Movie #163 - Memento

Title: Memento

Director: Christopher Nolan

Release Year: 2000

Plot Summary: A man, suffering from short-term memory loss, uses notes and tattoos to hunt for the man who killed his wife.

Thoughts: There are two overwhelming reasons why this movie works as well as it does, and the first is the acting. Guy Pearce's portrayal of Leonard, the aforementioned amnesia sufferer, is nothing short of heartbreaking; Joe Pantoliano is perfectly sleazy; and Carrie-Anne Moss, well, let's just say that this movie proves that she can pull off so much more than the cookie-cutter action heroine she played in the Matrix movies.

But of course what really makes this movie unique is the structure. I suppose you could sort of sum it up by saying the movie runs "backwards," but that's really oversimplifying it, to a nearly criminal degree. Really I can't think of a way to explain it without being terribly confusing... Suffice it to say that the non-linear storytelling helps to put you into Leonard's head, to feel as disoriented as he feels on a constant daily basis. And makes for a hell of a suspenseful movie, to boot.

Basically, this movie probably won't be quite what you expect, and almost certainly won't be like any other movie you've watched. If you're confused at first, don't worry - that's sort of the point... ;)

Recommendations: I love this movie. You should love it too. But it's definitely not one you can shut off your brain to watch.