Analysing Opening Sequences - Inception

Inception

I will be analysing the opening sequence of the Inception, which is an action/thriller, because it is a genre that I might be interested in using in my coursework. We haven't decided yet so a re looking at a mix of film openings to get inspiration.

Scene Summary

The film starts with dramatic and intense music which builds tension. The film immediately starts by setting the scene with an establishing shot which shows huge waves crashing into each other, this lasts for a few seconds. A human face is shown using a canted angle; to hint to the audience that something is wrong is happening. Also the mystery created by the location, and the hidden identity of the character will start the audience to question what’s happening straight away, but the viewer is only presented with vague information, and this therefore hooks their attention.
A close up of the face reveals the character to be a male, and this close up suggests to the viewers that the mystery character could have a significance in the movie, for example the protagonist.
Through the protagonist’s perspective, we see two children playing in the distance, this creates confusion for the viewer as the two things don’t match and then the children are shown to be running off into the distance. This has been done using a shot reverse shot. The audience can then gather that the scene with the children could be a possible flashback due to the change in lighting and theme. A two shot is also used to show the relationship between the children, this could imply that they are siblings. Moreover the way the light shines on to the children make them seem angelic or holy, this implies that they are important in the movie.

 The main character then blacks out, and the scene continues to show the protagonist lying on the sand from a downward tilt angle, the character looks trampy and poor due to his tattered clothing in contrast to the soldier. A low angle is used in the perspective of the protagonist to highlight to the audience that the soldier has a higher status.

The scene is then cut showing the protagonist being dragged into the room using an over the shoulder shot, this intensifies the stress of the audience, and they are unaware who and what the main characters motives and targets are. Then the spectators can see another character with in the same room, the room looks very posh and stylish, this indicates that the owner is possibly wealthy. A series of dialogues are said using over the shoulder shots, to make the audience feel like they are engaged in the conversation on screen. There is then a close up on an object, which was a spinning top, which builds mystery as the close up clearly point out that the spinning top is an object of value in the movie, yet the audience are unclear what it really is. In this scene mise-en-scene is used to show the setting as very unique and important.

The next scene takes place, and it shows the protagonist in another scene in a different time during a different period in time. The main character is with two new characters, and all the characters in this scene are wearing smart suits all showing they have the same status. The protagonist then starts to talk, and the cuts and speed of the cuts quicken. Over-the-shoulder and POV shots are used effectively to make the viewers feel more comfortable which also makes it more natural to watch, a high angle shot is also used in this scene to show that the protagonist is more in control than any other character in the scene. The room then starts shaking which builds tension for the viewers, the two main characters look as though they are involved. There is then a close up of the protagonists ticking watch, where time is slowed down, also creating tension. The scene then changes dramatically again into a different location but with all the same characters as before.  

The opening sequence of Inception uses a montage, as this film editing technique doesn’t give too much information away and this is the key to grabbing the audience’s attention. Also a lot of match cuts are done from character to character in the clip to ensure to the audience that they will be the main characters of the film and are going to play an important role.
The use of mise-en-scene in the opening sequence is very good. The first use of mise-en-scene is when we the innocent children making sandcastle is in direct contrast with the guard and the protagonist. This use of mise-en-scene implies to the viewer that this film will contain a mixture of violence and Innocence.

The first part of the film is so confusing that it makes the viewer ask so many questions and is then glued to want to carry on watching the film.

Sound

The first title slides showing production and distribution credits are done to a dramatic music, which slowly fade into diegetic sound of the crashing waves. This gives a pulse of energy to the audience as it start of the movie with energy and excitement.  The use of diegetic and non diegetic in stereotypical in a thriller movie, this has a massive impact on the viewer as constructs the scenes together and also it highlights to the audience what kind of genre the movie is, before it really even starts.

There are also huge changes in the types of sound, for example when the movie actually starts, the sound of the crashing waves is energetic, but when it starts to show the protagonist, the sound of the waves in the background decreases. Moreover when the shot of the children starts there is complete silence.

In conclusion, the uses of sound in Inception is very good, the use of different sounds to create different moods is really effective to keep the audience engaged in the movie.

 

1.      The close up of the waves crashing into the rocks, kicks starts the movie with a lot of energy. There are a few cuts between shots capturing the waves, using a combination of mid shots and long shots. This is also an establishing shot, as it set the location. This could suggest to the audience that this place is an island, isolated from the rest of the world.

 

2.      The close up of the character allows the reader to make out a bit of the story themselves, for example why does he have cuts and bruises on his face?.  The waves are in contrast to this because the waves are normally used to portray power and strength while the character is weak and worn-out.

 

3.      A low angle two shot is also used to show the relationship between the children, this could imply that they are siblings, and since it is from a low angle, it could possibly be from the protagonist’s point of view. Also it like a flash back, we aware of this due to change of the sound (from dramatic to calm), and moreover the way the light shines on to the children make them seem angelic or holy, this implies that they are important in the movie.

 

4.      This is a Point of view shot, because we are seeing a man on the sand, through some one’s perspective, in this case like someone is looking down.

 

5.      This shot is very interesting because of the upward tilt camera angle, it gives a clear view of the new character and the upward tilt allows the audience to infer the differences in power, between the main character and the guard.

 

6.      This is a wide angle shot; this can also be an establishing shot of a new location in the movie. The audience can get a glimpse of the background and the character clearly, but the composition of the frame is done in a certain way to add emphasizes on the man sitting on the chair. This will show the significance of the character in the movie.

 

Titles and Credits

There are three separate tiles slides before the movie actually starts. All three of the slides are of production and distribution company credits and logos. There is some transition between them, it is just simple fade in and fade out used to cut between the slides. Also the slides are in black white; this adds a simplistic feel to the audience. The title slides only provide basic information and nothing more. This simplistic feel could be done on purpose as it was done not to be a distraction for the audience. 

This is a really good opening which is all about getting the audience asking questions. That seems to me to be the key to the opening - we start asking questions as soon as we see anything on screen.