Product Research - Inception

Inception

Mis-en-scene

The setting of an ocean in daylight is used. To create the sense of openness and safety, this lulls the audience into a false sense of security. As it presents the scene as initially peaceful and impervious. When the scene abruptly changes to a closed room, this emphasis the sense of isolation and entrapment, unsettling the audience.

Leonardo Dicaprio is dressed in a suit, which is considered as smart, normal clothing. This creates the impression of sophistication, education and thereby a trust worthy personality. The conventionalism of the clothes makes it easy for the audience to identify with him. We instantly see him as someone who will take us through the journey of the film with a clear and real view of events, this emphasis the subsequent hysteria of his own mind being unstable and troubled.

Camera

A close-up is used to emphasis the emotions of Dicaprio. As we see his diminished and broken face, the only thing driving him to strength is the long shot of children. This emphasis the main driving motivation to the storyline of the film. The close-up also emphasis his scarred face, creating the impression of violence, a key theme in thrillers. Also the impact of his red eyes are intensified, creating a demonic sense. This creates the impression of darkness and mystery, as when Dicaprio is seen dressed conventionally they are white, a sense of dual personalities or secrecy is presented.

The contrast of low and high angle shot's directly edited between Dicaprio and the military officer creates the sense of an attack. The high angle shot of Dicaprio creates the impression of vulnerability whilst the low angle shot of the military officer enforces the idea of dominance and power. This, in relation to the close-up's of the contrasting gun sizes causes the audience to fear for Dicaprio as due to his defencelessness and vulnerability he seems to not stand a chance.

The wide shot of the man's back of the head, creates a sense of mystery and danger. As the audience can't see his face, they can't identify with him. The shot also shows him sitting at the head of the table generating the sense of empowerment. This in relation to the sense of mystery and danger is unsettling.

Sound

Non - digetic orchestral music is used initially in scene one, to create tension and anticipation. Although it doesn't reach it's climax, uniquely cutting to the next scene. This abrupt change in sound and lack of an event with music to support it's climax unsettles the audience and ironically builds more tension. As the abrupt change, changes the mood and feeling of the audience.

The emphasis of digetic sound draws the audiences attention to certain aspects of the scene. Firstly the waves crashing, which normally would represent calmness. Although the intensification of the sound creates the impression of unscrupulous violence and attack, a key theme in thrillers. Secondly is the emphasis of the watch ticking, creating the impression of time running out and agitates the audience. The fastness of the scene is increased as it begins to provoke questions within the audience's minds.

Editing

Fast-paced editing is used throughout the opening building tension and disconcerting the audience

There is a montage cutting from the beach location to the location in a room. Emphasising the darkness and provoking questions in the audiences mind of how the storyline arrived here.

A flash-back memory style of editing is used to show the capabilities of Dicaprio, as he is seen to be trying to fool the man. This unsettles the reader, as previously we may of seen him as trust worthy, he now is showing a darker side. Also the characters seem in different states and clearly different ages, creating a sense of confusion and interest within the audience's minds.