Analysing Opening Scenes and Characters 1 - 'The Wolf of Wall Street'

The first opening scene I am going to analyse in terms of introducing characters is Martin Scorsese's 'The Wolf of Wall Street'.

The scene largely focuses on the corporate finances world and the character of Jordan Belfort (the film's protagonist) played by Leonardo DiCaprio. He is instantly presented as powerful, ambitious and slightly unhinged. We see his wealth through aspects of mise-en-scene, such as his costumes (expensive suits), the settings (the corporate building, his huge mansion) and through props (the helicopter).

His behaviour suggests that he is out of control, he is reckless and irresponsible (shown through the dwarf-tossing in the office and through his drug use, alongside flying and crashing the helicopter when he is drunk and high), but we get the sense that he is revered by the people who work for him.

The use of voiceover reinforces his arrogance, but also helps to position the audience with him despite this.

Many of the traits introduced in the opening sequence's montage have crucial importance at points later in the film, creating expectations for the spectator about how Jordan may act in certain situations later.