Memento (2000)

(Director) Christopher Nolan

(Writer) Christopher Nolan

(Producer) Suzanne Todd

(Distributor) Summit Entertainment

"Memento" tells the story of Leonard (Guy Pearce), a middle aged man who became stricken with short-term memory loss after a violent encounter with a burglar who raped and murdered his wife. Using only photographs, notes and tattoos as reminders to what he's learned, Leonard hopes to find the burglar and attain revenge. With the help his bizarre friend Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) and beautiful new acquaintance Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss), Leonard feels as though he's on the last leg toward finding the culprit...or so he thinks.

"Memento"'s plot folds out like a complicated puzzle. Placing its pieces out on the table one at a time and working backwards, without a reference photo. A unique style of storytelling seldom seen in cinema today but one to be appreciated for its mind-bending sophistication. Nolan shows the audience that if you don't have all the answers and are forced to work backwards, the experience becomes an entertaining thrill ride. Something devilishly clever about this film is it lures the viewer into believing they've got everything figure out, right before pulling the rug out from underneath their feet. Nothing is what it seems in the fast paced development of the story. This endearing fact keeps you heavily attached to the film because with every new piece that's laid out, you're on the edge of your seat with curiosity, hoping to discover the answer. One interesting thing about "Memento", to me, is the script itself isn't anything to hold in high regard. The dialogue and even the story itself are pretty standard, both of which if told in any other fashion probably wouldn't reach this level of creativity. What makes this film so unique and interesting is completely at the mercy of how the story is told, directed and acted. Something about that appeals to me because I feel like it takes a lot more talent to have a standard story be more worthwhile than you expect.

One aspect I had a blast relishing in is the outstanding performance by Guy Pearce and how he brilliantly carried Leonard's character. Throughout the entire film you actually get to see the instances where Leonard loses his memory and you become completely convinced that Guy Pearce has the disease because he flawlessly interprets the character's expressions and confusion. The rest of the cast does an excellent job with what they're given and I found Joe Pantoliano to be really amusing as Teddy. His character comes off as a bit of a creep and you're never sure if he's lying or being honest; a constant surprise. A disappointing aspect is that I wasn't particularly fond of Carrie-Anne Moss' performance. It felt like she was playing the same role that's been handed to her from day one; edgy, jaded and always on the verge of whispering. The actual character of Natalie is essential to the story and truthfully, one of the best parts of the film. In fact, Natalie ends up being one of the biggest twists of the film. I feel as though a different actress would have made the performance feel more alive, instead of the same old routine.

Known for its disturbing twist ending, I have to say that for me the finale came off as lackluster. The answers are presented to you solidly but I think the story went a little too far and became unbelievable. It had an outlandish feel and I couldn't help but wonder if the characters in the end were the same characters I had just been walking with for the past hour. With the entire journey relying on sophistication and originality to keep the audience hooked, it felt like a cop out; an alternate ending or a tired afterthought.

Wonderful acting, top notch directing, great pacing and an inviting story formula easily makes "Memento" one of Nolan's best films in terms of storytelling. Nobody is who you think they are and everything you learn completely contradicts any previous conceptions you may have made moments before. It's a film that has worked its way into becoming a cinematic classic in the eyes of movie goers. So if you haven't gotten around to seeing it, you really should because I guarantee that even if you don't put it in your own personal list of classics, you'll still immensely enjoy it.