Oceans 11: Opening Analysis

To analyse the opening of Oceans Eleven, I have to look at many different features, and show how they represent the key elements of an opening sequence like the narrative, characters and genre.

Firstly the genre is obviously a Crime Caper, and that is shown by the description, but reinforced by the opening.
Just by the opening shot the idea that he is in a prison comes into main view, as he is in a prison jumpsuit as he comes into the shot. This is a good use of mise en scene, and already the viewer has the ideas of why he is in the prison going through their mind already, getting the narrative going right from the start.
The “parole officer” who is positioned behind the camera, so that he is looking almost directly at it, a good use of camera work, never actually states what the crime he has done, and use phrases to skirt around it, tantalising the viewer more.

The next shot, of Daniel Ocean, walking towards the exit of the prison, now dressed in his clothes, a dinner jacket, and his wedding ring in a parcel. The ring is a key prop in the narrative, as his wife leaving him, which he tells us during the meeting, was the reason for his behaviour. So this use of mise en scene, beefs up the narrative, and shows us further into what type of a character Ocean is, as his expression isn’t too dramatic as you would expect.
I think that the next shot is the most important shot of the short opening sequence. The shot of him, walking out of the prison, firstly a reverse shot and then front, it shows even in the suit, he looks withered and older, as he is unshaven, longish hair.
But then a time cut shot, of him appearing from up an escalator, a new man. He is now in a new suit, good mise en scene, cleanly shaven and new hair cut, he is now washed of the wrongs he did in prison, and a free man. An upbeat tune is playing in the background for these shots, as it is a time of joy for him, finally being out. All of this is good for the storyline.

But for a Crime Caper there needs to be antics going on. Not outrageously funny, but quite humorous. During the opening, there are a couple of witty lines, this is good, as it shows the film as a bit more light hearted than serious.