Narrative Theory

applied to
Todorov
Todorov believes there are several main stages to a narrative, easily identified in any story. Equilibrium, this is usually at the start
of the narrative it is what can be considered the norm, a disruption, something that happens which changes the way the norm is,
and then the new equilibrium, which is preceded by a resolution of the disruption.

I can see two routes that both follow the theory that depend on your view and the audiences view of equilibrium and
disequilibrium.

The start of the narrative could be argued that it starts in a disequilibrium, because the main character's life is in shambles and it
doesn't look like he has any escape unless a miracle happens. However it could also be classed as an equilibrium because this is
the life he is used to, it is his usual life.

Depending on what stance you take for the beginning of the film decides what you perceive the rest of the film to be. If you class
the beginning of the narrative to be a disequilibrium then you would class the stage of the narrative where the main finds the
large amount of money and him using this money to get his life back on track as an equilibrium because he has found an escape
of the hole that was his life. Conversely if you classed the start of the narrative as an equilibrium instead, the stage where he finds
the money would be a disequilibrium because it is the factor that disrupts the balance of his life.

No matter what is chosen beforehand I believe that the narrative is plunged into disequilibrium when he is found and threatened
by the gang and has to play for his life is definitely a disequilibrium. The main, who was at least an upstanding citizen beforehand
now has to go against the law and work with a gang of questionable individuals, who have already murdered the mains
acquaintance, to destroy another gang. Thus destroying what morals he might have had beforehand.

The narrative we constructed however ends in an equilibrium. This is because of the "Utopian solution" ending we decided the
audience would enjoy more. The main is released from the gang's grasp over his life and he repaid his debt to them. He also never
had to answer the law for his crimes and he manages to keep enough money to renew his life in a better way than what he had
before.
Barthes
Barthes' theory states that a narrative is like a big ball of tangled strings which
different people approach differently, some pull on one string and some pull on the
other. Each of these threads has a different connotation or meaning leaving the
audience free to discover the narrative in their own way, keeping it interesting.

Our narrative will be an open one. This is because it falls under the genres that get
their audiences enjoyment with the use of many enigma codes or "Question and
Answer points" which engage the audience on an intellectual way. However there will
also be a good balance of action codes also, due to the fact our audience is relatively
young and primarily male, of who action like fight scenes makes a film interesting.

Barthes also said that each narrative connects with it's audience using cultural
references, symbols and signs that the audience is familiar with. An example of the
cultural references in our film would be the clothes the more casual of characters
wear, which will be typical clothing for the audience themselves. There will be other
cultural references also, like the thrill of doing something illegal, which our audience,
being teenagers will be able to relate to very well.
Propp
We can apply Propp to the Narrative of "All In"well. There are clear
classes the main characters fall into. For example the main character
clearly fits into the Hero role, since we follow his story and he is the
main protagonist.

The undercover gambler would fit into the helper and the dispatcher.
Because he first causes the Hero to go on his quest and then aids him
with it. However before this he could class as a villain because he kills
the mains friend and threatens the main with death too.

There wouldn't be a princess in the typical sense, however you could
class the main as one because his quest's purpose is to save himself,
making him a princess in need.

All the gamblers would be classed as villains because they all stand in
the way of the hero and his quest.
Levi-Strauss
The narrative we have created does have opposing
themes that fit Levi-Strauss' theory that states a
narrative is driven by the conflict caused by binary
opposite themes. For example "Love and Hate" or
"Good and Evil".

Within our narrative there are binary opposites like
"Good and Evil" and "Poor and Rich". These themes
are used in order to keep the story fresh, because a
story without conflict is a boring story even if there
is physical conflict like fighting.