown out of a window.

Lastly, at the end of the scene the cutting rate then begins to slow down again as the man owns up the information that the two policemen are after and then he is pulled up from the window.

I have learned from this that actually cutting rates have a lot more impact on the viewer than you would think. For someone who has never seen this scene before, I found myself rooting for the two police officers even though they were using a lot of violence and cruelty. This shows just how big of an impact using a continuous shot at the beginning of the scene can be.