Memento analysis

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Memento analysis A man, suffering from short-term memory loss, uses notes and tattoos to hunt for the man he thinks killed his wife. Memento chronicles two separate stories of Leonard, an ex-insurance investigator who can no longer build new memories, as he attempts to find the murderer of his wife, which is the last thing he remembers. One story line moves forward in time while the other tells the story backwards revealing more each time Director: Christopher Nolan Writers: Christopher Nolan (screenplay), Jonathan Nolan (short story "Memento Mori") Stars: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano Camerawork- Tilt- this is shown at the start to create an enigma, which makes the main character mysterious, as it is the opening scene of the trailer. This draws the viewer in as they are wondering what the narrative is. Close up- this is shown to show the emotion of the character, as it’s the opening scene. Tracking- This technique is used when the main character is

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Transcript of Memento analysis

Page 1: Memento analysis

Memento analysis

A man, suffering from short-term memory loss, uses notes and tattoos to hunt for the man he thinks killed his wife.

Memento chronicles two separate stories of Leonard, an ex-insurance investigator who can no longer build new memories, as he attempts to find the murderer of his wife, which is the last thing he remembers. One story line moves forward in time while the other tells the story backwards revealing more each time

Director: Christopher NolanWriters: Christopher Nolan (screenplay), Jonathan Nolan (short story "Memento Mori")Stars: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano

Camerawork-

Tilt- this is shown at the start to create an enigma, which makes the main character mysterious, as it is the opening scene of the trailer. This draws the viewer in as they are wondering what the narrative is.

Close up- this is shown to show the emotion of the character, as it’s the opening scene.

Tracking- This technique is used when the main character is running to create a fast pace. This allows the audience to follow the actions of the main character to create tension at the fact that he is running from something. We cannot see what which draws in the viewer and adds suspense

Two shot- this is used the main character and another character are fighting. This is to show what’s happening as they show both of

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them so you can see what they are doing. It is to convey the tension and conflict between the characters.

Pan- this is used when the main character is looking in the mirror at something on his body, it cuts from a middle shot to when he standing to a close up when he takes his shirt off which they use a zoom to get from the mid shot to the close up. When they use a

close up it then uses a pan to show the viewer what it says on his body to give the viewer more of an insight so they are fully aware of what is going on with the story. They use it in the trailer to show the reader what is says which interests them as they want to know why it is there. As they are unaware of the full story it shows snippets of little clips to promote the movie.

Sound-

Voice over- this is used at the beginning when the main character is talking to himself, he is thinking in his head but it is played out so the audience understands what is happening.

Dialogue- this is used when people are talking to each other so we understand what they are talking about, as it is a trailer it doesn’t show much dialogue as they want you to still be interested and unaware of what they are talking about which makes the viewer want to watch the film when it comes out.

Non-Diagetic- this is used in some parts of the trailer to add tension when dramatic clips are shown to add tension to the trailer, which makes it more, appealing for the viewer.

Exaggeration on sounds Higher in the sound mix- this is used when they are fighting and the exaggerate the banging to show what’s happening and make it more dramatic and thrilling as they are unsure of what is happening.

Editing-

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Low key lighting- this is used throughout the trailer, as it is a psychological thriller it is mysterious. As it doesn’t show everything

Crosscutting this is used when they change from clip to clip, which adds a fast pace to the trailer. It doesn’t show you everything; it shows you snippets of the film to keep you in suspense to make you want to watch the trailer.

Fast pace- this is used when action is happening to

Black and white camera-

Mise-en-scene-

Props:- Letters; this is used to add mystery to the trailer as they are

unsure of why the letter is used they only see what says.

- Cracked mirror; this is used when they are fighting, to show how extreme of the actions of the main character. It shows the aggression of the fight.

- Body bag; this is used to represent death, it is used to shock the audience as the main character sees his wife dead in a body back which shows he wants vengeance.

Make-up:- Blood; this is also to shock the audience when they see blood to portray the extremity of the storyline.

Conventions of the genre-

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Psychological problem- As the genre of the film is a psychological thriller, it has the main character who has a psychological problem. They are unpredictable which captures the audience, they are unsure of what’s happening so the trailer is used to show the main outline of the storyline to appeal to the audience.

Centered around the protagonist- They use this as everything that is happening is surrounded by him, he will be the main character so the audience can see from his point of view.

Conventions of the form-

Narrative- This is used to show what’s going to happen but leaving the resolution out. They leave this out so it appeals to the audience to try and make them want to watch the movie.

Backing track-They use this when action is on to build up tension to the trailer, to appeal to the audience.

Title- The title is used at the end, as the audience have seen what the movie looks like they show the title to let the know what it is to the reader and it shows the release date aswell.