Narrative Structure:
The film begins by showing the title of the film as the first thing which goes against typical thriller codes and conventions as the film's title is usually displayed at the end of the opening and not the start. While the title is being shown, a hand holding a photograph can be seen in the background. This image stays here whilst all of the credits are displayed. The hand occasionally shakes the photograph supposedly to help it develop but the image actually disappears which is confusing to the viewer. The hand then inserts the now blank photograph into a camera and takes a picture. The person's face is now shown and he is clearly shocked or disturbed. He puts the photo into his pocket and then various objects such as a used bullet and some bloodstained glasses are shown lying around. Then, a presumably dead man is shown lying face down in a pool of blood. The man with the camera then raises his hand and a gun inexplicably flies into his hand. He then bends over and it becomes clear that time is going backwards, as the glasses are cleaned and returned to the dead man's face, the bullet returns to the gun and a loud scream is heard. The opening sequence appears to all take place with time reversed which confuses and panics the viewer.
Thriller Codes and Conventions:
The question and answer model is prominant in the opening of Memento as the viewer doesn't realise that it is in reverse until near the end and until then they are constantly asking and wondering what is happening until it is explained. Concealment is also used as the fact that time is moving backwards is not told to the viewer and partial vision is also used as certain things such as the bloodstained glasses and the bullet are seen but the dead man is not shown at first.
Camera Work:
The film begins with a close up of the man's hand holding the photograph. A close up also is used on the man's face and the items as well as the dead man which draws attention towards them. A tracking shot follows the man's hand as he puts the photograph into his pocket which makes it seem like he is hiding something. Most of the shots in the opening are still and close up and do not reveal much.
Mise en Scéne:
There is never a lot shown on screen at a single time so to not reveal too much to the viewer and to allow the viewer to just focus on the important things on screen. Only two characters are shown in the opening sequence and both of them remain stationary throughout the entire sequence. At most times only one thing is shown on screen at a time such as the photograph, the glasses and the bullet which tells the viewer that these objects are important and significant.
Sound:
A slow and saddening piece of music plays throughout the opening sequence which reflects the morbid and shocking atmosphere of the scene. The only significant sounds heard are the firing of the gun and the man's scream - both of which scare and shock the reader as they are loud and piercing.
Editing:
There are very few shots used in the opening of Memento to make it seem more tense and simple. Most of the shots are quite long which helps build tension and but emphisis on things and the entire opening is arranged in such a way that time appears to moving backwards which confuses and excites the viewer.
Graphics:
All of the film's credits are shown as the first things, super imposed over the first shot. They are written in an eerie light blue font that stands out on the dark background and are written in an old-fashioned and scary font.
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