Inception - Laura

Camerawork

• It uses many big close ups throughout the opening. This is used in order to convey emotion, for example when Leonardo DiCaprio looks up at the spinner and we see realisation on his face; this then raises questions in the viewers mind as to what he is realising. Furthermore, big close ups can be used to empathise with the character, therefore they are mainly used for the protagonist in this scene in order to build a connection with the viewer. Finally, we also see that big close ups aren’t just used on characters, but also for props, for example the big close up of the spinner, as this is used to emphasise it’s importance, therefore the viewer too questions this importance. 
• Long Shots are used predominately to establish setting. We see this with an extrrem long shot on the outside; we are shown a beach, with rocks leading up to a building, this is an unknown location, therefore it heightens the sense of danger and makes the audience worry for the protagonist, as this is the character that they have a connection with (below). Moreover, the long shot revealing the dark room inside adds to this increasing sense of danger as the darkness signifies mystery and concealment, therefore we have no idea what will happen next.
• We also see a low angle mid shot of the man with the gun. This mid shot is used to enforce the fact that he has a gun to the audience, therefore again intensifying this increasing sense of danger. Further to this, the low angle also gives a sense of superiority to the character, therefore making us and the protagonist feel vulnerable and scared in this position.

Mis en Scene

• The iconographic guns are shown to us within the first 56 seconds, this therefore reinforces to the audience the forthcoming action, which is a stereotypical convention of the thriller genre.
• The spinning top also shows to us another convention of a thriller, the stereotypical ’journey’ or ’quest’ that the hero will go on, and it therefore means the audience question how this spinner will come into this, and they also question why it is especially significant (below).  
• The costume also raises questions in the viewer’s minds. This is because there is ambiguity in the juxtaposition of clothing. We see this when the villains (another stereotypical convention of a thriller: having villains, this is shown in Vladimir Propp’s theory of characters - http://www.adamranson.plus.com/Propp.htm ) are wearing suits. Suits hold smart and sophisticated connotations, whereas the villain is wearing ragged, tattered clothing. This raises questions and it also reinforces to us that he is the hero as he has been on a journey that involves violence, we see this from the cuts and bruises all over his face.
• Low key lighting is used (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-key_lighting) as it creates an eerie and mysterious setting, as only a fill light is used in order to create a sinister darkness among the characters. This artificial light is represented through the candles on the ceiling. There may be a slight use of a background light, so that the Chinese-style walls are illuminated. This heightens the isolation of the protagonist, as this unknown location and cultural background reinforces the fact that he is alone surrounded by villains with guns. Furthermore, this low key lighting is juxtaposed with the high key lighting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-key_lighting) outside, to therefore give the effect that he is trapped inside the dark room, showing the danger that he is in.   

• Editing
• The cuts are slow paced, this therefore reflects the action, as there is only dialogue at the moment, therefore it is slow, getting the audience prepared for forthcoming action.
• Slow motion is used for the shot of the waves and the children playing. This shows that the protagonist is experiencing a moment of peace, therefore reinforcing that there will be action soon, and juxtaposing with the cuts and bruises as we know that violence has already happened for him. Alternatively, we can also infer that this slow motion represents his confused state of mind, this is further reinforced with the big close up that portrays his confused expression. 
• Focus pulling is used to again signify the significance of the spinner.

Sound

• The sound of the crashing of the waves and the children playing also represent this moment of peace that the protagonist is experiencing. Furthermore, the children also helps us to build this connection with the protagonist, as we see that he wants to protect his children, and the way that they are being shown to us also shows that there will be violence and danger soon.
• The slow music that comes in when he is inside also reflects that there is no action, just conversation. It is a slow note that gets louder within a space of 2 seconds then keeps coming back every few seconds. It is slow, but it also acts as a reminder to the audience that there will be action soon.
• The dialogue also reinforces this Chinese background, therefore intensifying his isolation from the real world.