Inception (2010, Nolan)

A thief who steals corporate secrets through use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind

of a CEO.

Director: Christopher NolanWriter: Christopher NolanStars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Michael Caine.

Plot

The plot of the film has never been done before, this immediately attracts an audience to question the film before they watch it. The idea of dream crimes

seems ludicrous but as the movie progresses you find yourself becoming convinced and hooked on the storyline. The thrilling part is the added

suspense and danger in the dreams and the fact that what they are doing is still a crime. You travel with Di Caprio on a journey to redemption from his

crimes with one last dream heist.

Plot Analysis

Inception is set in the present day world but also shows the alternate dreaming state of the world with

scenes from a number of locations.

Mise en Scene

As costumes go, the characters all wear dream appropriate clothes (Skiing,

French, 80’s, Modern) and when in the real world they wear normal clothes.

Lighting varies with each scene but in most it’s low-key lighting

to add an element of unpredictability and suspense.

In general, mise en scene plays an almost invisible but crucial role in inception. With all of the examples we see the features of mise en scene make the clip

thrilling. They add suspense and immerse and question the audience

General Effect

• Sound is a key element in Inception, the visuals can sometimes be hard to keep track if they are in a dream state or not. However, sound works as a guide, to help us orient whether they are in a dream and whether they are transitioning from level to level. It does this in one major way.

The Use of Sound

• “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.

• 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.

• 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.

Conventions