Establishing is another new Film Goblin limited feature where we take a look at some of the memorable opening sequences on film. We’re selecting some of the ones we consider to be top-tier.
If you have an idea about a great opening, let us know in the comments or via email. There are only 3 more selections remaining.
It’s legend that Robert Altman’s 1992 masterpiece The Player is a favorite among criminals and convicts for the simple fact that… well… if you’ve watched the movie you know why and if you haven’t I would suggest you watch it, if only for the amazing Burt Reynolds cameo.
Suffice to say that when it hit video it became a fast favorite among my crew of hoodlums, hard cases and hustlers but I don’t think they liked it for the reason that is always given.
I think these wanna-be-gangsters liked that Griffin Mills (Tim Robbins) was this incredibly insecure guy who became instantly unflappable when dealing with other people — especially his rivals.
They also enjoyed seeing power. Real power. Not the shortcut to power that is the gun with its life-and-death consequences but the power of success. The power that comes with looking like you are always right, always on the winning side and always making people a lot of money.
As far as the opening scene goes… well… it’s just amazing. Forget the length of the continuous take which I believe is the longest opening shot in cinema history.
Listen to the dialogue. Especially the pitches from the screenwriters.
I imagine that most of the writers for this site (or any movie site) are unrealized dreamers with pages of story ideas in their notebook or a couple of scripts tucked away on some floppy disk.
Maybe that is what my crew liked about this movie: that anyone could come in off the street with an idea and, if it was good enough, have it change their lives.
Enjoy the opening scene from The Player and its meta-nods toward other great opening shots.
