MovieChat Forums > Heist (2001) Discussion > Beggining scene?

Beggining scene?

posted 19 years ago by hb23
7 replies | jump to latest

What's the scene at the beggining all about before the word Heist shows up on the screen. Gene Hackman walks around a field with a shotgun, takes the bullets out and writes in a book. ???

[–] scalzmoney 19 years ago

I believe this is the eventual location for the 'Swiss thing'. It looks like the place where they run the wires for the explosives.

[–] the_notorious_bid 8 years ago

I've always thought so...

However...

Even though this is filmed prior to 9/11, you wouldn't expect firearms and hunting to be "allowed" so close to an airport.

[–] The LA Baker (799) 7 years ago

Airports will pay people to shoot birds nesting near the airports, or they used to. Post 9/11 I am not sure. The idea is to reduce the likelihood of potentially deadly bird strikes.

[–] easmax 19 years ago

Ya, as Scalzmoney said, Hackman is in one of his many disquises
this time posing as hunter in the event that he is seen and stopped

When he takes the shells out of the gun and a note book
he is plotting the location which will be where an explosion
is set off later as a diversion.

[–] Piotr P. 19 years ago

he could also be doing what hunters are expected to: remove shells from the shotgun when they're finished for safety, and catalog the events for that particular hunt. in this case, maybe: "I CAUGHT JACK POOP."

you know, to be consistent with his disguise.

[–] Dorf_Dorkman 15 years ago

The main question on this is - why is this shown at the beginning? Usually, when a film starts in the middle, it is a major plot event. This does not seem to be that significant. Anyone have any ideas?

[–] tremas-1 15 years ago

Did you take notice of composer Theodore Shapiro's music for this opening scene and the jewelry theft that follows? It's an homage to John Barry's music for the movie "Goldfinger," with low trombones and low strings backed by a driving percussion beat. The theme (which pivots around C-Eflat-F-G) recurs when Bobby installs the bomb timer in the can, and is heard often during the movie. It reminds me of Lalo Schifrin's music for the TV series "Mission Impossible"; Shapiro may have been inspired by Schifrin. The music and the fast editing have a lot to do with the excitement you feel when you see this movie.