Momento Opening scene Analysis

The first three shots have many different features of both a normal film opening and that of the thriller genre. Firstly the film's title 'Momento' is overlaying the first shot, this is typical of many films. The typography chosen gives us clues as to what the genre is; the blue colour is cold and the font is somewhat angular suggesting a darker theme rather than up beat and happy. The lighting is dark and mysterious which, again, is another thriller convention. The first 3 shots show a polaroid picture of what appears to be a dead body, although as the opening plays on it becomes apparent that the film is actually un-developing. This gives a sense of mystery and intrigue, and encourages the veiwer to carry on watching so as to understand what is happening. The sight of a dead body also suggests to us what genre of film it colour be.

The fourth shot shows the photograph going back into the camera, which confirms to us that the sequence is being played in reverse order. We still have not seen the face of the person who is taking the photograph which adds to the whole uncertainty and mystery of the unfolding events.

In the fifth shot we see the face of the photographer, although the identity of the man is still unclear. The audience are unaware of whether he is a crime scene photographer or the killer himself. His expression is somewhat cold and unemotional, suggesting to us that he is either used to seeing dead bodies or perhaps that he feels no remorse for the murder.

Both shots 6 and 7 show elements of mise en scene that are conventional of thriller films. Blood and weapons are common icons in this genre. By showing the bullet is also reveals to us how the man may have been killed. The blood running down the wall suggests there may have been a struggle and also that it was a fairly recent murder, pointing to the photographer as the killer.

The 8^th shot shows a pair of blood stained glasses. This gives us a clue as to what the person killed is like as there are many stereotypes surrounding those wearing glasses.

In the 9^th shot we finally see the dead man for ourselves, rather than through polaroids. Although we see the body, we still do not see the man's face. This is all building up to increase the conventional intrigue of a psychological thriller.

In shot 10 we see the man kneeling down beside the body, perhaps inspecting it. He still shows no sign of emotion or remorse.

In shots 11, 12, 13, and 14 we see the build up to the murder. These shots all happen very quickly to increase adrenaline in the audience. It shows that something bad is about to happen and prepares us for it.

In shot 15 we see the photographer shooting the gun. The murderer is revealed to the audience after a long time of suspense.

In the final shot we see the man being shot. He if facing the camera and we finally see the face of the man who was murdered, again, after a long, suspenseful wait. Keeping these two things a secret right up to the end is conventional of Thriller films, which make you wait for vital information and keep you in anticipation as a way of making you try and figure things out for yourself and carry on watching until the answer is satisfyingly revealed.

Typical mise en scene -

-Props such as blood, guns, and bullets

-A dark, dank, dirty setting.

Use of sound –

-A score is played though almost the entirety of the opening, right up to where the murder happens. This sudden contrast helps to impact and increase the magnitude of the event.

-There is no dialogue from the characters for the majority of the sequence, this adds intrigue as the audience have to try and figure out the situation for themselves, without the clues that conversation or comments would offer. The only dialogue is from the man whilst being shot, again this is adding to the impact of the killing.

-Diagetic sound is used, for example the noise of the polaroid and gun. This helps to give realism to the scene and make the audience feel more involved.

Use of editing –

-Throughout the scene most shots used are close ups/ medium close-ups/ medium shots. By not showing the entire setting, and giving the audience different aspects of the situation individually it helps to maintain suspense. The audience receive bits of information slowly so that they can judge what is happening for themselves, somewhat like a puzzle. This is a common convention of psychological thrillers which like to play with the audiences minds.

- The cuts between shots at the beginning are quite slow, and become increasingly faster up until where the actual murder happens, where the cuts become very fast. This helps to add to the increasing alarm as you see various aspects of mise en scene such a blood and guns. The fast editing towards the end makes the audience feel more frantic and helps to put them on edge. It also gives a build up and shows them something bad is about to happen.