Analysis of 'Memento' 1

1) Comment on the title of the film

The title of the film 'Memento' appears in sky blue capital letters on black background after the names of the production company and some of the characters are introduced. The title of the film stays on the screen as the black background changes and fades into the beginning of the film, which shows a hand holding and shaking a Polaroid photograph. As this is happening the rest of the titles of the film continue to appear and change on the screen. I think that it was effective for the title of the film to stay on screen as the first part of the film was established because it made be believe that it was important and it stood out well.

2) Describe the setting or location

The first sense of setting/location for me was the Polaroid photograph that was being held at the opening credits of the film because it showed a bloodied body in a particular place/location. We (the audience) were then taken to this place as it shown for real on screen. I think that the location being shown in the photograph at the beginning and then being shown for real on screen was effective because it led the audience to believe that this location had high significance and importance because it shown more than once and lasted on the screen for a long period of time. The location shown looks very isolated and seems that if something bad were to happen nobody would be able to find you which is effective for this thriller film because it creates suspense. The location appears to be in the daytime as it is quite bright and this is effective because it shows that a thriller does not have to be dark to be effective and create atmosphere.

3) What are the key props in the film?

I think that one of the key props used in the film is the photograph because it is frequently shown on the screen which leads the audience to believe that the photograph is significant. The photograph is shown as the opening credits appear on the screen at the beginning of the film and it also shown at various other points of the film. Each photograph has the same person in it but each photo is different e.g. one photograph shows the person dead, another photograph shows the same person smiling etc. I think that the frequent use of the photograph is effective because it links with the title of the film as a photograph is an example of a 'Memento'.

4) The camera work and editing

The beginning of the film/opening credits are quite slow placed which effectively represents the successful conventions of an opening sequence as opposed to a film trailer that is fast paced. The camera work in the opening sequence is extremely effective because there are shots that the camera captures that are beautifully framed. For example the shots of the cracked, bloodied glasses and the close up who appears to be the 'killer's' eye are simple shots but tell so much. The shot of the glasses make the audience ask so many questions like who the owner of the glasses is and how did they end up on the floor with blood dripping down them. The shot of the side of the 'killer's' face in black and white captures his facial expression and his eyes appear emotionless. I think that it was effective to capture his face and black white because it is showing that he has no soul and is evil for killing the man hence why he is not in colour. The obvious use of editing is the fact that the beginning of the films is shown backwards. This is a commonly used but effective film convention because you are able to see the story from a different view point and you are also able to see how the event that has occurred happened beforehand.

5) Titles

The titles are shown in plain sky blue capital letters which does not reveal anything to the audience because the font is quite simplistic.

6) Does the opening sequence relate to the rest of the film?

I think that the opening sequence relates to the rest of the film because the beginning of the film was shown in reverse the rest of the film is trying to tell the story of what happened. It also reveals the title of the film's relevance with the plot of the film.