Analysis of the opening sequence of 'Layer Cake'.

Crime caper Layer Cake stars Daniel Craig and was released in October 2004.
Layer Cake opens with some simplistic credits on a plain background, possibly suggesting the genre of the film. No sound accompanies this until the voice-over of the main character begins. This happens when the first bit of footage is shown, a zoom of something the audience cannot yet identify. The camera then begins to zoom out, revealing the object, which turns out to be a van, shot from the back. The zoom is slow and gradual, creating suspense and indicating that something is about to happen. As maybe predicted, the doors of the van are blown open. As smoke and objects such as money float to the ground in slow-motion, following the explosion, calm, soft music begins to play. The camera then zooms out enough to reveal the rest of the set, including the first sighting of characters, and props such as guns used to demonstrate the genre. The slow-motion effect ends, and dialogue is used to realistically portray what has just happened, including threats being made and screams of panic. The calm music continues to play, creating a contrast between diegetic and non-diegetic sound. A smooth and simplistic transition is then used to introduce the next scene which shows a significant time difference from the previous scene. Here we see drugs being used in a recreational manner during the hippie-age, as the voice-over narrates, reminiscing about "the summer of love" when "hashish and LSD arrived on the scene" . A pan is then used, following another smooth transition, making the scenes flow even though the setting and time is completely different to the previous. Next a tracking shot is used to show a prison as the voice-over ridicules the inmates' reasons for being in jail, demonstrating the characters arrogance. Blatant product placement is used in the next scene as the camera tracks over rows and rows of dugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, labelled with the well known brand, 'FCUK'. This glamorizes drugs as FCUK is known as a stylish and popular brand, indicating that drugs have this same label. This is where the audience are first visually introduced to the main character, although it is not yet revealed that he is the voice-over. At the same time, the voice-over is explaining the amount of money to be made in the drug industry in a casual and proud manner, furthering the glamorized perception of drugs, the audience is receiving. Editing is then used to transform the FCUK branded illegal drugs, into legal medicinal drugs, thus revealing the main character is in a chemist. The scene then changes to the main character entering a flat where he and another character start to package cocaine. All the while, the voice-over continues to explain the conventions of drug trafficking, in particular the rules of the trade, in a condoning and casual manner. Overall, this opening sequence, identifies the genre and the content of the film quickly and smoothly. The drug content in this film is dealt with casually, treating the illegal trade as a legitimate business, even glamorizing it in some parts with the voice-over's conceited view of the industry he is so knowledgeable about.