Analysing an opening sequence: Limitless

Analysing an opening sequence: Limitless



Director: Neil Burger

Writer: Leslie Dixon and Alan Glynn

Stars: Bradley Cooper, Anna Friel, Abbie Cornish and Robert De Niro

Institutions: Relativity, Rogue, Virgin Produced, Many Rivers Productions, Intermedia Film,  Boy Of The Year.

The opening scene for the film Limitless starts off with the distribution company of the film. The font that is presented to the audience generates an informal tone to the scene. This is due to the fact that one word is larger in size than the other. Also, each time there is a new credit on the screen, there is a loud banging noise in the background. This informs the audience that there is something happening within the scene.

The next image that is presented to the audience, Is of the director of the film. This is significant because the first three words are in a smaller font, whereas the director's name is in a larger font. This is so that the audience remember his name and therefore, in future will recognise and remember him.

Next the audience is shown the main actor of the film. Again this allows the audience to remember his name and therefore recognise it in the future. Also, each time a new credit is shown, the credit is in a light colour, which is a contrast to the darker colour in the back. This is done because it allows the audience to focus on the credits.

The next image that is portrayed on the screen is a black background. However although there is nothing on the screen, a character's voice is heard behind it. As an audience we automatically assume that this is the main character who is speaking and therefore are introduced to one. The reason that there is only a black screen and no writing is because the audience can focus on the dialogue that is heard.

 Finally the audience is presented with an actual image. This now allows them to think about what could be happening and where the film is set. From the image that is on the screen, it is clear that the location is set in a house, apartment or someone's home. From the boxes, we calculate that they are moving. From the door we understand that they possibly have a more expensive taste and from the colours, they potentially are quite a formal person.

From the next picture that is shown, we are able to understand more about the character's living situation and have now gathered that they have moved homes.


The next image that is presented to the audience, assists them in their understanding of the location and what type of environment the character lives in. From the scene that is shown, it is now clear that whoever lives here, has either not been living here long, is about to move, has expensive taste in furniture and is accustomed to luxury.

From the next image that is portrayed to the audience, it is obvious that some sort of violence has previously occurred. From the audience's point of view, this allows them to generate thoughts as to what might have happened. The shadows and positions that the two characters are in, obstructs the audience from knowing who they are, it also denies them from seeing the characters' faces.

The audience is finally introduced properly to the main character. However, although they know who the character is, they are unsure as to what is going on and why he is in this current situation. From the mise en scene, we as an audience gather that the character is distressed, unhappy and frustrated. This is due to the fact that he is standing on the edge of an extremely high building. As an audience we automatically assume that the character is contemplating death and therefore urgently want to know what it is that put him in this current position.

The next image that the audience is shown is of the character's point of view, looking down at the ground and at how high the building is. The camera is at a birds eye view which allows the audience to be put in the character's position.

The next image that is presented to the audience abruptly makes the scene tense and puts the audience on edge because of the fact that the character is possibly about to jump. Also the background is blurred so that the audience can focus on the character's shoe and movement.

Next the audience discovers that the character has come to his senses and doesn't end his life, we as an audience are now relived, however are still clueless as to what happened and are eager to find out. From the character's face we are only able to observe half of his face, however we can see that he does not look healthy or happy. This generates thoughts from the audience as to what might've happened.


The next part of the scene goes from the character looking down at the ground to the camera zooming into the floor from the top of the building. This allows the audience to have an insight as to what the character's point of view is. It is also seems as though from the audiences point of view, they are the ones who are falling off the building.




Next the scene progresses from the top of the building to the title of the film. This is now when the audience knows that the opening sequence is over and the rest of the film is about to start.