Thriller reserch: Memento

In class we watched the opening of a physiological thriller. The film was directed by Christopher Nolan. After watching the opening we were asked, to answer the following questions:

1) What ideas does the word 'memento' make you think?

An item that brings rememberance, an object of importance.

I felt the title of the film links well with the action that takes place. The the word links with the story, with the main charector usign polaroids to gain remberance. I feel this given me inspiration to look into my opening once its complete and when considerign a title. It will need to be one which links with the films narrative.

2) What sort of charecter is Lenaord? (Is he a typical hero? if not, how he differ?)

Lenoard is seen killing someone in the first scene, this gives the audince the impression that he is not the hero, as hereos are not killers. In the audinces mind we have sympathy for him as he is seen to be confused. There is a conversation which takes place between Lenaord and motel manger, it shows that he vanaulerable charector, the audince are sympathetic to the charector as they can clearly see he is a vunreable charector. This does not directly make him a hero but he seen to be more a hero than a villian. He asks leanord "Have you got any leads?" This makes the audince belive he is a hero. From this statement it makes him look like he is in law enforcement, this gives the impression to the audince that people in law enforcement are trust worthy. This makes lenaord look more like a hero from this statement.

I feel i will not use a hero in my opening. As i feel the lack of a hero will make the audince unsure who to trust and leave questions in there mind, on who they should trust. By not having a hero, the audince will feel more vanrable as they do not have a character that they can trust in. This will leave the audince asking more questions. This will mean one of the criteria of an effective thriller is filled. This will leave the audince expsoed in a sense as the opening of the film will not contain a hero and the audince cannot trust any of the characters in the opening.

3) What flaws are there in Lenoards charecter?

Lenaord is an ill charector, this makes him vanreable and due to this the audince cannot trust him. He has tatoos on his body, this is another flaw, this gives the audince the question in there mind can we trust Lenoard?

This has given me the idea to create a chracter which is vanerable. This means the audince will feel symaptohy for that charector. The use of flaws in the chrecter will make the audince question how trust worthy the charecter is.

4) How does the audince feel about Teddy?

Teddy is seen to be the villian as, the audince does not have any knowledge about Teddy and this makes him as a charector shadey. Due to this we seem him as a villain.

5) What Narrative Enigmas are created in the opening few minutes of the film?

Mnay questions are asked, What happend to Lenaord? How do he loose his memory? Who is Teddy? This makes the viewer want to watch on so there questions can be answered.

6) How is non-digetic music used? What sort of mood does it help to create?

An eririe soundtrack is used, sets for a somber and dark mood.

I feel the use of non-digetic has really inspired me. It has shown me how effective no-digetic music can be to create tension. I feel i will make this a key factor, a real life exmapel has shown me how non-digetic music builds tension and makes a good opening for a thriller.

7) How would you describe the opening overall? Does it set up any sense of eqilibrium or begin with disruption?

The opening begins with a large distruption of the charector of Teddy being shot in the head, which leaves the audince asking questions straight away. This leaves the viewer want to watch on and want there questions answered.

I feel a disruption is very effective but i feel a this is the opening creatign a disruption will possible leave the audince confused.

8) Think about the following aspects of Mise en Scene. How does each one help us with ideas about either narrative or charector?

Leonard's car mirrors the mystery of the charector, as the car is a Europeon car which has been imported from America. This shwos the car is expensive, but the car i dirty ths makes the audince ask the question, where has Leonard been?



The motel that the main charector stays is isolated and cheap place, no questions asked. No one knows what occurs behind the closed doors of the rooms.

The iscolated building is where Leonard commits a murder and ths puts the question in he audinces mind how far will Leonard go?

I feel this has inspired me show how important how Mise en Scene is. I will make sure i use a lot of Mis en Scene is used effetivley to communciate the message of my opening clearly to the audince.

9) What other tecniques does the director use to create an air of mystery?

By the opening scene where he takes a picture and then the polroid slowly starts to un-devlops into a black polaroid.

I feel this is a very inoative way to start a thriller of, this automtaiclly makes the audince think. I feel i will carry this out to make the audince ask questions and this will work towards an effective thriller opening by the use of narrative enigmas. This will amke the audince want to carry on watching.