Looking back at the past three months of films, I don’t remember seeing a
worthwhile film. Maybe worthwhile isn’t the word; memorable from start to
finish and allowing you to savor every second is more of the word. Memento is a
dazzling piece of work that perfect blends an original visual storytelling style with
an ingenious script.
“Feelings not memories” says the story’s impaired narrator when describing
how to investigate. In his case, this is the only way he can do things. His life
is made up of a strict routine. As a man with short-term memory loss, Leonard
Shelby (Pearce) is trying to play detective as a man who is trying to find the
man who killed his wife, basically trying to recapture the final moment he can
remember. Paper, the magic of the Polaroid camera and oh… a pen make his
investigation possible. He instantly takes pictures of important people he meets
and puts his own personal notes on each picture. He spaces out, living his life
in bits and pieces that don’t connect to him but connect to us as moviegoers.
“So what am I doing here?” is probably Leonard’s most popular question to
himself. He wouldn’t ask anyone else, he’s distrustful of all others. The
others in this case take the form of the sneaky, weasel Teddy (Joe Pantoliano)
and the comforting yet troubled Natalie.
My personal favorite scene is when Leonard spaces out while running, he then
proceeds to see a man and runs toward him confused if he’s chasing someone or
being chased. After taking a guess and running towards the man as if he’s
chasing him the man turns and shoots at him. Leonard has realized he’s made a
mistake, the wrong choice. It takes the premise of the movie and expands it
brilliantly. A moment’s loss in concentration is life or death for Leonard.
Don’t want to ruin the brilliant from the story is told in, it’s part of the
surprise but it is brilliant and amazingly smooth and a perfect fit. Leonard's
mental fragments make this movie this jagged but continuously looping story
brilliant. The mastery visceral display, control and style displayed by
Director/ Writer Christopher Nolan reveal him as a leading force for filmmaking
in the future. I haven't seen his previous effort, Following, but
after seeing this gem it's high upon my list.
After his excellent performance in 1997’s L.A. Confidential,
Guy Pearce seemed to have faded away while his fellow Aussie co-star Russell
Crowe gobbled up tons of brilliant screen time. He was in Ravenous, and some
other movies but with Memento he surpasses his L.A. Confidential performance by
a mile. Guy Pearce puts in his second Oscar-worthy appearance of his
career so far. A career that, after this performance, looks
very bright.
"Isn’t the point of a book to find out what happens next?" asks Leonard of his wife in a flashback memory when seeing her reading a book for the umpteenth time. This scene is supposed to invoke thoughts of the irony of your thought Leonard's thought process change Leonard has no order in his life. He's like a book in which all the pages have been ripped out and put into a random order.
"We all need mirrors to remind ourselves who we
are." I just love quoting this movie. A movie of Usual Suspects level suspense and creativity
with that perfect tone and sleekness. You gotta go see it, probably more than
once.
Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars
Reviewed by: Joe Soria
Running Time: 120 minutes
Rated R for violence and language.
Starring: Guy Pearce,
Carrie Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano.
Written and Directed by: Christopher Nolan
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