Film opening analysis

Again, been asked to analyze some examples of film openings I have watched, so here I go:

First example: Inside Man

I believe the opening sequence to this film is perfect example for expressing what almost every film opening does except in a much more obvious manner. It tells you who the main character is (Dolton Russell), where they are ("Could be readily described as a prison cell"), roughly when they are (We can tell this from the modern day shelving and building materials) and also a rough idea of what's going to happen in the film ("Which only leaves us with the how, and therein, lies the rob"). It is a perfect film opening giving the audience all the information they require to understand the rest of the film in a much more unconventionally open manner but also not too much so they still want to watch the rest, which I find to be quite refreshing. Maybe why I like the film so much. Either way, this film is a perfect example as to what information I want my 2 minute film opening to contain.

Second example: The Graduate

In complete contrast to this, the film "The Graduate" is verbally mute, e.g. has no spoken dialogue from the character being portrayed. Instead, the verbal communication we see/hear in Inside man is now shown through visual aids. Such as the fact the graduate (Dustin Hoffman) is shown wearing a formal suit, suggesting to us that he's going to/coming from a prestigious event. In the very first shot of Dustin on the plane, we see him on a white background, perhaps suggesting innocence, or cleanliness against the rest of the world, which as we know by the end of the film he is anything but. Another amusing hint towards the rest of the film shown within the first 2 minutes of the film is when he is in baggage reclaim. As his bag passes through the metal barrier, a sign is shown saying "Do they Match?" perhaps suggesting that this film is a love story between two people which we may think do not belong together. The use of Simon & Garfunkel's 'Sound of silence' is also an interesting choice of music for the first few minutes of this film. It perhaps sets up the film so that there may be some mis-communication between the characters, that perhaps there are some secrets being held that are being held "In the Sound of Silence".