Memento
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Movie Reviews of Memento
Movie Review: RENT...BUY...JUST MAKE SURE YOU SEE THIS MOVIE
Summary: 5 Stars
You'll either love or hate Memento. I just saw Memento and I have to say it is an great film. Memento ends as it begins, and the ending you see, before the credits roll, is chronologically the middle point of the story you watch unfold before you on screen. Confused? Well it is being shown to you in 5-10min. segments, progressing...or digressing I should say, from the end to the beginning. You are completely wrapped up in the life of Leonard Shelby, a man that suffers from short-term memory loss, and lives his life by following the photos and messages he has made for himself.
The script is based on a short story by Johnatan Nolan. Christopher Nolan, his brother, wrote the script and directed the film, this being his second feature. It is difficult for me to go on about the plot, because it truly is an experience to walk in there not knowing anything. This was not the case for me. I read a few reviews, many better than the one you are reading now. I knew what to expect about the backwards storytelling, as well as a few key points about the main characters, but nothing that was really crucial. There is really nothing that can prepare you for this film.
If you liked movies like Se7en, and Usual Suspects, than I definitely recommend the film. The similarities Memento has to those films are mostly in the overall tone, and that it is without a doubt a part of the Detective/Crime thriller genre. Leonard Shelby (played by Guy Pearce to a "T", he is Leonard Shelby!!), becomes the ultimate hard-boiled detective. He's got drive, that being to find the man that murdered his wife, and he's got his short term memory loss which makes his task go from difficult to near impossible. But, unlike those other films, Memento shocks you at the beginning of every segment, where you are once again left to figure out where you are and whats going on, to the point where you may eventually lose track. By the time you reach the climax ending, you will probably be frustrated having tried so hard to outsmart the film. Memento succeeds on many levels. It is among the greatest noir films ever made. It's got guns, cars, black humor, red herrings, and a femme fatale. It outshines Psycho in engaging the audience on a subliminal basis. Indeed, as a thriller, it ranks with Hitchcock's best. Best of all, it poses a number of profound BIG questions concerning the nature of man, his morality, and the basis for his civilizations and religions in such a subtle way that it almost seems an afterthought. Yes, this movie will really make you think. And it will make you want to talk to others about it. For people who love to see movies with excellent scripts, psychologic effects and complicated plots, this movie shouldn't be missed.
Movie Review: Remember - you are mortal
Summary: 5 Stars
Memento is a truly complex and engrossing thriller, full of twists and ambiguous peripheral sub-plots which only the most observant of viewers will catch. If you can get interested enough to explore beyond the basic experience, it's as about as cerebral anything committed to celluloid in its depth and deliverance of narrative.
Leonard Shelby has a memory span of around 15 minutes (not a hard and fast rule - this can change dependent on stress) due to Anterograde Amnesia - meaning he can remember the past but cannot make new memories - as the result of head trauma suffered during an attack in which his wife, we are lead to believe, was killed. Now, with only notes and Polaroid pictures to remind himself of what he is doing, he's searching for the killer in order to extract revenge.
Okay, so it's an original story, and it's also really original insofar as it's a plotline which is told in neither a linear or non-linear fashion, but in reverse chronological order, however even beyond that (if you followed it) there's so much more beyond the confines of what we do see and hear, that it leads to an incredibly complex and wonderfully intricate story.
If you only watch it once and understand it completely you're a genius because it's taken me several viewings to get the entire picture. I was also lucky enough to find the "Easter Egg" (possibly the best Easter Egg on any DVD ever - if anyone knows of a better one, please let me know) and found that even after watching Memento in chronological order, it was still engrossing and deeply intricate.
The special features delve a little deeper into the history of storyline also, giving us some hints and clues as to how Leonard Shelby ended up in the time and place we join him (not to give too much away - but he's an escaped mental patient), and even the special features themselves are cryptic and accessed only through careful examination, analysis and exploration. EVEN THEN, there's a great deal of symbolism (torn out newspaper clippings in the shape of America, references to the nihilistic nature of a life lived without cognisance of actions etc.)
It's clear that writer/director Christopher Nolan invested a lot in this, creating a story that can be disregarded as `decent' or explored as magnificent in its dimensions.
Top marks, and some of the best special features on a DVD, but I can also see how some people wouldn't enjoy it simply because it's not mindless enough. However, if you're an obsessive mind and the sort of person who likes to look beyond the surface, you'll love this film.
Movie Review: Demento
Summary: 5 Stars
Everybody can now take a deep breath; it turns out Hollywood still has a few tricks up its sleeve. In an age of brain-dead cookie-cutter action flicks and puerile teen "comedies", it's rare to see a film that flexes its creative muscle and does something new and relevant with motion picture. Christopher Nolan's suspense thriller Memento does precisely this, and it's a wonderful experience. The protagonist is Leonard Shelby (played with quiet intensity by Guy Pearce), a former insurance salesman who tries to hunt down the man who murdered his wife and inflicted brain damage on him. The problem is that he suffers from anterograde amnesia - that is, he remembers everything before the attack, but is unable to make new memories. He investigates the crime by writing himself notes, taking polaroids of his peers and tattooing his body. The movie is sequenced starting with the final events and works its way backward in the colour scenes. The black and white scenes, however, are chronologically sequenced, with the two types of scenes meeting at the end. The effect may be disorienting for the first couple of scenes, but it turns out to be much more than just a novelty. This structure is integral in slowly revealing small surprises leading up to the expected revelation at the end. The viewer is constantly paying close attention in finding clues to determine who is helping Leonard and who is setting him up. Not since The Usual Suspects has a thriller commanded the audience to pay such attention to detail. The multifaceted and often manipulative supporting characters keep the viewer on his/her toes; the terrific performances by Carrie-Ann Moss (Natalie) and especially Joe Pantoliano (Teddy) do a wonderful job justifying the dubious level of trust that Leonard experiences. Helpful advice - pay special attention to their body language. The film is a grim commentary at how we often trivialize our remarkable capabilities; the tragic consequence of Sammy Jankis' condition particularly demonstrates the value of our ability to form memories - which we often take for granted. What makes this film so relevant is that it refuses to settle for a simple, generic whodunit, using its innovative structure to build a tapestry of clues and characters, and also to "put the audience in Leonard's shoes." It is a film that tempts - some would argue that it requires - repeated viewings, and promotes active discussion long after the credits roll. Most of all, it stimulates the mind without losing sight that a movie should also be entertaining. This is a classic example of intelligent movie-making.Movie Review: MEMENTO: into the postmodern
Summary: 5 Stars
Looking back on all the films released in 2001, I cannot help but remember the promising and captivating indie flick, "Memento". The film continues to astound and baffle its viewers with its complex structure and gripping storyline. "Memento" was directed and written by the young prodigy, Christopher Nolan, who derived the movie from a short story that his brother, Jonathan Nolan, had previously written.The story of "Memento" revolves around its three main characters, Leonard, Natalie, and Teddy, who are played by Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano respectively. The movie follows Leonard as he searches for his wife's murderer. Leonard cannot form new memories since he was hurt during the "incident", rendering him unable to remember anything longer than fifteen minutes. Christopher Nolan uses this disability to his advantage, allowing him to play with ideas of constructed truth and uncertainties as the movie progresses.
The backward sequence of events is one of the film's most innovative elements and makes certain surprises even more astonishing to the audience. It also forces the audience to rely on their own memory to make sense of the plot, which is a great parallelism that heightens the enjoyability of the movie. The use of "memory" is one of the film's most noteworthy innovations, but it is only second to the film's complex narrative structure and suggestive postmodern themes that truly set it apart from other films.
Even though the film is very innovative, it can be easily viewed as regurgitated film noir with a new spin. "Film noir depict a world of pessimism, corruption and hopelessness, and are distinguished by their dim, shadowy appearance and dark overtones" (Hannsberry, 1998). "Memento" fits these characteristics, as it concerns itself with this specific tone and mood. So if you like feel-good movies, you might want to sit this one out.
"Memento" leaves everything purposefully incomprehensible and debatable to further highlight the insignificance of absolute meaning. This will drive some of you insane, but for those of you that enjoy figuring out things for yourself and left with your own interpretations of the movie, then you should definitely watch this flick. Although the movie breaks numerous movie norms, I found that it is the movie's obscurity that makes it such a beautiful and noteworthy accomplishment. Christopher Nolan's "Memento" is a classic worth remembering, standing on its own two feet as an example of breaking from the norm while delving into serious modes of thought that makes the audience think and feel from a different perspective.
Movie Review: Memento is well thought out.
Summary: 5 Stars
Rarely have I watched a film that demanded that I pay such rapt attention to detail. Its series of segments, progressively reveal more of what happened but in backwards order. I had to expend a lot of mental energy comparing the events in each segment and piecing together what I thought actually happened. This method of filming alone is challenging but especially so given the main character's mental limitations. It is worth energy to figure out though!
For those who don't know, "Memento" is a story of a man who loses his wife in a rape attack inside their home, pledging that he will track down a murderer for revenge and peace of mind. The main problem is that Lenny (Guy Peirce), after the attack, was left with a problem in that he cannot retain any long term memories. Well that's one brief summary of how to look at it, but there are others. Indeed this film is excellent and played with my emotions, emotions of sympathy, anger and questioning my own morals and judgments. Peirce is exceptional as the lead, and the characters that come into contact with him also give fine performances (notably Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano). Focusing on the problem of losing a memory after approximately 15 minutes, we begin to appreciate just how frustrating Lennys plight is.
The film is beautifully shot and the editing and photography is even better. The best part: the film starts at the end and works it way to a middle point. That's because when the film comes to its end you really don't know if it's the beginning since you don't know what Leonard (Guy Pierce) did before arriving at an isolated place. This film can really be seen as reminiscent of the film style of Film Noir. It uses black and white scenes to give that off as well as the characters in the film constantly sucking Leonard further down into this world where he has no idea who and what to believe, including himself and the things he's done. Not only that but all the characters, yes even Leonard who is our protagonist, has a dark side of human nature to them. And that's what Film Noir is, exposing the dark side of human nature. The film has such a great Psychological deepness and by all means breaks the conventional art that goes into filmmaking. It really was a shame this film wasn't nominated for best picture. It greatly deserved that award and Nolan greatly deserved best director for it. Bottom line: Flat-out brilliant film-making and story-telling. One of the best films I've ever seen. I don't throw high ratings around but this one deserves 5 stars.