1. Analysis 1 – Detailed Written Analysis –
Limitless
Camerawork
Example 1:
This wide shot shows the protagonist from the film perched on the edge of an
apartment balcony. The character is shown to be very small on the shot in
comparison to his surroundings, which represents him as overwhelmed and
vulnerable. This is typical in the thriller genre as it represents how the events in
the narrative have put the character under serious strain and conflict. The wide
shot also emphasizes the deadly situation the character is in which is typical of
the thriller genre and will leave the trailer on a cliffhanger ending that will
encourage the target audience to see the film.

2. Example 2:
This low angle long shot once again puts the protagonist in a dangerous and
daring situation typical of the thriller genre but this time shows him to be in
control. The low angle looking up on the character emphasizes his control and
power, which is a result of the pill he has taken. This is conventional of the
psychological genre as it displays the extreme feats of the pill.
Example 3:

3. This mid shot is at the beginning of the trailer and emphasizes the progression of
the narrative. It does this through presenting the scruffy appearance of the
protagonist. The shot begins to pan as the character walks across the road and
displays the angry look on his face, which connotes his frustration at his life that
is going nowhere. This is in juxtaposition to how his lifestyle develops
throughout the narrative therefore this shot fully establishes the equilibrium of
the film allowing the audience to have a greater understanding of the films
storyline.
Editing
Example 1:
This is an example of eyeline match as it shows the protagonist looking at what
he is holding and then a shot of the pill he is holding. The first shot displays the
curiosity on his face, which reveals to the audience that what he is holding is a
point of interest and significance. The second shot then fully reveals the pill
while the voiceover explains what it does which explains the disequilibrium of
the narrative. It also opens up a conventional story arc to the psychological genre
through the boosted mental state of the protagonist.
Example 2:

4. This shot shows a use of CGI that reveals a series of numbers and equations on
the ceiling. This will stand out to the audience and make the shot more
memorable as it does not reveal what is actually there but in fact provides an
insight into the protagonist’s mind allowing the audience to relate more to what
he is experiencing. The insight into his mind is also conventional of the
psychological genre as it shows his new thought process since he has taken the
pill.
Example 3:
Editing is also used to create a conventional thriller trailer through the
increasing fast paced editing. At the start of the trailer the editing is slow which
supports the portrayal of the protagonist’s life that is going nowhere. The pace of
the editing however starts to increase as the pace of the protagonist’s life does
up to the point where he is under attack from thugs where the transition
between each shot becomes more and more frequent. This adds to the sense of
excitement and tension in the trailer, which is a key characteristic of the thriller
genre.
Miseen Scene
Example 1:

5. This shot displays many aspects of mise-en-scene that create an introduction to
the protagonists life. For example the low-key lighting within the room connotes
the negative route in which his life is currently heading. The setting of a run
down bar creates a similar impression and contrasts some of the luxurious and
glamorous locations he is in later on in the trailer. Props are used such as the
glass of whiskey which he is drinking from which creates the impression he has a
reckless nature and has a negative attitude towards his life; this impression is
added to with the protagonists costume which is looks scruffy and dirty, once
again contrasting outfits he is seen in later on.
Example 2:

6. This shot is put in the trailer as a form of juxtaposition to example 1 as it shows
the protagonist in a contrasted atmosphere. The use of props such as the shot
glass he is holding link this scene to the previous one but other aspects of mise
en scene contrast it such as the setting, which is clearly a much more upmarket
bar than the one he was previously in which connotes the increase in his quality
of life.His costume is used to the same effects as his smart shirt and blazer is
clearly more expensive and professional than the plain old t-shirt he is wearing
in example 1 and signifies his wealth and power. This will create a sense of
intrigue within the audience who will be interested to see how the character
developed into what he is at this point.
Example 3:

7. The mise en scene is used conventionally for the thriller genre in this extract due
to the use of props such as the knife being held by the antagonist, which creates a
sense of threat and danger, conventional of this genre. As this is seen from the
perspective of the protagonist it allows the audience to feel more engaged in the
scene and persuaded to watch the film. The characters appearance and costume
adds to his menace and state of authority, which emphasizes the state of peril the
protagonist is in.
Sound
Example 1:
The action in the trailer begins with the accompaniment of a voiceover from the
main protagonist. This non-diegetic sound is a conventional trait of the start of a
trailer and a film alike and allows the audience to both engage with the character
and be introduced to the concept and themes of the film. In this trailer, the
voiceover creates a humorous tone to the scene in reference to the “I’m a writer”
quote, which adds a sense of personality to the main protagonist. It also
continues to explain the plot developments within the film throughout the
trailer, which proves it to be an efficient way of presenting an outline of the film
in a trailer to its audience.
Example 2:
Another considerable use of non-diegetic sound in the extract is the soundtrack
itself which changes in pace and tone depending on the action. It starts off slow
paced to represent his life going nowhere and begins to pick up in pace as the

8. protagonists life begins to change. This is a conventional and effective means of
setting the scene and helps to convey the mood and intensity of a scene. Towards
the end of the soundtrack, a famous song by Kanye West is incorporated into it
that would be well known to a large amount of the audience. This is an effective
technique, as it would help the audience remember the trailer and associate it
with that song.
Example 3:
Diegetic sound is also used in the trailer to emphasize the tension such as loud
car engines, the sound of doors being kicked in and people being punched in the
face etc. All of these are conventional for the thriller genre as it shows the
protagonist in a situation of danger and peril that is often shown in thriller
trailers. It will also appeal to the audience who will associate these sound effects
with exciting scenes and will be inclined to see how these scenes pan out.
Conventions, Representations and Narratives
The main protagonist is represented in two contrasting ways during the
narrative, firstly as a down on his luck loser and secondly as a hotshot
millionaire; the technical elements emphasize this change. Despite it being a
thriller there is no clear, main protagonist represented in the trailer despite
some minor shots of thugs threatening the lead character. This could be
explained due to the psychological nature of the film, suggesting the main
conflict of the protagonist to be with himself. The narrative follows the
traditional form of equilibrium (the pill drastically improving the quality of the
protagonists life), disequilibrium (him getting into trouble and experiencing side
effects of the pill) and the resolution is not featured within the trailer as it
typically only previews and promotes the main film. Other conventions of the
form include the companies and actors names appearing at the beginning and
end and on-screen text that outlines key themes of the plot.