Memento had terrific mise-en-scene, particularly in the color department. Throughout the film, events in the past going forward are treated to glorious black and white, while events in the present going backward are in color. However, as a step even further, the film sticks to a particular palate. The main character wears a tan suit with a blue shirt, thus his surroundings reflect this. His tan apartment building has blue doors etc.
There’s definite significance in the fact that half of this film is in black and white. The black and white segments are scenes shown in order. The color scenes are in reverse. I imagine this is because the color scenes are technically in the past, further into the past than the color scenes are anyway. The color scenes have more onscreen action and plot progression and are really the meat of the movie. More colorful and lively than the black and white scenes, these parts are more action based or soothing moments. The black and white scenes are tension driven and explanatory. The mood is much more intense, brooding and noir.
Eventually both sets of scenes collide into the climax, and chronological center of the film. At this moment we are slid from the past into the quasi-present only to receive a set of shocking twists. That aside, it’s quite a bookend. The film opens with the truck in color and arrives to the climax in black and white. Then the film winds down and the truck backs out in color.
BY SAM FRIEDMAN
1 comment:
Sam,
I applaud the way you've detailed several observations around the b&w/color dichotomy in Memento. Yet I think you have yet to really develop a thesis around them. Phrases like "I guess it's because" are not appropriate to a thesis statement. Remember, you are presenting a claim, and argument you're going to back up with examples from the work. Be clear on what you're trying to prove before you write, and when you write do so with confident, convincing language. As it stands, it's unclear to me what your central idea is about color in this film, aside from your very general sense that it is being used deliberately. But that is a given. Work harder at synthesizing your observations into a coherent argument.
Post a Comment