Opening Sequence Analysis – Layer Cake - Fred

Layer Cake is a 2004 British gangster thriller, directed by Matthew Vaughn. It is based on a novel of the same name by J. J. Connolly. The title refers to the human social strata, especially in the British crime and drug underworld, as well as the numerous plot layers in the film.
You are immediately made aware of who the main character of the film is because Daniel Craig gives a long monologue in the opening sequence, and he is the only one who speaks. Establishing the main character is a generic convention of opening sequences. The opening sequence also reveals support characters as well as protagonists, which are also generic opening sequence conventions. The monologue he delivers confirms what type of film it is, a british gangster drug film. The characters in the opening sequence are all criminals and drug users. This is perhaps to show how drugs are everywhere and it doesn't matter who or where you are, you're only one person away from drugs and criminals. The narrative is quite rude and hard hitting, emphasising the seriousness of the business.
The Non diegetic soundtrack is quite solemn, which reflects the scene’s that are being shown being shown. They build suspense and tension immediately grabbing the viewers attention and exciting them. The mise-en-scene shows the drug magnates to be rich and flash, and shows some of them to be naiive, by being very loud and conspicuous (the yellow range rover). The camerawork is very basic. There are lots of slow panning shots, making it easy for us to see what is happening. A lot of the time, the camera follows Daniel Craig around as he gives his monologue. The editing of the transitions between decades is so smooth that it seems that nothing has changed in the drug world and that it keeps going round and round, which it does.