ROBOCOP also contains one of my favorite shots. Like the Jaws shot I commented on earlier, there are several camera setups contained in one single uncut take here, that masterfully advances story, character and foreshadows future events.
During the first board room scene...Morton, Johnson and Kinney all exit the elevator and Morton starts talking shit about Jones....the camera picks them up entering the board room in a WIDE SHOT as he dishes his insults...
the camera starts tracking back with them as they enter the board room, framing them now in a MEDIUM SHOT...Johnson and Kinney warn Morton not to mess with Jones. Verhoeven has now established two things. 1. Morton doesn't like Jones 2. Jones is not to be fucked with 3. Morton is a headstrong, arrogant exec, eager to make his mark, which is reinforced visually by Morton's position in the frame, ahead of the pack, the camera literally being shoved backward by his force.
As they get closer to frame and advance further into the room, Morton turns and steps in front of Kinney to scold him for his remarks, Kinney is the one who in a mere minutes is going to be turned into hamburger by ED 209...Morton stepping in front of Kinney is a visual foreshadowing that Kinney is possibly in danger, because it looks like Morton is trying to stop him from entering the room further, regardless of the dialogue...movies are first and foremost a visual medium. This is also another setup; an OVER THE SHOULDER of Morton to Kinney...
as Johnson whispers to Morton to be quiet (because Jones is approaching), the camera pans right, with him...this is another interesting visual piece of foreshadowing that Johnson is going to be the only one of the three men to survive this film, as he's now alone in the frame after having tried to warn Morton about Jones, and Morton visually warning Kinney about ED-209...This is also another setup, a SINGLE on Johnson
the camera continues its pan right, picking up Jones and the Old man walking in the other direction, the camera now changing direction and tracking back with them the way we just came. This flip flopping creates immediate tension in the frame, suggesting Jones is definitely a dangerous individual, and that his views do not synch up with that of the Old Man. And this "going back in the other direction" also visually reinforces the idea that Jones and the Old Man are senior execs, and have already been through the same shenanigans as Morton, Johnson and Kinney in their younger days, since the two older men are going over the same ground the others just used...they are survivors....they talk about more serious matters, the police problems, and the dissent in the law enforcement unions. This is yet another setup, a MEDIUM TWO SHOT of the men...
At a certain point, they pass by Morton, who's look and posture suggest he is frightened of one or both of them. Though it goes by rather quickly, this could also be considered a new setup; a THREE SHOT.
As the Old Man and Jones sit, and the camera continues tracking around, the entire table and staff is established in a WIDE SHOT...
as the Old Man launches into a speech about Delta City, the camera continues tracking back and around into a WIDE SHOT of the room, Delta City established as a model off in the corner, now in the foreground, the executives in the background, looking at it with awe, while the old man speaks about the new city...
This does several things...one, it establishes the city and it's planned construction as more important than anyone in that room since it looms over everyone; foreshadowing corporate politics is more important than human lives, as we will come to find out...it also reinforces the construct versus humanity motif, as in, Robocop, half man half machine to further the interest of the corporation, because Delta City is so big and looming in the frame, dwarfing everyone in the room...
So...in one shot Verhoeven has introduced Jones and the Old Man, set up the conflict between Morton and Jones, foreshadowed Kinney's death by ED 209, foreshadowed Johnson being the sole surviving main exec character, created a geography of the entire room, and introduced Delta city...
All in one shot. And to think somebody like Len Wiseman is remaking one of this man's films.
