Film Lead Analysis: You'Ve Got Mail

Film Lead Analysis: You've Got Mail

Nora Ephron's You've Got Mail is the epitome of an effective lead for a film. This charming and captivating story stirs up trouble as soon as it begins. During the opening credits, the viewer experiences the fast paced construction of New York City through a computer screen. Happy, cheerful music is playing in the background as the viewers are hurtled through city streets until they abruptly stop in front of a quaint and cozy town house. Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) is suddenly awoken by the drones of her dull and monotonous boyfriend serenading her with how western civilization is ending. Once he leaves for work, Kathleen is shown peering around corners, peeking through key holes, and looking out of windows into the street below, making sure that her boyfriend has definitely left. Light, mischievous music is suddenly heard as Kathleen Kelly rushes to her computer to check her e-mail messages. The audience does not have to wait long to see why she is so secretive about going on the Internet. Instead of listening to Kathleen's voice read the e-mail aloud that she has received, a strong, distinctive male voice is heard. There is an immediate transition to a man sitting at a kitchen table, reading the newspaper and looking oddly suspicious. Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) is patiently waiting for his girlfriend to leave the apartment so he can check his e-mail messages and see what Kathleen has written in reply to his letter. Joe hears the apartment door close; the same mischievous music then plays as he too hurries to his computer. Kathleen's voice is heard reading the e-mail while the camera cuts back and forth on the two book store owners leaving their homes and walking down one of the Upper West Side streets. Viewers can sense the dramatic irony when Kathleen and Joe are walking on either side of each other down the street. They, unlike the viewers, do not know who one another are