The Man's Expression

                                                             

                                                                The Man’s Expression

            This still shot comes at the end of Minority Report. We see Lamar and the torso and hands of Anderton’s ex-wife Lara. Her face is purposefully left out of the scene. It is a medium shot with Lamar’s face and Lara’s hands as the main subjects. The light is coming in from the right highlighting parts of his face and her hands there by emphasizing them in the shot. Lamar is looking down at her hands, which seem to be hanging on his shoulders. The room is lit in such a way that there is a lack of warmth, which gives the shot tension. The lighting also allows the viewer to see the lines and creases in Lamar’s face that reveal his worried expression. Color is virtually absent from the shot heightening the seriousness of the moment. To the right of Lamar’s face in the background we see a beautifully decorated room with wingback chairs, a side table, and an ornate oriental rug. The fact that the director chose to have Lamar off center allows the viewer to see more of the room. The viewer gets the feeling that this is an important room and thus this man must be important also. The close up of Lamar exaggerates the depth of the room, which heightens Lamar’s isolation. We are also left to ponder why Lara has stopped tying Lamar’s bowtie. We know that this is a crucial moment for both characters. Lamar has revealed his knowledge of Anne Lively’s death and Lara has clearly understood the impact of this revelation. This is made clear not through words or facial expressions but rather through the abrupt freezing of her hands.