Memento

Memento uniquely tells the story of Leonard Shelby, a man struggling with his own conscience and capabilities, and which people in his life can be trusted. Leonard and his wife were assaulted during a home invasion incident that left his wife raped and murdered, and him with anterograde amnesia. Unable to make new memories, Leonard is determined to maintain purpose and independence through discipline, focus, and revenge upon the man he believes to be responsible.The redeeming value of this film is that it stretches the brain in a way that allows the viewer to somewhat empathize with the condition. It may also sub-consciously condition ANYONE who watches the film to more easily predict the plot OF other psychological thrillers. Through a subjective reverse chronology of color scenes juxtaposed with a semi-objective chronology of black and white scenes, director Christopher Nolan puts the audience in the driver’s seat through the eyes of Leonard Shelby (“Lenny”). Misdirection, misinformation, and missing pieces within different narratives force the audience to decide their own truth in a linear progression, while also feeling a little taken ADVANTAGE of. If there is a moral of the story to TAKE away, it is that through Teddy’s fate we recognize the dangers of deception and misinformation, which anyone can fall prey to. Because all of the main characters are deceitful, it makes it a nearly impossible task to determine which sequence of events actually occurred, external of the home invasion.Struggling to cope with his DISABILITY, Leonard is forced to rely on A more absolute method of fact-checking, and therefore tattoos ‘the facts’ and other important information on his body. He utilizes polaroid pictures WITH accompanying descriptions to help him make some sense of the PEOPLE in his life, and their trustworthiness. He is initially provided information regarding the home invasion incident through phone conversations with [probably] Teddy, a man whose ultimate motives are unclear, but who helps Lenny put together SOME of the pieces regarding the incident. Lenny repeatedly explains to Teddy the similarities between his ‘condition’ and that of Sammy Jankis who had the same condition and whom Lenny had to investigate while working as an insurance investigator before the incident; ultimately Sammy was unable to live with his condition independently because he lacked motivation, discipline, and a specific overall purpose.Lenny has become a capable killer despite his DISABILITY so Teddy exploits this by helping Lenny identify and kill drug dealers named John or Jimmy G while they both make money on the side. After Lenny kills A ‘Jimmy G’ and takes his drug money along WITH his car and clothes, he finds himself in the bar where Jimmy’s girlfriend Natalie works. Like ANYONE probably would in Natalie’s situation, she makes a quick assessment OF what has happened and proposes to take ADVANTAGE of Lenny by using him to get rid of Jimmy’s partner Dodd (who is looking for Jimmy and the missing cash) and possibly TAKE the money. In return for his help, Natalie provides Lenny with DMV information on John G. based on ‘the facts’, and that information reveals Teddy as John Gammel. She also gives Leonard the address of an abandoned warehouse he can use (where incidentally, Lenny has been killing any drug dealer named John or Jimmy G). Lenny then lures Teddy there and kills him- fulfilling his initial plan- to kill PEOPLE with the name John/Jimmy G.Because two different narratives work in the context of an incomplete police report, an alternate narrative suggests that Lenny’s wife actually survived the home invasion but at SOME point was accidently killed by Lenny as a result of his condition. To deflect that guilt, he has created a false narrative that blames a second perpetrator (who got away) for the rape and murder of his wife, and he must now therefore find him and kill him.

Before Dunkirk, before Inception, before The Prestige, before the Batman trilogy there was Memento. This was my introduction to the directorial genius of Jonathan Nolan who also did the screen play based upon a story by his brother Jonathan Nolan. The film is an awesome piece of art with a plot that will not only make you think, but require multiple viewings. The reason is that the story is laid out in reverse order with each scene ending where the previous one left off. It’s just incredible writing.It features Guy Pearce as Leonard who is beset by a form of amnesia that wipes out his short term memory. He starts talking to himself trying to remember a case he was investigating only to forget what he was saying. His only clues are tattoos he gave himself all over his body and polaroid pictures he jots short notes on. Into his life comes Carrie-Anne Moss as Natalie and Joe Pantoliano as Teddy. Because of his memory problems Leonard doesn't know whether these people are his friends of enemies, whether they’re helping him or manipulating him or both. He only remembers one main thing, that someone killed his wife. It’s only slowly but surely that the whole picture is revealed and what really happened to Leonard is revealed through one of the most original means ever employed in a film.Memento really has to be seen to be understood. A review can’t do it justice. It is truly an amazing piece of art and one of Nolan’s greatest achievements.C

What an unusual movie. Special effects at the beginning running the film backwards lets you know you will be seeing the movie in rewind mode. Imagine you have to cope with short term memory loss, that what you experienced will be gone in the next few minutes. Leonard has to take quick notes and snapshots to remember and give him a reference for what and why things are happening in the present. If he wakes up next to a strange woman in bed and doesn't remember her he has to ask or find a clue as to how she got there. He is vulnerable to not-so-nice people. He can remember his life before the hit to the head but will forget everything that takes place afterwards in a matter of minutes. When things and clues are really important he has them inked in his skin. It is the quest to find a killer that keeps him going. And we are put in his position of looking back at all the clues to see why things are turning out as they do.

After 113 minutes of enduring Memento, all you know is that a guy with either short-term memory loss - or mental illness - is being taken advantage of by at least two people. Maybe the guy's psyche is the third? Trying to deal with something he did?But this movie is such a tangled mess, that the above is all you can figure out. Momento is not "thrilling" or "suspenseful" or the work of a genius storyteller. It's a jumbled mess of 15-minute increments of this guy's life, played over and over again. Because the guy doesn't remember they happened. And the 15-minute increments are slightly different each time, I think, because Momento next replays them from the perspective of the person taking advantage of Short-Term-Memory Loss Guy.Something about drug dealing gone bad, a murder, and a memory of another guy with a similar problem. And the other Memory-Loss guy may be a creation of Short-Term-Memory Loss Guy. To deal with what Short-Term-Memory-Loss-Guy himself did.Confused yet?Momento is one of those movies where you wait for the "Grand Reveal," "The Big Explanation" at the end. That ties it all together so you can untangle the mess you've been watching. But it never comes. Momento really is a tangled mess of a movie that isn't "Genius" or "brilliant." Don't believe anyone that rates Momento 4 or 5 stars... they're trying to convince themselves they didn't waste 113 minutes of their lives they won't get back.

The film begins where it should end? and works it's way backwards to the beginning. Work that out.I am deliberately not telling much of the story here it really should be seen without prior knowledge for best effect. Suffice to say the film plays backwards in snapshots of time and is the story of a man (leonard) who can not make new memories. It is filmed from Leonards viewpoint I can only say go get a copy and enjoy.Nothing is certain, nothing is clear. It is a highly entertaining brain teaser that will have you thinking and talking about the film long after the normal mementos (pun intended) of an excellent film have left your head.

This is innovative, re-watchable, thrilling, and thought-provoking. Quite simply one of the best films ever made in my view. The blu-ray transfer is flawless - crystal clear and detailed video and audio. The ultimate version of the ultimate film.PS. I recommend not seeking out the version of the film that plays in chronological order - it is hugely detrimental to the film and will spoil the experience.

A very intriguing and clever film with the action revealed in flashbacks of flashbacks. It requires a charismatic and at the same time vulnerable character to carry the action, and Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby does this admirably.The story is of a young man working for an insurance agency, who awakes one night to find his wife being murdered in the bathroom by two masked killers. Tyring to save her he suffers a blow to the head which results in damage to his memory. He remembers his past life up to that point, but is completely unable to make any new memories for more than a few minutes. To compensate for this, he takes Polaroid photographs all the time, and tatoos his body with information.A guy going by the name of Teddy, whose real name is John Edward Gammell, a secret police investigator, Played by Joe Pantoliano, is revealed as being one of the murderers, and there is a possible connection with drug related enquiries. He appears to be helping Leonard with his quest to unravell the mystery of his wife's death up to this point.A barmaid, Natalie, (Carrie-Ann Moss) who plays tricks on Leonard all the time, tries to incite him to kill someone she is involved with, named Dodd.Writer and Director Christopher Nolan, adapting from a story by his brother Johnathan, aimed very successfully to create a film in which details are fragmented to give the viewer the same experience as a sufferer of short term memory loss.In the amazing special features section of this disc the plot and background information are presented as on a Crime Report website. Through Interactive menues the Interviews, Biographies and Photo Galleries, are a voyage of discovery.This film is an intense thought provoking experience, a gripping classic.

Writing a review for Memento is a job in itself, how to not spoil a gem of a movie everyone should see, yet encourage people to look at the movie - but with giving them a real motive for it without destroying, what I'd consider a masterpiece of the century, and it is only really the beginning.Christopher Nolan's classic is bold, daring and just beautifully put together - with the central character Leonard (Guy Pearce -  Ravenous ) suffering a memory lapse which he got during an accident. His memory is very short, so he writes everything important on his body, and keeps Polaroids with messages on the back for his short term mementos of what's going on in his life.Here we see short snapshots, played in reverse of his life, and how he comes about to finding out why and who killed his wife, and the significance of all the characters and places in his life. Characters like the shady Teddy Gammell, who seems to be abusing the illness - and the stranger Natalie with her ulterior motives.This movie is the best thing about this decade, well sculpted and scripted, an absolute classic, not one dull moment can be found here. I know a lot of people have doubted this movie, but I think they have failed to notice the intricate detail Nolan put into this, Guy's showstopping performance which will probably eclipse everything else he's ever done and going to do, and the fact that the filming and non-clichéd style really makes this a worth while viiew.I would hold out of the Blu-Ray if you have the next generation player though, as this is what high definition was made for. Ravenous

I decided to write this before reading any other reviews as I suspect had I done so what I write now might have been clouded by the perspective of others. I have watched both the non chronological and chronological versions of 'Memento', both of which were, for me at least. a monumental 'mind screw'.It is a terrific way to shoot a film though must have been a nightmare whilst shooting, I can only imagine how potentially difficult it was to story board this bizarre movie.You will, perhaps, find yourself needing to watch this a few times, particularly the non chronological version, although, the chronological version begins with the end credits! Therefore, it is difficult to offer any suggestion as to which version to watch first.Confused?You probably will be. Although not a particularly novel story line, nor fast paced, it is seriously challenging,imaginative and thoughtful,and because of its 'quirky' feel well worth watching,