2. CAMERA WORK
The opening sequence of ‘Memento’ consists of a lot of extreme close ups and
close ups to get the attention of the audience and show specific details which are
significant.
An example of when extreme close ups include an extreme close up on the bloody
glasses which are left on the floor and when there is an extreme close up on the
bullet shell on the floor.
The use of these extreme close ups are very effective as it gives the audience
clues about what is going on however it does not give the audience answers, This
is important as it leaves the audience with questions about what’s going on and
why them objects were so significant.
POV shot is used to show you what the character and almost make you feel and
see what the character is seeing so you are able to sympathy with the character
because you are able to see what he sees.
3. SOUND
In memento the non diegetic soundtrack being played in the background is
effective as it builds up throughout the title sequence, with the use of the violin
sound in the background it makes the whole soundtrack sound slower and more
dragged out which is important as it has an impact on the audience from the
begging to make them feel grief even though they do not know what has happened
yet.
The soundtrack reaches the point where it becomes very high pitch to show that it
has reached its climax and that something is going to happen.
The diegetic sound of the gunshot at the begging of the opening sequence, when
we can see that the other character has been shot, shows the audience that the
other character has been killed and would shock the view and make them more
intrigued in why the man would have got shot.
4. EDITING
The opening sequence of ‘Memento’ is presented in reverse, this is used to
show the audience a character being shot at the end of the sequence. This is
used effectively to leave the audience asking questions as ‘why this might
have happened’
Slow paced editing is also used as it shows the audience that the killer is very
calm and cold hearted as he goes to kill the other character, this is also
shown as he takes a picture of the dead man, this is so that it leaves the
viewer with questions about what is wrong with the killer.
There is also no narration throughout the opening sequence, The director
does this so that it leaves the audience questioning what has led this man to
the point in which he has to kill the other character.
5. MISE-EN-SCENE
The character which shoots the other character at the end of the
opening sequence is wearing a suit which is a non stereotypical
presentation of a person which would normally be wearing a suit
and it also contrasts with the crime in which the character had just
committed. This gives the viewers an idea that the character which
kills the other man in the opening sequence could possibly be a
trained killer and is getting paid to do this.
The isolated location also leaves the audience thinking if this could
have been something which had been planned as it is clearly
somewhere very dark and not welcoming.
The gun in which the character is holding is also used effectively as
it shows that the character clearly knows what he’s doing with the
gun and knows how to use it.
6. QUESTIONS POSED
why this might have happened?
what’s going on and why them objects were so significant?
Who are these people?
Why did he shoot him?
Why did he take a picture?
Why is it in reverse?
Who is the protagonist?
7. CHARACTERS
INTRODUCED/WHAT WE LEARN
We can see that a man has been shot by a man in a suit, we
also get the idea that the murder was not an accident as he
takes his camera out to take a picture of the other character
laying on the floor.
We are introduced to the protagonist which is the man which
kills the other character, We can tell that it is the protagonist
because for a couple of minutes we are able to see things
through his point of view which is the picture which shows
us that he's someone important in the opening sequence.
