Syntax

The length of the specific scene in analysis is 6:02 (3:30-9:22). The scene is between Neil McCauly (Deniro) and Lt. Vincent Hannah (Pacino). There are about 52 cuts in the scene between Deniro and Pacino. The camera never cuts to anything except Deniro or Pacino. Each shot is a notably simple medium shot which gradually becomes more of a close up as the scene progresses. The pace of the cutting starts out paced to the delivery of the lines of the actors without reaction shots. As the conversation progresses, reaction shots begin to be shown more and more frequently until at the end, only reactions are shown and there is no dialogue. The lighting is shadowy with fluorescent lighting from the diner lights. The theme of the colors are overall on the gray to dark end of the scale. The time is pretty late at night. The setting is a common diner. Two over the shoulder cameras are set up simultaneously to capture the scene. This are the only camera angles used however there were others. The scene occurs 1:28 hrs into the movie which is 2:45 hrs long. Basically the scene occurs in the almost exact middle of the film.
There are 42 lines of dialogue with each character having exactly 21 lines. This creates a back and forth rhythm between the characters. As with the cutting, the dynamic intensity increases over the period of the scene crescendoing at the end. The voices of the two characters act like contrapuntal voices in a fugue, Vincent Hannah introduces the subject at 3:30, acknowledging he knows who McNeil is and what he is doing. McNeil answers with a countersubject and the rest follows. Their voices become more and more interconnected, constantly with similar themes in their lines. Interestingly enough the conversation ends with Hannah presenting a subject and Deniro imitating the subject in almost exact answer. Silence, like in a musical piece is carefully placed to highlight the important changes in rhythm and dynamic. For instance from 6:12-6:22 there is complete silence, only facial expression between the two. Within the context of the entire work, this scene comes 6 minutes before the climactic gun battle showdown between Pacino and Deniro.



Immediately before the scene Deniro's character has just gotten surveillance on who Pacino is and the blueprints for the bank robbery he plans to commit.



Immediately after the scene, Deniro's character and the rest of his heist crew dump all the surveillance on them. In the beginning of the dialogue the word you is the most prevalent subject. As the dialogue progresses, I becomes the most common subject.

A Basic form:

A(1) Acknowledgment of the adversarial game they are playing

B The state of their Lives

C Their Relationships

A(2) Acknowledgment of the adversarial game they are playing and its effect on relationships

D Dreams and Death

A(3) Acknowledgment of the adversarial game they are playing and the simultaneous anxiety and facticity of death