Inception poster analysis

For A2 media studies I have been analysing the film poster used to advertise Inception, the Hollywood produced wide-release film which was directed and created by Christopher Nolan. Text is shown at the bottom of the poster, which reads: “from the director of The Dark Knight”, this will appeal to fans of the commercially and critically acclaimed production “The Dark Knight”, and will increase interest in the film. It is also apparent that the name of the “star” actor, Leonardo Dicaprio is displayed in large lettering across the top of the diegesis; this will also serve to increase attention towards the film, as fans of the actor will be attracted to this production. The poster denotes the title in a bold, clear red font, in a sanserif typeface. The clearness of the font implies towards the professionalism of the main characters in the film, the red colouring connotes danger.

The poster depicts a male character standing in the turmoil of an ever increasingly flooding city, surveying his surroundings as he remains stationary, assuming a powerful stance that emphasises his power and central role within the narrative. This is illustrated by the ground being covered completely in deep knee high water and the presence of dark rain clouds, which dominate the skyline. The clouds are very dark, and are an identifiable dexterical symbol of impeding danger or misery. The clouds may also have been used because it is an image which connotes pathos, and a asense of helplessness, which hints towards the “tense” nature of the film. The water that runs along the ground in the diegesis appears to be flowing erratically, something which creates a sense of impeding danger and peril for the inhabitants of city, and the character that is situated in the midst of apparent turmoil. The character in question is male, and appears to have a “well groomed” image, having a smart slicked back hairstyle, brandishing a formal suit. The dress code of a black suit connotes authority and professionalism, something which reflects the apparent “cool, calm and collected” nature of the character. The fact he is wearing a suit in conjunction with a well groomed, slicked back hairstyle may suggest that he is wealthy and receives a large economical income due to the fact it is stereotypically associated with young American Businessmen, or ‘Yuppies’. The man appears to holding a gun in his right hand. This prop connotes violence, authority and danger, and presents the character as a person of high status and power. This weapon could suggest a character trait of unpredictability, and presents the character’s motives ambiguously, bringing to question the nature of the character and the role of the character as a protagonist or anti-hero with a volatile personality. It is also notable that the face of the character is not shown in the image. This further enhances and supports the feeling of anonymity towards the character and the motives he possesses. The fact that he is facing away from the camera also suggests that he is possibly ashamed of an event or action that he takes during the film something which creates a sense of mystery. The prop of the handgun and the head of the character are captured in what would be referred to as hotspots, by the principles of the rule of thirds, the audience’s perception and attention is drawn to these places, and are hence, considered central parts of the narrative.

It is also notable that the character is captured in a long shot, on a wide camera lens, which enables the onlooker to see his surroundings and the grand scale of the events occurring around the character. This shot is effective as it enables the audience to see the surroundings from the perspective of the main character, and creates a sense of empathy with the character, as we can relate to the danger which he is confronted with. The shot is also takes from the perspective of a low angle shot, which looks up upon the character to emphasise his power and status. The shot captures and the vast skyscrapers which surrounds the character, which establishes the city setting, and a sense of scale, as this is an American city comparable to New York City, which creates realism, and allows the audience to compare a situation such as this with other disasters that have occurred in city settings such as the September 11 terrorist attacks.

In addition it is noticeable that the poster uses low key, high contrast lighting, creating a “chiaroscuro” effect, which evokes misery and depression, which reflects the mood of the character, and the danger ahead of him. The shot is captured through a blue coloured filter, which creates a dark blue effect on the surroundings. In the horizon is a piercing white light that could be seen as a symbol representation of an omnipotent, malevolent force that is progressing to the character, and a force that the character is forced to face eventually.