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Analysis Report: Inception (2010)
Background
Christopher Nolan directed Inception and co-produced it together with Emma Thomas in 2010. Nolan was the one who wrote the script for the film and kept in the drawer of his table until the year it was released. The main roles were played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page and Tom Hardy. The score of the film, composed by Hans Zimmer, is said to be one of his most notable works. The production companies Legendary Pictures and Syncopy and distributed by Warner Bros. Paul Franklin was the visual effects supervisor. Wally Pfister was the cinematographer with editing done by Lee Smith.
Synopsis
The action in the movie takes place in two dimensions – real world and the world of dreams. The main character in both of them is Dominick Cobb. He works as extractor – intrudes in the sub-consciousness of people while they are sleeping and extracts valuable information in a shared dream world. He works not alone, but with a group of trained people an identity forger Eames, an architect Ariadne, a chemist Yusuf and his partner Arthur. Cobb’s last target was a businessman Saito, who revealed their intensions and made the intruders to work for him. The aim was to enter the sub-consciousness of the other businessman Robert Fisher and plant an idea in his head through a shared dream. In order to achieve such a complicated task, the team decides to create a three leveled dream following “dream within a dream” strategy. While performing their task, the team comes across a lot of obstacles, thinking that Fisher’s sub-consciousness opposes them. But only Ariadne knows that the damage is done by projection of Cobb’s wife Mal.
General Description of the Musical Score and Its Balance
It should be pointed out that the music accompanies almost every scene of Inception. It is easier to count the scenes that are not supported by soundtracks. Constant music helps to define its main purpose – to create tension and does not allow the viewer to relax while watching the film. Music is imbued with the main idea of Inception and also intrudes in the sub-consciousness. According to the film, it is possible to create a dream within a dream and the character even managed to contrast a four-level dream. That is why music in Inception sounds as if on different levels – soundtracks overlap and interfere with each other. Hans Zimmer said that the music he created is “a very electronic score”. (Cassidy) The composer used classical string instruments, horns, piano, and drums to accomplish the score. The guitar parts were played by Johnny Marr – the former guitarist of The Smith band – with a 12-string guitar. The only track that was not composed by Zimmer is Non, je ne regrette rien sang by Édith Piaf, but the elements of the song were integrated into the film’s score. This song has a leading role in the film, it warns the characters about the upcoming “kick” from the dream. Hans Zimmer, in what many critics say, composed a masterpiece of a new and unique sound that stayed in a consistent theme throughout the film. The musical score was captivating in many ways and transferred the mood and inner feelings of the characters. Intense scenes, where characters were traveling from one dream to another, were well matched with an appropriate tempo, tone and melody.
Conclusion
Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan, is an action and drama film that changed the whole understanding and perception of a simple dream. The idea of a dream within a dream provoked a lot of theories of it being possible or impossible and an open ending led to millions of discussions whether Cobb finished were in a dream or in the reality. The score composed by Hans Zimmer cannot be left behind. It made the movie a unique and complete peace of cinematography. All the soundtracks masterfully indicated the actions in the film and supported the main idea of each scene. Hans Zimmer managed to compose such music that were touching and thrilling at the same time, filled with sadness and nostalgia that helped to match Cobb's emotions and feelings throughout the whole film.
Filmography – Hans Zimmer
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)
The Little Prince (2015)
Terminator Genesis (2015)
Woman in Gold (2015)
Chappie (2015)
Interstellar (2014)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Son of God (2014)
Winter's Tale (2014)
Last Love (2013)
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Rush (2013)
The Lone Ranger (2013)
Man of Steel (2013)
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
Rango (2011)
The Dilemma (2011)
How Do You Know (2010)
Megamind (2010)
Inception (2010)
Despicable Me 3D (2010)
It's Complicated (2009)
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Angels & Demons (2009)
Pirate Radio (2009)
The Burning Plain (2008)
Frost/Nixon (2008)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
The Dark Knight (2008)
Casi Divas (2008)
August Rush (2007)
Bee Movie (2007)
The Simpsons Movie (2007)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
Running the Sahara (2007)
The Holiday (2006)
The Prestige (2006)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
The Weather Man (2005)
The Island (2005)
Batman Begins (2005)
Madagascar (2005)
The Ring Two (2005)
House of D (2004)
Spanglish (2004)
Thunderbirds (2004)
King Arthur (2004)
Something's Gotta Give (2003)
The Last Samurai (2003)
Matchstick Men (2003)
Tears of the Sun (2003)
The Ring (2002)
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Riding in Cars with Boys (2001)
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Hannibal (2001)
The Pledge (2001)
King of the Jungle (2000)
An Everlasting Piece (2000)
Gladiator (2000)
Chill Factor (1999)
The Thin Red Line (1998)
As Good as It Gets (1997)
The Whole Wide World (1996)
The Rock (1996)
Two Deaths (1996)
Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
Broken Arrow (1996)
Beyond Rangoon (1995)
Crimson Tide (1995)
The Lion King (1994)
Africa: The Serengeti (1994)
Cool Runnings (1993)
True Romance (1993)
A League of Their Own (1992)
K2 (1992)
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Backdraft (1991)
The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter (1991)
Chicago Joe and the Showgirl (1990)
Days of Thunder (1990)
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
Twister (1989)
Paperhouse (1989)
Rain Man (1988)
World Apart (1988)
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
Dreamchild (1985)
Works Cited
Cassidy, Kevin. "Q&A: Composer Hans Zimmer. Oscar Winner On The Challenges Of 'The Pacific,' 'Inception'". The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Aug. 2016.
"Inception (2010) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 22 Aug. 2016. < http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/>.
Box Office Mojo: Inception. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=inception.htm Retrieved 22 Aug. 2016.
"Hans Zimmer Filmography And Movies". Fandango. N.p., 2016. Web. 20 Aug. 2016.
