Memento

Analysis of screen captures from an extract of Memento – By Jessica Blyth

The first few shots in the extract are the opening titles to the The first few shots in the extract are the opening titles to the sequence – this specific title is the name of the film. The sequence – this specific title is the name of the film. The audience can immediately understand that the font colour is a audience can immediately understand that the font colour is a pale blue shade – which can commonly be connoted as being pale blue shade – which can commonly be connoted as being cold and dull, suggesting that the film may be the opposite of cold and dull, suggesting that the film may be the opposite of exciting and thrilling due to the colours used. The letters are in exciting and thrilling due to the colours used. The letters are in capital letters and are spaced out from each other, this idea capital letters and are spaced out from each other, this idea may suggest that the editor wanted the audience to take note may suggest that the editor wanted the audience to take note of how striking the title is so they understand how shocking the of how striking the title is so they understand how shocking the overall film is going to be too – making the audience question: overall film is going to be too – making the audience question: why is this film going to be shocking?why is this film going to be shocking?

This second shot is the result of a cross dissolve of the title This second shot is the result of a cross dissolve of the title which now appears in the foreground of a character holding which now appears in the foreground of a character holding a photograph in his hand (close up). From this, the a photograph in his hand (close up). From this, the audience are able to take note of how dull the colours are, audience are able to take note of how dull the colours are, reinforcing that cold and dark atmosphere once created by reinforcing that cold and dark atmosphere once created by the title of the film. The image is extremely shocking to the the title of the film. The image is extremely shocking to the audience, as the first thing they may notice is the blood audience, as the first thing they may notice is the blood splattered in the image. Due to the explicit image, the splattered in the image. Due to the explicit image, the audience might question – who is this man and why has he audience might question – who is this man and why has he got a picture so disturbing like that? got a picture so disturbing like that?

Opening credits are now displayed in front of the original Opening credits are now displayed in front of the original shot, the shot movement and angle has not changed but the shot, the shot movement and angle has not changed but the image in the photograph has. The audience can now notice image in the photograph has. The audience can now notice that the image is possibly ‘fading’, the clarity of the image that the image is possibly ‘fading’, the clarity of the image decreases gradually – which may confuse the audience as decreases gradually – which may confuse the audience as they have no idea why it is doing this. Furthermore, the they have no idea why it is doing this. Furthermore, the audience are still unsure about the character holding the audience are still unsure about the character holding the image – we do not know his identity just yet…image – we do not know his identity just yet…

It now becomes clear that the picture is definitely fading It now becomes clear that the picture is definitely fading away as now it has completely gone. As the audience away as now it has completely gone. As the audience continue to watch this part of the extract, the fading of the continue to watch this part of the extract, the fading of the image may possibly suggest that the camera is using the image may possibly suggest that the camera is using the reverse effect and is re-winding this part of the extract to reverse effect and is re-winding this part of the extract to create a specific mood and atmosphere for the audience – but create a specific mood and atmosphere for the audience – but they might not know yet why the editor decided to use this they might not know yet why the editor decided to use this effect. It is a linear narrative as it suggests that it is sowing effect. It is a linear narrative as it suggests that it is sowing the end of the sequence at the beginning, it only reveals the end of the sequence at the beginning, it only reveals certain parts of the character and his actions. certain parts of the character and his actions.

Once the audience see the camera the character took the picture Once the audience see the camera the character took the picture of they can now understand many different things which they of they can now understand many different things which they may have wanted to know whilst watching the first part of the may have wanted to know whilst watching the first part of the sequence. The camera is moving in a reverse motion – which sequence. The camera is moving in a reverse motion – which evidently shows that this part of the extract is all in reverse evidently shows that this part of the extract is all in reverse effect. We can now understand that he is in the same place as effect. We can now understand that he is in the same place as the ‘blood splattered’ walls – as he is the character which takes the ‘blood splattered’ walls – as he is the character which takes the picture. However, his identity is still unknown to the the picture. However, his identity is still unknown to the audience as the camera continues to only show close ups of this audience as the camera continues to only show close ups of this character and their actions. However, we can now see a little character and their actions. However, we can now see a little more about this character as the other shots were from his point more about this character as the other shots were from his point of view. From this shot alone, the audience may me able to of view. From this shot alone, the audience may me able to identify that the character is wearing a suit jacket of some sort – identify that the character is wearing a suit jacket of some sort – possibly connoting that he may me a detective taking pictures of possibly connoting that he may me a detective taking pictures of a ‘crime scene’?a ‘crime scene’?

The next shot is a big close up of the character’s face – The next shot is a big close up of the character’s face – immediately suggesting that the director wanted the immediately suggesting that the director wanted the audience to see the strange facial expressions of the audience to see the strange facial expressions of the character taking the picture. He is looking down at the place character taking the picture. He is looking down at the place he took the photo – as it was in a reverse motion shot he may he took the photo – as it was in a reverse motion shot he may be examining what it is he needs to take a photo of, which is be examining what it is he needs to take a photo of, which is why he is making these facial expressions. The audience may why he is making these facial expressions. The audience may feel like he is involved in the ‘crime scene’ in some way, as he feel like he is involved in the ‘crime scene’ in some way, as he has some scratches on his left cheek – which immediately has some scratches on his left cheek – which immediately suggests that he may have been in a fight with another suggests that he may have been in a fight with another unknown character and the result of his violence meant that unknown character and the result of his violence meant that he may be looking down at a dead body.he may be looking down at a dead body.

This extreme close up of the blood dripping (up) the wall could This extreme close up of the blood dripping (up) the wall could just be another way of presenting how all the shots so far have just be another way of presenting how all the shots so far have been in reverse mode. The camera has been put right close to been in reverse mode. The camera has been put right close to the edge of the wall to show the intensity of the blood and how the edge of the wall to show the intensity of the blood and how violent this scene is meant to be. It also creates an idea of violent this scene is meant to be. It also creates an idea of anticipation, as the audience wants to find out who’s blood that anticipation, as the audience wants to find out who’s blood that belongs to as this has not been shown yet in the extract.belongs to as this has not been shown yet in the extract.

Furthering the strong idea of a violent theme, it then cuts to the Furthering the strong idea of a violent theme, it then cuts to the aftermath of a shooting – a bullet shell. The audience are now aftermath of a shooting – a bullet shell. The audience are now able to understand how the ‘victim’ was killed or injured, as this able to understand how the ‘victim’ was killed or injured, as this was not apparent before this point. was not apparent before this point.

The audience can only guess that these glasses belong to the The audience can only guess that these glasses belong to the victim in this extract as it is blood stained – along with the victim in this extract as it is blood stained – along with the walls covered in blood too. From the impact of the character walls covered in blood too. From the impact of the character falling to the floor or being involved in a fight with the male falling to the floor or being involved in a fight with the male character, this may also suggest that the glasses came of character, this may also suggest that the glasses came of because of that impact which makes it even more striking and because of that impact which makes it even more striking and ominous to the audience. The audience may question, who is ominous to the audience. The audience may question, who is this victim and what is the relationship between these two this victim and what is the relationship between these two characters?characters?

The audience can now finally see the victim in this one shot. It The audience can now finally see the victim in this one shot. It also allows the audience to make predictions on how they believe also allows the audience to make predictions on how they believe he died, whether it was murder or self defense and who the he died, whether it was murder or self defense and who the character is in the first place. As the character may have been character is in the first place. As the character may have been shot from the back of his head, we cannot see the identity of him shot from the back of his head, we cannot see the identity of him just yet. However – as it is in reverse motion – the audience can just yet. However – as it is in reverse motion – the audience can predict that they may see what happened just before he was predict that they may see what happened just before he was shot. The low angle of the camera reinforces the other male shot. The low angle of the camera reinforces the other male character’s dominance and agency over the character on the character’s dominance and agency over the character on the floor, the audience may believe this is a point of view shot from floor, the audience may believe this is a point of view shot from the character who pulled the trigger. All we can see now is the the character who pulled the trigger. All we can see now is the character on the floor, blood splattered across the floor and a pair character on the floor, blood splattered across the floor and a pair of glasses; what relevance does this have to the extract?of glasses; what relevance does this have to the extract?

The high angle of the character holding the gun is another The high angle of the character holding the gun is another way to represent that this character may have had much way to represent that this character may have had much more control of how the other character died. We do not more control of how the other character died. We do not know just yet why he decided to pick up a gun and shoot him know just yet why he decided to pick up a gun and shoot him in the head but we can understand how he did it – even in in the head but we can understand how he did it – even in reverse motion. The character is looking down at the victim, reverse motion. The character is looking down at the victim, which may suggest that he was already on the floor before which may suggest that he was already on the floor before he was shot? This then gives us information that the victim he was shot? This then gives us information that the victim may have been beaten up so badly he could not get up, or, may have been beaten up so badly he could not get up, or, he could have been begging for the other character not to he could have been begging for the other character not to shoot him. This shot gives out many different open questions shoot him. This shot gives out many different open questions the audience may want to ask.the audience may want to ask.

This shot could be classified as a point of view shot, it is a low This shot could be classified as a point of view shot, it is a low angle shot which focuses on the character on the floor facing angle shot which focuses on the character on the floor facing away from the gun. This one shot can give the audience most of away from the gun. This one shot can give the audience most of the answers from the questions that they thought about. The the answers from the questions that they thought about. The director may have wanted to use this type of shot as it shows director may have wanted to use this type of shot as it shows the audience what the experience is like if you were to hold a the audience what the experience is like if you were to hold a gun up on someone else’s head, which reinforces and brutal and gun up on someone else’s head, which reinforces and brutal and violent nature this extract displays throughout.violent nature this extract displays throughout.