As part of my media course and gaining the knowledge that I need to be able to create my own film, I need to evaluate opening sequences of films. One evaluation that I have written is on the opening sequence to a thriller, Memento, which was directed by Christopher Nolan.
The opening sequence of this film consists of a number of scenes which sets the plot for the audience. As well as setting the plot, it also helps build mystery and curiosity amoungst the audience who are watching. It does this by the use of cinematography, sound effects, lighting, mise-en-scene and the use of certain special effects such as monochrome.
In the first scene the audience are shown a close up (cu) of a photo in which at first the audience believe it to be just a normal photo that shows blood which starts to question the audience's mind. Then the photo, bit by bit, starts to gradually fade, while the camera is still on close up, and the audience realise the photo is going back in time and a reversing timeline effect comes into play. This signifies to the audience that there will be a time element within the film and helps keep the audience wanting to carry on watching as they want to know why it is going back in time and what will happen next.
This is just the first scene of the opening sequence and as any viewer could say, it certainly grabs the audience's attension.
I believe that the director, Christopher Nolan, chose these effects to not only grab the viewer's attension but to also give a sense of what the plot will be about and how the film will protray it. From my point of view, the opening sequence succeeded in protraying the start of the plot and making the viewer want to watch more as they are curious and intrigued of what will happen next.
References:
Memento opening sequence - www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XzNIUt1dBQ&feature=related
Memento storyboard artist talks about Christopher Nolan - Video list
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