I decided to do my scene analysis on one of my recent favorite films Crazy Stupid Love starring Steve Carell, Juliane Moore, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone.

The first scene I used was the opening scene for the entire film for my first example. This is where character Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is stunned by his wife Emily's (Juliane Moore) unexpected wish of wanting a divorce

The establishing shot in the film is very different from most movies. It begins with a close up shot of what will happen to be a key item in a couple of scenes. SHOES, FEET. The film begins in a dim lit setting, jumping second by second to different shots of what is happening "underneath the table". The scene image above shows a sense of intimacy romance love.

This next clip then introduces the two main characters of the film. Lighting is still dimly set, but the space in the new shot is not a close up as the first establishing shot. It is now father becoming more of a medium close up shot. Unlike the image above the emotions of what is "underneath the table" is now awkward, stiff, and uncomfortable. 

The camera then pans upward from underneath the table to a medium two shot of Cal and Emily Weaver sitting at dinner table. Still no intimacy, romance, or emotional contact. 

The camera then moves to an over the shoulder close up shot of Cal. The surroundings are slightly blurry focusing more on the subject. The expression on his face seems very bored, but his body language is more relaxed with the way him hand is placed on his face. He makes himself comfortable at the table unlike Emily. 

Using the 180 degree rule the camera then moves to an over the should close up shot of Emily. Her face is framed in the scene, the surroundings are still blurry focusing only on the subject. Different from Cal's relaxed manner Emily is shown unsure, still, and uncomfortable. 

Which then jumps to the next three scenes which are very similar to the three clips above, yet different emotionally. 

The scene then jumps back to the medium two shot of Cal and Emily. Contrary to the very first medium  two shot the two subjects now make contact. Emily states to Cal that she would like a divorce. Causing the camera to go back to an Over the Shoulder Close Up of Cal. His face now appears stunned, his relaxed body is now uptight, stiff, and attentive. 

 The camera then goes to Emily still an Over the Shoulder Shot her face now has very strong emotion. Bother characters are still framed within one another in the Over the Shoulder Shot, the surrounding is still blurred so that the focus pays attention to the faces of each character.

From the two Over the Should shots the camera goes back to the Medium Two Shot of Both Cal and Emily. The title of our film is now framed within the two characters. Cal's hand is no longer propt on his face as it was in the last two Medium Two Shots. He has now given Emily his full attention. 

This entry scene now establishes what to possibly expect from the film.

The second scene I went with connects to introductory scene as it shows Cal moving, leaving his wife and family after Emily asked for a divorce. His emotions are not as stunned as before, he is more stiff, nonchalant, and uncaring. While Emily unlike the first clip has more hurt and emotion in her appearance. 

The tone in this next scene is very mute,cool and "colorless" compared to the warmth introductory scene.

The setting is exterior, there are three emblematic shots. 


The first being the rain drops, there is little lighting cast on the area. 

The next two emblematic sights, then show us the backyard. Which plays as a key location for context/important scenes in the film. The setting is very gloomy compared to the warmth of the introductory scene.

The shot then opens with medium long shot of Cal. This somewhat plays to the rules of third since he is not placed exactly centered in the frame.

The clip then transitions from a medium long shot to a close up shot. His body is still placed to apply to the rule of thirds, since he is shifted more to the right of the frame.

His emotions seem to be empty hurt, eyes shifted more left of the frame.

The scene then goes to a two shot. There is still a close up on Cal, but Emily is now placed in more of a medium long shot.

There is racking of focus in these frames. When the camera shifts from the close up of Cal to the two shot of both Emily and Cal. He goes out of focus with Emily then going in focus in the back. Which then transitions to Cal being back in focus and Emily not being in focus, also creating a more shallow depth.

In the next frame we get more of a close up over the shoulder two shot. There is still a shallow depth with all surroundings and even the half of Cal's face being blurred, while Emily is still scene in focus. Which appears harsher, more rough, compared to the introductory scene.

The camera soon zooms out to medium two shot of both Cal and Emily.

Her profile is more angled (3/4). Although the lighting of the scene is more darker mute, there is still a little beam of light cast on the face of Emily and the shoulder of Cal. 

The scene then cuts back the two profile medium close up. The body language is much different of the two compared to intro scene. Cal and the surroundings are still not strongly in focus due to shallow depth, but his body is more stiff. Shifting farther from Emily, his face nonchalant, compared to the heavy emotion and hurt in Emily's eye. 

 Soon after the scene goes back to a medium two shot of both Emily and Cal. His body position farther, not paying attention to Emily. He stares afar into the distance. 

Both subjects are centered at an angle in the frame. Cal being more center while Emily is more to the right. 

The camera then zooms in closer to Cal's face, the surroundings become out of focus only giving attention to Cal. Who stares downward at the ground. 

In the next frame the camera goes back to two shot, with the focus only on Emily, as she pleads her case to Cal. The emotion is still very strong in both of their eyes, Cal looking more hurt while Emily is more miserable.

The camera then pans out to a medium two shot of both Cal and Emily, her body is now positioned to the side while Cal is full frontal in the frame. Soon after the camera jumps back to the close up two shot with Cal still being out of focus which gives all attention to Emily. 

The camera then reverses to Cal's point of view. He is now exiting himself away from Emily the focus is suddenly fading off of her and being placed only on Cal. This is now an over the shoulder medium close up of both subjects. 

As Cal walks out of the frame the camera then cuts to Emily. She is placed to the right of the the frame, the shot is now a medium close up, there is shallow depth. Soon after the camera brings Cal back in the frame, this is now an over the shoulder medium shot. He is framed between the truck and Emily.

The camera then goes back to Emily still to the right of the frame still a medium close up, the depth is still shallow. Similar and alike to the first medium close up of Emily. The camera then cuts back to Cal, this now a closer medium close up shot. More of his body is cut off, his body is angled more with him shifting right. Still placed in frame with Emily and truck. 

Cal is now framed within a frame in the truck. (With the window being the frame) The shot cuts to a medium long shot. 

The closing of the scene then comes with Cal backing the truck out of the driveway. Emily is placed to the left of the frame in a medium shot. The details of the truck aren't as in focus compared to Emily.

With each still the truck slowly covering Emily.Which is her exit from the scene/frame.

The shot gets tighter and tighter and finally in the closing scene the truck is the only subject that is being shown. With all details being out of focus.  As Cal is moving on to what is possibly the next chapter of his life.