Limitless Analysis

Limitless opens with a black screen and the opening titles of the film, showing the names of the actors involved. There is a sound, which seems like something banging is heard. This is done so that the audience is confused and keeps watching to find out what the noise is and why it is happening. The sound is synced in with the titles so a new title comes up on the screen when another bang sound  is heard. It is then revealed later on that it is someone, who the audience doesn't know, is banging on a door and trying to break in to an apartment. This is a great use of sound as it still leaves the audience confused as to who it is and why it is happening even after it is shown what the noise is. The use of sound in this part of the opening sequence is great because it is typical to the thriller genre. This is because it causes confusion and uncertainty for the audience and so they want to keep watching to find out what is going on.

When it shows a tracking shot from the bottom floor all the way to the top, it shows the size and scale of the building with the main character standing over the edge of the top balcony. The cinematography in this is used purposely to show that the building is very tall and it shows that something is wrong if the main character is standing over the edge. This also suggests that the main character owns the building because the people trying to break in are trying to get in through the bottom floor, where as he is standing at the very top looking down at everything. Therefore, it is suggested that he is very wealthy and makes the audience question how he got that rich and why he is standing over the edge of the building. This cinematography technique of a tracking shot is common to the thriller genre as it is usually used to reveal something and build anticipation as to what is about to be shown all in one shot. This is used in the opening sequence of Limitless as it build up at the start of the film so the audience keeps watching.

The Mise en Scene in this extract shows everything very well and makes the audience ask how did things get like that. The main character is wearing a suit which suggests his wealth and makes him look important. This is done purposely to show him as a main or important character to the film. The suit connotes class and wealth which makes this an important theme to the opening sequence and film. The audience will question why the character is wearing a suit as this is the first we see in him in the opening sequence. The lighting of the scene is low key and dark which creates a sense of mystery to the audience. This also makes the character mysterious as half of his face is covered with dark lighting. This connotes both good and bad as there is both light and dark lighting on the character's face, suggesting that he is an 'anti-hero' to the audience. Therefore, the audience is unsure whether he is the protagonist or antagonist at this point.

Limitless uses editing in the extract as match on action can be seen. This is seen when the protagonist is standing over the balcony at the top of the building and looking down at the street and passing cars below. This is used to show that he is considering jumping over the edge and killing himself. The match on action is used to create emphasis on him leaning over the edge and creates tension on whether he will jump or not. This is the first of the character that the audience sees and it is in the opening sequence so the audience waist to keep watching to see why he is standing there and why he might jump over the edge which brings suspense to the scene. A shot-reverse-shot is seen after that when the protagonist looks down at the street below, and the camera zooms down on the street, and then goes back to the protagonist's face which further suggests his thoughts to jump over the edge. This also creates a lot of tension for the audience.