Frame-By-Frame Analysis of Inception (Blake Funnell)

The Opening of: Inception

Much like the previous post, I will analyse the opening sequence of Inception in order to gather ideas for when the time comes for our own opening sequence. I chose Inception as it is a recent release, and has already given itself a name as one of the most prominent Thriller Movies of the decade.

1) Our first shot is an establishment shot, giving the audience an immediate idea of where the current scene of the film is likely to be staged - In this case, we can gather it resides on an isle of some sort.
The camera then pans slightly, to follow the flow of the tides, perhaps gripping the audience already with thoughts of what is to be at the end of the shot. However the camera then cuts to the next shot.

2) We then catch a close-up of the lead actor in the film Leonardo Dicaprio. The character he plays has been washed up the moment the shot changes. This leaves the question of how he had gotten their in the first place, which gives the audience something to ponder as the events begin to unfold. In the last seconds of the shot, he glances upward slightly, leading to shot number 3.

3) We then see a simple cut to a mid-shot of Dicaprio's point of view, which shows the beachshore setting along with two children who are playing on the shoreline. Shortly after, the camera cuts slightly closer in, giving the audience the impression of Dicaprio focusing his gaze on the two, who shortly run off afterwards. At this point it is likely the audience are keen on finding out the cause of the two current events. Which open more and more doors throughout the film in its entirety.

4) After the children run away, the shot again simple-cuts back to Dicaprio who is face down in the sand, still exhausted as a man points a gun to his back. This then adds another element to the sequence, and scene. As the close-up of the gun jammed against him gives the thought that he may either be shot, or taken away, due to the connotations of a gun, we can draw that this man is either a soldier or guard of sorts, with his hand on the trigger out of care.

 5) The shot uses a simple-cut to quickly stress the fact that the guard is searching Dicaprio, finding that he is armed with his own gun, this creates an image for Dicaprio's character, that he is involved with a risky profession i.e. a Mercenary of sorts. This shot is extremely quick, as it only requires identification of the gun before its use has expired.

6) The camera quickly cuts to the man, who is dressed as a guard, quickly he calls out to an ally. Upon realising that the washed up man possesses a gun. The shot is placed so that the sunlight is blotted by his figure, emphasising that this man may be dangerous, or threatening - Giving the audience a thought of the situation our main character is in. Is he to be killed? Imprisoned? Use of these shots are frequent in the film, and this one further emphasises it's meaning through the guards stance.

7) The final crucial shot of the opening sequence indicates where the man has been taken. From the subtitles we gather two things, that they are speaking in another language, along with the fact that the man is aware of who he has been brought too as he ''Asked for him by name''. This is where the psychological part of the famed thriller begins to kick in plot wise, as the audience have a limited knowledge of the current situation until events unfold. The camera again, cuts quickly to the setting as this particular sequence is rather hasty in the build up to this point. We can gather that the current environment is expensive, through detailed views of the room, along with the fact that we have a stereotypical 'Boss man' sat in his chair. This ends the opening sequence, and the shot slowly pans inward until an appropriate cut would be used. Overall the final shot reinforces the fact that the audience should be alert if they would wish to follow the film clearly.

 This concludes the opening sequence of 'Inception'. Overall it is successful in it's purpose, as it draws in the audience right from the first shot, making them ponder who this main character is, why is he where he is and what his purpose is with the people on the isle.