Memento Analysis

1.What titles are included?
- Film Title, Cast, Casting manager, Director, Production team, Music director, Studio name, Director of photography, editor, Production designer, Executive producers, Screenplay.


2.What order do they appear?
New market presents – Association with Summit Entertainment – A Team Todd Production – Film by Christopher Nolan - Guy Pearce – Carrie Anne Moss – Joe Pantoliano – Memento – Mark Boone Junior – Stephen Pobolowski – Larry Holden – Callum Keith Rennie - Harriett Sansom Harris – Casting By John Papsidera – Music – Costume Designer – Editor – Production Designer – Director Of Photography – Co-Producer – Co- Executive producers – Executive producers – Producer – Screenplay – Based on Short Story – Director.
3. (Above)


4. What can you tell about the story of the film?
- Three actors’ names are shown before any of the cast, which indicates that they will be the main characters of the film and the story will most likely be based around them and Guy Pearce’ name is shown first which will indicate he will be the main character.
- Another way in which the audience gets an idea that the first three actors’ name shown on the opening sequence is that their names appear for a longer time on screen. First three actors’ appear for 3 secs and fade slowly and characters that appear after are onscreen for 2 seconds, fade quickly and appear in quick succession.
- The opening sequence also indicates to the reader that the film may include elements of mystery as the titles that appear onscreen fade away. This is justified in the film as the main character suffers from short-term memory loss, which is linked to the titles fading away.
- The music played in the background loops throughout the opening sequence and may lead to the conclusion that the film is repetitive.
- The background gives off an eerie feeling with the shades of blue fading in/out and in tune with the piano – this further supports the idea of the film including mysterious characters/elements.
- After the last title is shown the background of the blue shades fading in/out stay onscreen for 26 seconds as the music plays out.


5. How do you know what genre the film is?
- The opening sequence includes many elements of mystery with the titles fading in/out and shades of blue also fading in/out, which lets off an eerie feeling, which can be linked to mystery or links to psychological elements in the film.
- The music in the background is looped which builds suspense within the viewer, which could be linked to the genre of thriller.

Narrative Question's - Taxi Driver

Who is the hero and who is the villain? How do you know?

- The audience are indicated that Robert DeNiro will be the main character in the film as his name is shown in the credits before the film itself or the other cast members. It is not suggested whether he will be the Hero or the villain as the opening sequence is mainly a extreme close-up of his face to maybe unsettle the viewer or create an understanding with him.

- A suggestion of DeNiro playing the villain is in the opening credits where his name is shown in a red font which represents danger,violence,blood e.t.c things that you would assign to a villain.

- But with only DeNiro being shown in the opening 2 minutes of the film it may even suggest he may be the hero but no outstanding indications are given of this.
- DeNiro's point of view of the city is shown to be quite innocent with many universal colors being shown which could be linked to innocence


How many principal characters are there?
- From the opening sequence the audience know that DeNiro will be the principal character of the film and this fits with the genre of a psychological thriller as most films in the genre revolve around one character e.g. American Psycho, Memento.
With only one main principal character it is easier for the audience to get to know the character and understand them and their emotions e.g. in American psycho the audience can get to know Patrick Bateman through his stream of consciousness and close analysis of his character rather than there being more than one principal character which would make it harder for the viewer to understand the main character and develop an understanding

Where is the story set and what does this tell you about the film genre?

- The film is in set in New York, soon after the Vietnam war. With the film set post-war most of the city would be unsettled and many characters may be seen as flawed or unsure which is a key element to character's in a Psychological thriller. These elements are portrayed through the character of Travis Bickle.
- New york post-war was polluted with prostitution and Drug dealing and these crimes enrage Travis turning his thoughts violent which is linked to the genre being psychological thriller.

How is the story told? Is it in chronological order?

- The film is shown in chronological order and this is chosen by Director Martin Scorsese as it helps the audience get to understand the character Travis Bickle as they seem him experience every event chronologically.

Taxi Driver Analysis

Taxi Driver

1.What titles are included?
- Studio
- “Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver” – Indicates to the reader that Robert DeNiro is the main character as his name is shown before all the other Actor/Actresses’ and also the film title.

- Titles shown in red – which may indicate to the viewer that there may be some killings or bloody scenes in the film.
- Titles after “Robert DeNiro in” are in yellow and flashing to put emphasis on the nightlife and that the events that are important may take place at night.

- Production Team – Music – Special Make-up – Visual consultant – Creative Consultant – Director Of Photography – Written By – Director.

2. What order do they appear?
- Columbia Pictures presents – Robert DeNiro in – Taxi Driver – Starring. – Music By – Supervising Film Editor – Film Editors – Special Make-up – Visual Consultant – Creative Consultant – Director Of Photography – Written By – Produced By – Director.
3. (Above)

4. What can you tell about the story of the film?
- Robert DeNiro is the main character and story will revolve around him as his is the first name shown in the titles and in the opening sequence an extreme close-up of his face is shown. Also he is the only character shown in the opening sequence.

- The film may include a lot of mystery as the in the first scene in the opening sequence the taxi is driven through smoke which may indicate mystery which is also a convention of a thriller. So from the 30 seconds the viewer already knows that the film may include a lot of mystery and that the film is a thriller.

- The actor/actresses’ name appear and disappear off the screen very quickly which once again may indicate that Robert DeNiro plays a much more important role and the other Actors may not be as important as of the speed their names disappear off the screen.

Names appear disappear in 2 seconds whereas Robert DeNiro’s name stays disappears in 4 seconds and also is very bold as when his name appears the background is plain black which makes his name more bold rather than the other actors name’s appear with the city in the background which may distract the reader.
- The whole of the opening sequence is presented at night – Indicates the main events of the film may take place at night.
5. How do you know what genre the film is?
- As of the smoke shown the film may be a thriller as the smoke may represent mystery.

- The film may be a slasher as of the first 3 titles shown in red, which represents blood – horror and the jet-black background may represent death.