The scene I have chosen to deconstruct and analyse is from the film “Big Daddy”.

The film, made in 1999 with a very carefully rated PG, is easily seen as one of Adam Sandler’s better films. I personally love this film as it expresses a range of emotions from laughter to sadness and I feel that’s what makes an all round great family comedy. A film that shows a lazy law student graduate, who adopts a kid to impress his girlfriend, but of course as films go, not everything go to plan and he becomes and unlikely foster parent to the child. Film spoiler the young boy is actually Kevin (Sonny’s best friend, played by Adam Sandler) biological father.

This particular scene is a memorable one of the film as it is the peak moment of realization and sadness. Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler) can no longer care for Julian (the young boy), which forces him to use his law background to help him get back the kid he truly loves and cares for.

What I particularly like about this scene is, that it uses a range of angles, shots and lighting to express the emotion Sonny Koufax is going through. No dialogue is used, only the music track “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns and Roses.

Shot 1, 2, 4, 5, 6:

We see a Sonny Kofax positioned in bottom left of frame sitting down at the table with a large amount of books, pacing around the room, expresses his over thinking and thoughts as he is unable to sit still, re reading what looks to be a law book, bouncing a basketball and finally sitting by the TV in the far top right corner watching Julian’s favourite TV show. It is here we establish where he is eg. His apartment in New York City, his child like self in a pinball machine, basketball playing inside and a very low lit room, only made visible by the four lamps presented within the shot. This can express self-hurt, sadness and a lack of happiness, which I believe they have captured very well.

 

Shot 3:

We are presented with a closer mid shot of Sonny reading his book and looking out the window. This shot also shows the camera zoom in slightly and only has very subtle movements. Both street lights from outside and indoor lighting to set his overall mood.

 

Shot 7:

This particular shot ends the scene with a medium to long shot framing. Sonny is positioned on the left-middle of frame and is hit with a hard light behind his body, giving a very harsh shadow, hiding is face. He sits on the table rather than the 3 comfty chairs shown in frame which I believe highlights is destroyed self emotions as he continually watches julians favourite “Kangaroo Song” TV show.