"This 'Memento' is a Keeper!"
by Scott Mantz

"Memento"
Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss
Directed by Christopher Nolan

Picture perfect! Guy Pearce in unforgettable in "Memento"

So, where was I? Oh, yeah. "Memento." I was about to write my review for "Memento."

Wow, what a movie! I'm so excited that I don't even know where to begin. I guess the most ironic thing about "Memento"--a film about memory disorder--is just how memorable it is. Not only is it the best movie I've seen so far this year, but it just may be one of the most incredible moviegoing experiences I've had in the last decade. I honestly can't remember the last time I sat through a movie and thought about how much I couldn't wait to see it again--before it was even over.

So, what's it all about? Ah, now that's a good question. I'm still trying to figure that out myself. It's kind of hard to put into words, but I will say this: "Memento" is a movie that needs to be seen at least twice before it even begins to make any sense. That's a compliment, and that alone guarantees it a spot on my list of the top 10 best movies of 2001--and it's only March!

Lenny (Guy Pearce) used to be a happily married insurance investigator, but that all changed after his wife was raped and killed during a break-in. That accident left Lenny with a bad case of short-term memory disorder. While he can remember everything about his life up until the accident, beyond that, he can't retain anything for more than 15 minutes. Only by writing everything down, taking Polaroid pictures, and covering his own body with tattoos is he able to know where he's been and where he's going. Lenny's disorder makes his vigilant quest to find his wife's killer damn near impossible, and only with the help of his shady friend Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) and a sympathetic bartender named Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) does Lenny stay on the right track. Or does he?

Director Christopher Nolan combines elements of "Pulp Fiction" and "The Limey" to deliver an ingenious, revolutionary, and suspenseful thriller that takes film noir to a whole new level. While the story is told in reverse, the film miraculously feels like it still progresses from beginning to end. In this case, instead of wondering "what's going to happen next?," you're left wondering "how did that happen?"--with each passing scene. Sound confusing? Just wait until you see it. Whatever the case is, staying at the edge of your seat and trying to figure out what it all means is the best part of the experience!

It may be Christopher Nolan's style, but it's Guy Pearce's movie. Up until now, he hasn't had much luck following up his incredible performance in 1997's "LA Confidential" (while co-star Russell Crowe turned into a bona-fide movie star). Staying in the independent scene with "Memento" was a good move, since it gave Pearce a character who is engaging, sympathetic, obsessed, and even a little bit funny. Supporting turns from "The Matrix's" Carrie-Anne Moss and the always reliable Joe Pantoliano (who is still best know as Guido the killer pimp from "Risky Business") only serve to round out an exceptionally unique film.

With so much subtext going on in "Memento," one has to wonder what it's really about. Sure, it's about one man's quest for justice, but there's more to it than that. Is it about trust? Is it about the accuracy of one person's memory? Is it about the search for identity and purpose? Is it about karma? The truth is, it's about all of those things, and each time you see it, you'll get something else out of it.

Like "The Usual Suspects," "The Sixth Sense," and "Fight Club," "Memento" is a film that needs to be observed, dissected, and absorbed before it can be fully appreciated. It's a riveting, innovative, and challenging murder-mystery-in-reverse that has an ending (or is it a beginning?) so chilling that it will haunt you for days.

One final note--don't let your mind wander when watching the film. Don't go out for popcorn. Don't go to the bathroom. Don't even look down at your watch. The split second that you do, you may miss some crucial detail pertinent to understanding the rest of the movie. All the pieces are there, and as long as you stay focused, you'll have no problem putting them all together--that is, as long as you don't forget anything.

So, back to the movie. Waitaminute--where was I? Oh, yeah. "Memento." I was about to write my review for "Memento..."

Back to Scott's New Movie Reviews

Review Archives