For this assignment I am going to look at is Inception (2010) because it’s one of the films I watched twice at the cinema. Most people would see it again just to catch what’s going on but for me – it’s the storyline, music and the characters.
Here is the plot as it’s shown on a lot of websites ideal for those who have not yet seen the film:
In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption which involves executing his toughest job to date: Inception
Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible-inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming.
Here is the trailer that combines the story and music (and a lot of cutaways) in hope to draw attention to the audience
“Dream or Reality” is the main question during the whole film, I can admit it can be confusing at times but is brilliantly made, directed by Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins, Dark Knight) however the main slogan of this film that shows on the trailer is “Your Mind is The Scene of the Crime” which lets the viewers know that something is going to be stolen from the very mind.
The plot itself gives unexpected twists and turns and the storyline is fast moving one scene to another with an edge which makes you jump even if you know what’s coming. Sometimes though it’s hard to keep up and it can get confusing even after watching it a few times.
The ending is what keeps the viewer guessing because the main character has an item that keeps in check of reality and before he sees the result, he gets distracted and never fully sees the result. But here’s where Dramatic Irony comes in because the screen turns back on the item (spinning top) and it is still spinning and then suddenly – the screen goes to black which makes people think that Dom is still in the dream or not but if you had been watching for the small details then you will think otherwise. For example, during the film the children that Dom sees wear the same clothing and look like toddlers. In the end when Dom sees his children again they are older and they are wearing slightly different clothing but older nevertheless. Plus Dom’s father-in-law was never in the dream and it seems that the only people who weren’t in the dream but appear anyway is their main sub-conscious which in Dom’s cause was Mal. Plus the director says that his main focus wasn’t the spinning top at all but more of the main character leaving all that behind him and live his life.
Characters
This movie keeps the viewers questioning who is “ally” and who is “foe” for example in the beginning we see two main characters Dom and Arthur trying to steal information from the wealthy businessman Saito who can be seen as an enemy until later on its revealed that Saito let them into his mind on purposes – to test them if they can do the mission he wants to recruit them for which is to bring down his competition and later becomes a part of the team therefore the character Saito goes from Antagonist to False Villain – to Ally.
In this movie there are more than one main character as they story progresses – kind of like the movie Ocean’s Eleven but the mission is in the unconscious state rather than stealing something solid like money.
Leonardo’s character’s Dom (Inception) and Teddy (Shutter Island) both have some elements to their life stories – their wives especially and in both films investigate in depth the tricks a traumatised mind can play on the individual by the ones they love who have secret agendas. Therefore it “Makes it Personal” which is important to the Robert McKee’s theory as viewers want to know more about the main character that play in every story they see or read.
“Dreams feel real while we’re in them. It’s only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange.” Dom’s line as his explains to Ariadne about creating the dream world.
There are two set of characters that are like two sides of a coin; Arthur and Eames and Saito and Ariadne.
With Arthur his character present the left side of the brain – logical, sequential (in order), rational, analytical and objective whereas Eames is the right; random, imaginative, spontaneous, synthesizing and making things personal. Eames puts down Arthur as "unimaginative” while Arthur just wants the “specific” details that are necessary for the mission at hand.
With Arthur his character present the left side of the brain – logical, sequential (in order), rational, analytical and objective whereas Eames is the right; random, imaginative, spontaneous, synthesizing and making things personal. Eames puts down Arthur as "unimaginative” while Arthur just wants the “specific” details that are necessary for the mission at hand.
With Saito and Ariadne it’s more of the cultural difference – East vs. West but one that also presents the differences between stability and change. Ariadne presents young youth, often naïve, imaginative, and hopeful. She also likes to literally create her own world, and actively seeking a way out when trapped. Saito on the other hand represents aging, often exploitative, experienced and submitting to fate. Saito also wanted to go along for the ride to "protects his assets," submitting to fate, and ends up trapped inside his own desires.
Ariadne also becomes Dom’s guardian angel, his conscience, his sense of right and wrong after she discovers all the dark secrets that Cobb is trying to hide and becomes his confidant during the mission. The way Ariadne understands and talks to Cobb about his issues (in a therapist/client relationship) suggests she may have academic background in psychology but in this film apart from Dom, the history of other characters is never revealed so we will never know. With these characters in mind it shows that the difference in all the characters that is shown and therefore the viewers can identify on who’s who and which of them clash with another (Arthur and Eames for examples as they seem to show a lot of history and dislike for one another).
The main Antagonist is Mal – Dom’s Cobb deceased wife but as a result of terrible guilt he feels over her suicide, she presents herself as his main projection of his sub-conscious who ruins missions for him. At the same time she shows to be strong and vulnerable and hopeful and heartbreaking which is perfect so it makes the viewer feel bad about hating her because she is really confused when it comes to questioning reality because she hasn't got a clue.
There is one main "McGuffin" in this film which isn't a suitcase or diamonds - Robert Fischer because he is the main target to this film - to plant an idea into his mind to spilt his father's empire. Ideas are like germs (in a way but not totally), they spread so fast that there is no way to stop it in time and that’s where the plot gets drawn and keeps the viewers watching to see that the job gets done.
This YouTube video explains a bit more about the characters and the roles they play for thier mission.
Camera Angles
There are a LOT of camera angles used in this film.
Codes and Conventions
Psychological puts elements that are related to the mind or processes of the mind but they are mental rather than physical in nature. The thriller genre generally focuses on the plot over the characters and thus emphasizes intense, physical action over the character's psyche. When both put together Psychological Thriller - this is where characters are no longer on rely physical strength to overcome their brutish enemies but rather are reliant on their mental resources, whether it be by battling wits with a formidable opponent or by battling for equilibrium in the character's own mind. The suspense created by psychological thrillers often comes from two or more characters preying upon one another's minds, either by playing deceptive games with the other or by merely trying to demolish the other's mental state. This is also a heist film which is a film that has an intricate plot woven around a group of people trying to steal something. Typically for thriller there are many plot twists in which the film focuses on the characters' attempts to formulate a plan, carry it out, and escape with the goods. There is often a nemesis that must be stopped: either a figure of authority or a former partner who turned on the group or one of its members.
This film has a common form of the heist film - the one last big job. In it, a team of criminals are gathered together for a final mission that will make their fortunes and take them away from a life of crime forever. Usually there is an added risk combined with the promise of an ideal life once the job is done provide for a natural element of suspense.
Music brings the best of the fight scenes especially with Arthur in the anti-gravity scene as he fights, there are cutaways of where the van is turning in time to the fight in the dream within a dream. Sometimes in order for the film to work its magic, music is what gets the viewers to the edge of their seats as it collides with certain “time limit” scenes brilliantly.
Codes of Practice
This film is a “12A” so there are a few things to consider not putting into the film or at least keep it brief and not quite into detail that would upset the audience watching this in the cinema or at home: discrimination, drugs, horror, moderate physical and psychological threat, dangerous behaviour (self-harm, suicide) , language (swear words), nudity, sex and violence.
In the film there is a note of dangerous behaviour – suicide however the camera only shows of Mal’s intention to fall but you never truly see her fall off the building and crash to the ground so the filmmakers bend the rule by filming it but did dwell on the detail of the suicide that would frighten young teenagers. Mature themes are acceptable but only if it’s suitable for young teenagers.
Target Audience
This film has a lot of thriller elements to it; action, psychological, heist (thief) and suspense.
This film most likely draw attention to those who do science about dreams for a living or anyone who is fed up of the same old heist films that seems to have the same plot and want to see something new which this film presents. It’s also a “12” so anyone can go and see the film but I don’t think that any child above twelve would want to see the film only because the plot might be confusing for them. However since it is also a “12A” parents might want to consider not taking their kids unless they are ok with firearms.
Bibliography and Information trail
About the film
Age Restriction
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