Textual analysis of a Opening Thriller Sequence

Textual analysis of a Opening Thriller Sequence

Analysis of Inception (2010)

Inception is a film produced in 2010 by Christopher Nolan which by watching presents a tense atmosphere matching it to thriller. Below I will analyse the films camera, sound, mise en scene and editing.

Camera; In this opening scene there are several camera shots of the main character, the man laying at the sea bed looking confused of his situation and surroundings. The camera shots include close up shots of the mans face showing his expression and POV shots looking at a few children playing on the beach. Form this the viewer would be confused to why he is in this state while there are children playing with no fear on the beach. However after this shot, the camera is shown behind the man with a machine gun pointed to his back. Following this, the man with the gun is shown in a shot looking up at him which signifies that he has the power. While he calls for someone, an establishing shot shows another man in the distance trying to make contact with him. The establishing shot shows the setting that the scene is in, on a rocky shoreline. After this scene, there is a conversation with what looks like the leader of a group discussing what has happened to this man and why he is carrying a gun and a sharp object. These camera shots present a tense atmosphere that the film which link to the other feature such as mise en scene, editing and sound.

Sound; From the very start where the film companies logo appears on screen, a low, deep and tense source of music begins to play that runs into the opening scene. This by its self show the film to be of a tense nature. The music that follows while the camera is focused on the man washed up on the shore is a kind showing confusement as he looks around wandering where he is. The sound of the waves crashing together is also played as non diegetic sound, probably added with the use of Foley for enhancement. The music that plays quietly in the background is interspersed with the sounds of the children playing and laughing which is a complete contrast and juxtaposition from the situation he finds himself in. The diegetic sounds that follow is the voice of the soldier finding him on the shore calling for backup. After this opening scene, it moves onto where there is a conversation between the leader and a few of his colleagues discussing what the man is doing here and why he carries such weapons. The only sound here is the diegetic sound of the men speaking as they are in an enclosed room.

Mise en scene;  The clothes and props that are used in the opening scene are crucial to the sequence as they match characters to roles. The clothing the man is wearing as he lays washed up on the beach are rugged, used and dirty signifying that he has been on a journey. However the contrast of this is the bright, colourful and clean clothes of the children playing in the background. The supposed soldier that finds him is wearing his uniform and pointing a gun at his back, showing that the film will revolve around fighting, crime or violence. When the scene changes location to the board room with the leader, all the characters bar the washed up man on the shore are wearing new, expensive looking suits as they discuss the matter in hand. This provides the viewer with an enigma to what is going on? Who are these people and what do they want?

Editing; When the scene opens, there is a camera shot of they waves crashing together which have been edited by using show motion and focusing with detail on the waves. The use of slow motion continues as the man on the shore looks around in bemusement seeing the children playing. All of this is edited with slow motion almost showing the viewer what the man can see through his eyes. This editing is effective as it sets a feeling to the film and provides an enigma to what is going on and what will happen. However after this setting, editing is not particularly used in great fashion as the scene is of the men in conversation.