Inception (2010) Cinematography Appreciation
- Caitlin Willis
- May 18, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 9, 2020
In 2010 Wally Pfister won the academy award for cinematography on the film Inception. Do I need to explain why?
This post isn't going to really be a Top 5 as such, rather just an appreciation of some really amazing cinematography. Focusing on the beautiful work of art that is Inception, and my favourite moments from the two and a half-hour long intellectual and visual masterpiece.
Wally Pfister, an American cinematographer who is best known for his work with Christopher Nolan, (including Memento, Insomnia and The Prestige) was the head of cinematography on this film; the symmetry and placement of his framing are so in tune for the pace, mood and overall sequence of the movie that no matter how many time I watch it I still relish in the mastery.
As you may have (definitely will) noticed Christopher Nolan is one of my all-time favourite directors, like all time, all time. I was really hooked after watching (god I sound like a 14-year-old fanboy) The Dark Knight Trilogy (I’m a fan of the bats) and after those three I came across Inception. After that, I was hooked.
My appreciation for good cinematography and artistic direction really come from that opening scene where we see Leonardo DiCaprio fall backwards into a bathtub in slow-mo whilst the ‘dream’ he’s infiltrating floods in a dramatically loud fashion. Nolan’s film is exquisite in its navigation of suspense, action and thrills, never failing to confound the audience.
. Like Nolan literally built a spinning corridor for this fight sequence which turned out insane.
Okay, I'll stop before I strain something but please watch the film if you haven't already wow.
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