Inception - plot summary/end sequence & wider representations

Summary - 

Inception has a range of genres from being an action, science fiction and thriller to a heist movie, it is about a thief (also known as extractors) - Dom Cobb - who has the ability to enter peoples dreams and steal their secrets from their subconscious. His ability to do this has made him an asset in the world of corporate espionage. Dom gets a chance at redemption when he is offered an impossible task to plant an idea in someone's mind. 
The confusing elements of this film are the many narratives within it, this is shown by the different layers of dreams they are in, but also by the end of the film the spectators don't know whether Dom is still in one of the dreams because his totem (the spinning top) is still spinning and so there is no resolution. 

The recruitment of Ariadne - 

The purpose of this scene besides the recruitment is to explain the fundamentals of the dreams and what Dom job is.
We can tell from the performance of Ariadne that she slowly begins to realise she is in a dream by how shocked she looks when the shops surrounding her are exploding and when Dom questions her on how she got to the cafe, because she can not remember. 
The audience placement in this sequence changes throughout as firstly it is Ariadne who questions Dom about the physics of the dreams and he has all the answers. But then the power switches when Ariadne shows what she can do as she starts manipulating the landscapes in Paris and then it is Dom who has all the question for Ariadne. 

The end sequence - 

The camerawork in this sequence used is tracking shots, close ups, slow motion and over the shoulder shots. This creates an active response the spectators can begin to feel like they are a part of it. 
The end scene links into the conventions of a heist movie when they silently acknowledge each other and nod whilst they are all leaving the airport. 
The ending of the film is uncertain because the spectators aren't aware whether Cobb is still in a dream or whether he is in reality because his totem is still spinning. This is a suitable ending for the film because the spectators are left to question if Cobb was still in a dream.

Emotional responses - 

Pessimism - This response could be created by the capitalism views represented by Fischer's company and how he is trying to expand his wealth. 

Optimism - This response could be created by the representation of the flawed male characters.

Empathy - This response could be created by the relationship between Cobb and his death wife, as she is a projection in his dream which the spectators could relate to if they have similar dreams. 

Sympathy - This response would be created by Cobb's relationship between his wife and also his kids. 

Visual and Sonic techniques -

                                                frequent repetition of elements in the film 

Totems (spinning top, chess piece, loaded die) -  Is used for the characters to check if they are still in a dream or in reality. 
Water - Is used to represent refreshness which reflects what the dreams are in each stage. 
Lifts - To represent the different layers of their dreams and so it appeals to gamers.
War/fighting - To show they are in the middle of a battle 
Musical motifs (lietmotif) "Je Ne Regrette Rien" - Used to awaken the characters when they are in a dream and so they know when they are near to end of the certain 
Tempo (of the music) - Reflects the level and depth of the dream they are in 

Wider representations -

The implanting of an idea in Fischer's head represents capitalism and how this film is about trying to stop Fischer's energy company from gaining too much power, because of this Inception can be seen as an anti-capitalism film.

Also this film represents male trauma post 9/11, which can also reflect the crisis in masculinity and how the characters are flawed.

Gaming is shown which could represent the different layers of dream but also could reflect the gaming generation which is the intended audience for Inception.

OFOTCN & Vertigo, gender representation essay

Compare how gender is represented in one sequence from each of your chosen films. Refer to one character from each film. [20]


This essay will explore the different ways that gender is represented in the films 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest'  by looking at McMurphy's reaction to the voting of the baseball game and 'Vertigo' by looking at Judy's response when Scottie manipulates her appearance to look like Madeleine.

In One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest masculinity is represented as passive in contrast to stereotypical cinema representations, as the male characters are seen as weak and vulnerable because of their illness and by how Nurse Ratched oppresses them. McMurphy progressively changes the view the male characters carry in this film, as he begins to show his power through rebelling against the female character, when McMurphy challenges Nurse Ratched.The nurse denies the patients access to watch the baseball game even though they have majority votes by the patients. By denying the male characters they become 'metaphorically castrated ' this strips McMurphy's masculinity away from him as he is left powerless by Nurse Ratched when he says 'now i want that television set turned on, right now! '[ Nurse Ratched slides the glass panel across the front of the Nurse's station, shutting out his protest] .But further on in this sequence and the film masculinity isn't shown as passive as the patients all in someway gain dominance and control as McMurphy influences them and shows them they don't have to be subservient. McMurphy begins to commentate the baseball game by pretending that it is being shown on the TV, by doing this he is rebelling, showing defiance against Nurse Ratched showing his dominance and how she can not take away his masculinity. Also in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest when McMurphy and the other patients escape to go fishing, McMurphy becomes less passive as he has obtained his freedom from the manipulation of Nurse Ratched, he has gained back his masculinity and so feels more powerful because of this.Gender is also represented in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by when McMurphy throws a leaving party for himself and for chief, he shows his dominance by rebelling against all authority figures as he plans his escape.



In Vertigo, gender representations resemble the way stereotypical cinema is represented, as the main female character shows her obedience to Scottie when he tries to manipulate her appearance so she is the duplication of Madeleine. In the sequence when Scottie manipulates her appearance Judy doesn't disobey him, so this shows her inferiority compared to him. Judy shows her weakness when she says " if I let you change me , will that do it ? If I do what you tell me, will you love me?” Scottie: “Yes—yes.”

Judy: “Alright then, I’ll do it. I don’t care anymore about me.” this supports the stereotype that is given to women as Judy in this sequence is seen as weak, passive to Scottie because she wants to be loved by him because of this she loses femininity because she is seen as an object that the male characters are used to 'look at'. Another sequence in Vertigo when gender resembles stereotypical cinema is when Scottie buys madeleine clothes. This shows that Scottie is trying to dominate Judy by controlling what she wears, but Judy doesn't care that Scottie is trying to change her as long as he loves her.This shows that Judy is passive and acquiescent because she is complying to Scottie. 

Trainspotting - opening and closing sequences

The opening sequence sets the scene for the film as Renton and Spud are running away from the police after shoplifting something to pay for their drugs. As they are running away a voiceover of Renton plays over the music and action, he says "choose life, choose a career, choose a family [...] cars, compact disc players, electrical tin openers, choose good health, low cholesterol, dental insurance, choose fixed interest mortgage repayments, choose a starter home, choose your friends [...]. Renton says this ironically to suggest that these things aren't good things in life whereas he is pessimistic and only cares about drugs. This contrasts to the closing sequence because Renton has changed his views of the importance of life, he lists the objects again but now he aspires to have in his life. 

Thatcherism was a belief in free markets and a small government under Thatcher as Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990. Rather than planning and regulating business and people's lives, government's job is to get out the way. By this they can buy and sell freely. Margaret Thatcher believed that the victorian family values were the way to improve society, through people bettering themselves. This was not just economic means "but there was an element of it being linked to respectability and societal values". This opposes to Trainspotting because the characters aren't trying to better themselves at the beginning and no not carry societal values this is shown by Renton's speech about Scottish people where he says " we are the lowest of the low", whereas by the end Renton tries to better himself by getting off drugs and gets a job.  

Aids in Trainspotting has a frequent reference seen when : Renton goes to get tested for AIDS, during Renton's withdrawal when Dale Winton is shown on TV presenting a game show talking about The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and over time - Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is also seen when Tommy dies from the disease. 

1990s music in Trainspotting shows rebellion by Iggy Pops song 'Lust for life' this shows the destruction of Renton himself by how he is abusing drugs and how this is overthrowing society. The use of classical music makes the scenes ironic because it is played when disturbing things are happening but it also makes the scene uplifting.Perfect day by Lou Reed is playing whilst Renton is taken to hospital because he has overdosed which makes this scene ironic. Born slippy by Underworld reflects the change from anarchy to freedom.