The Genre of Memento
Genre
The genre Noir was created in the early 1940’s to 1950’s with an influx of popular noir films being made in this era. Film noir is a movie definition, which is primarily used to define stylish Hollywood crime dramas, mostly those that underline skeptical attitudes and sexual motivations. Film noirs most noticeable feature is the low key black and white style. Numerous stories of the genre noir were crime based.
Noir has many specific techniques that are used in the films, which give it the traditional noir style. Off balance framing leaned cameras, are used to unsettle/disorientate viewers. This approximates the disorientation of the flawed hero. Irregular placement of figures in frames is used also to present sense of instability and unpredictability. “Trapped” framing uses mirrors, doorframes and windows. This is to separate the anti-hero from other characters, his world, and his own internal conflicts. ‘Chocker’ close up shots used to trap the characters, playing on the oppressive, catastrophic nature of noir. And lastly low key lighting, emphasizing the opposition of light and dark. The characters faces are hidden, and by extension so are motives and true character.
The film Memento directed by Christopher Nolan is a modern take on the noir genre, with black and white flash backs, low key lighting, specific camera techniques, the Femme fatal and the Flawed hero. Although the film was made in 2000 it still has many characteristics that put the film in noir genre.
Along with techniques that are used in the films to portray the genre ‘noir’ other aspects are used, in this case it is the characters. In noir films there is always a Femme fatale and a flawed hero, these to characters are important, as they are major contributors to the genre. A femme fatale is a seductive and mysterious woman, who can charm men with her irresistible desire, often leading them into dangerous and deadly situations. A femme fatal has power over men.
In the film
The genre Noir was created in the early 1940’s to 1950’s with an influx of popular noir films being made in this era. Film noir is a movie definition, which is primarily used to define stylish Hollywood crime dramas, mostly those that underline skeptical attitudes and sexual motivations. Film noirs most noticeable feature is the low key black and white style. Numerous stories of the genre noir were crime based.
Noir has many specific techniques that are used in the films, which give it the traditional noir style. Off balance framing leaned cameras, are used to unsettle/disorientate viewers. This approximates the disorientation of the flawed hero. Irregular placement of figures in frames is used also to present sense of instability and unpredictability. “Trapped” framing uses mirrors, doorframes and windows. This is to separate the anti-hero from other characters, his world, and his own internal conflicts. ‘Chocker’ close up shots used to trap the characters, playing on the oppressive, catastrophic nature of noir. And lastly low key lighting, emphasizing the opposition of light and dark. The characters faces are hidden, and by extension so are motives and true character.
The film Memento directed by Christopher Nolan is a modern take on the noir genre, with black and white flash backs, low key lighting, specific camera techniques, the Femme fatal and the Flawed hero. Although the film was made in 2000 it still has many characteristics that put the film in noir genre.
Along with techniques that are used in the films to portray the genre ‘noir’ other aspects are used, in this case it is the characters. In noir films there is always a Femme fatale and a flawed hero, these to characters are important, as they are major contributors to the genre. A femme fatale is a seductive and mysterious woman, who can charm men with her irresistible desire, often leading them into dangerous and deadly situations. A femme fatal has power over men.
In the film