'Memento' trailer Analysis

The Memento trailer is rated 'R' by the MPAA and is a NEWMARKET production film, an independent producer of diverse films. While evidently this trailer is targeted at an American audience, we can suggest from this the standard of the film and its unique or challenging content. The genre introduced is a drama - mystery and suspense, we develop the understanding of the genre throughout the trailer, there are a series of dramatic scenes and suspense and mystery is reinforced from the ambiguity of the first scenes.

The principal protagonist in this trailer appears to be an anti-hero as he is impaired, confused, and vindicative. It appears he is vulnerable falling into trickery.

The trailer opens with a black and white effect, adding mystery to the plot from the outset. The camera shifts up zooming in to an extreme close up of a man's face. We get the sense that we are in the mindset of the man as his lips do not move but we hear his voice say 'where am i?' ... in an 'anonymous hotel room' this establishes the setting while adding to the great sense of confusion, also the viewer is given something to relate to the character. The camera cuts to a snippet of footage which is hard to decipher in such a short time, the sound made synonymous with the action shown in the scene also marks the transition to the next scene, introducing colour to the rest of the trailer. This following scene is a mid-shot of a man, the main protagonist, walking towards the camera, his face is scratched, hair scruffy. These few scenes seem disconnected/disjointed, they are all confusing for the viewer, reinforcing the mindset of the character. There is use of continuity editing in that there is a focus pull during an over the shoulder shot. The shot of this shady character, head between the door in a mid close up, could fall under framing for purpose as later in the trailer he is shot at. This may be to reinforce the brutality of the protagonist's nature in a state of incomprehension and disillusionment.

The camera cuts to a mid close up of the protagonist lying down, he is dressed in a smart business suit as if he is not supposed to be in that situation, this provokes the viewer as they question why. Overlaying this shot is the dialogue 'it's my memory', the camera cuts to another scene of an over the shoulder shot, shallow focus attention on suggested 'inmate', there is fast cutting back to the bed shot and then to close ups of the protagonist's tattoos,the camera also casts over information and notes.

The fractured narrative, and reversal of narrative structure is reinforced in this trailer as there are a series of flashbacks featured. This trailer follows Barthes enigma code.

'Whats the last thing you do remember?' - the camera draws full attention to this woman, using shallow focus. The first flash back of the trailer reinforces the fractured narrative and the reversal of the natural order. Tension is built through ambiguity however we are not prepared to be shocked, during the flashback the camera focuses on the mirror, we see the reflection of the masked murderer and then the protagonist projected forward violently in to the mirror making a piercing smashing noise followed by a warning repetitive sound that raises further suspicion, the camera moves to a close up two shot when he hits the floor face to face with his dead wife.

The scenes are very intimate in that there seems to be continuous use of close ups.