Memento is a very unusual and interesting film. It's about a man who can't form new memories; he remembers up to a certain point in his life when he was injured, but after that it's all a blank. My main criticism is that Leonard Shelby, the central character, can remember that he has this condition, despite the fact it could only be diagnosed after he begins suffering from it, so he shouldn't be able to learn he has it. It's shown in the film that he has prior knowledge of the condition, so he would be able to work out what was wrong with him, but he shouldn't know it just off the top of his head. However, aside from this, I found it to be a very good film and can forgive this inconsistency because without it the storyline wouldn't have been possible.
~~~ The Plot ~~~ Leonard lost the ability to form new memories when his wife was killed. Now, he can recall things for a minute or so and then they're gone. He wants revenge on the man who raped and murdered his wife and destroyed his life. He tattoos his body with facts about the killer and leaves himself messages and photos so that he can live his life and continue his search for revenge.
There are two people helping him to find the killer, Natalie, who's also lost
someone, and Teddy, who Leonard has left a note about warning not to trust him. Leonard has the problem of deciding who he can trust and who's just using him when he can't remember anything about either of them.
The film starts with Leonard killing a man, and then works back to explain who the man was and what led to this murder. Throughout the film, you're left guessing what's going on and there are still a few questions left hanging at the end, which works because Leonard is also unsure about them.
~~~ The Style ~~~ The film doesn't have a linear plotline. Most of the film happens backwards, with you seeing one scene and then being shown the preceding one. This is a nice reflection of Leonard's condition. He doesn't know what's just happened anymore than we do. There are some scenes that are shot in black and white that have happened earlier, including flashbacks to a man called Sammy Jenkis who had the same condition.
The disjointed plot is confusing at first, but it begins to slot into place and the causes of events are gradually revealed. I find this really intriguing, since you start off with the effects and have no idea why anything is happening.
The story is fast-paced and quite violent. You don't get bored because there's always something happening. There are a few touches of humour where you know what's going to happen next and things slot into place, but there aren't many of them. The story is definitely one of action and keeps you watching out of curiosity not because it's funny.
~~~ The Acting ~~~ I thought the acting was very good. I didn't find any flaws with it despite the difficulties offered by the storyline. I thought Guy Pearce who plays Leonard was especially good considering what he has to show for his character. I'm always impressed by actors who manage to play perfectly such a difficult character with major problems to deal with.
I thought the acting was consistently good throughout the film. Carrie-Anne Moss who played Natalie was another who I was impressed by, considering some of the tricky scenes she had to play.
~ Cast List ~ Guy Pearce - Leonard Carrie-Anne Moss - Natalie Joe Pantoliano - Teddy Gammell Stephen Tobolowsky - Sammy Jenkis Harriet Sansom Harris - Mrs Jenkis
There are also a variety of minor characters who plays their roles well.
~~~ DVD Features ~~~ ~ The Tattoo Gallery ~ Leonard has a collection of tattoos about things he doesn't want to forget. Some of them are crucial to the film and shown clearly, others are merely glimpsed. This gallery lets you see the different tattoos. It's reasonably entertaining to look at once, but not something you want to see over and over. ~ Theatrical Trailers ~ One of the common extras to find on a DVD because it doesn't require much effort. ~ Interview with Christopher Nolan ~ Whether or not you'll enjoy this will depend on whether or not you usually enjoy interviews. It's an interview with the writer and director of the film, which you may be interested in if you want to know about how this unusual film was created.
There's also a TV spot and filmographies. If you use the DVD in a computer you get a website link. I don't think the extras are anything special, but then they're not why you buy a film on the whole.
~~~ Overall ~~~ I really liked watching this film the first time. It keeps you guessing, with enough threads tied off nicely at the end to leave you feeling satisfied, but a few left for you to think and talk about afterwards. It really is a good film if you enjoy mysteries, because you can try and see how the links fit together. It makes you think, gives you a few parodies to ponder and all the while gives you some good entertainment.
A second time through, the film is also enjoyable because you can spot all the things you missed the first time that point towards the conclusion. After that though, it goes downhill. The reason the film is so good to watch is because of the mystery, because it makes you wonder what happened. Once you know, all the thrill goes out of the movie.
This is a film to rent or borrow rather than buy. It's not especially good once you know how it ends. I would definitely recommend watching it, but I think you should only buy it if you find a really good price.
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Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
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Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
An absolute stunner of a movie,Mementocombines a bold, mind-bending script with compelling ... more
action and virtuoso performances. Guy Pearce plays Leonard Shelby, hunting down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The problem is that "the incident" that ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
An absolute stunner of a movie,Mementocombines a bold, mind-bending script with compelling ... more
action and virtuoso performances. Guy Pearce plays Leonard Shelby, hunting down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The problem is that "the incident" that ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
From director Christopher Nolan a unique and intriguing thriller that begins with the ... more
ultimate act of revenge and backtracks through time to reveal the shocking and provocative reasons behind it. Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) remembers everything up t...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) remembers everything up to the night his wife was brutally ... more
raped and murdered. But since that tragedy, he has suffered from short-term memory loss and cannot recall any event, the places he has visited or anyone he has met j...
Advantages: Original, intriguing and innovative film with superb performances from a talented trio of thespians. Disadvantages: If you like no-brainers this could cause melt down.
Mercury 16.05.2001 ·
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Review of Memento (DVD)
Advantages: Makes you use your brain! Original, inventive way to make a movie! Disadvantages: ABUNDANT use of "f-word"; some graphic violence, unsatisfying "ending" (or "beginning?)
Analysis 17.10.2004 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Memento (DVD)
![Memento [2000] [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78536510.jpg "Memento [2000] [DVD]")
Mar 28th, 2006
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