Masterpiece Cinema - Memento

Howdy,

As I'm writing this, I'm just coming out of the worst part of a particularly nasty virus that I picked up somewhere around the place. Because of this, I might get a little incoherent at times, and efhou huoh;zgo ;wsbgf

Sorry. Bad joke. Anyway, that is just my way of telling you this weeks article will probably be a little lighter than usual, as I'm planning on going to bed and having a night of fitful, feverish, migraine-interrupted sleep after I'm done doing this.

This week

"Memento"

Starring Guy Pearce, Joe Pantoliano, Carrie-Ann Moss.
Written by Christopher Nolan (Screenplay) and Jonathon Nolan (Story).
Directed by Christopher Nolan.
Genre: Drama / Mystery / Thriller / Noir / Complete Mindjob
Released: 2000
Running time: 113 min.
Rated: R (American rating for violence, language and some drug content).
IMDb link: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0209144/

When I heard that Christopher Nolan was going to be directing the new Batman movie, I squealed with the excitement of a little girl at her first pony show. With his work on both "Memento" and "Insomnia," I knew that he'd instill a mystery and darkness in the Bat-franchise that had been missing for quite some time, and a seriousness that had been absent since the very first film. So I figured, with news about "Batman Begins" breaking every single day, why not take a look back at Nolans breakthrough film?

Everyones heard of "Memento," right? I imagine quite a large number of people have seen it, too. But there's still a surprising number of folks who haven't. Let me try to explain the story.
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Leonard Shelby, a former insurance investigator, is devastated when a home invasion ends with his wife raped and murdered. Leonard is also injured in the attack, left with an inability to form new memories. Whenever he wakes up, the last thing he can remember is the face of his wife dying. Driven by a need for revenge, Leonard tattoos his body with facts about his wifes killer. He also walks around taking Polaroids of everyone he meets and everywhere he goes, scribbling down notes on the bottom of them so that he can't be taken advantage of.

The most interesting thing about "Memento" is the way that it's told: in five-to-ten minute parts that are all arranged in reverse order. The start of the story is actually the end, with the conclusion being the opening. It's a brilliant technique that, while its been used before, is extremely effective here in not only gaining an understanding of Leonards mental state, but also in creating a great sense of mystery.

Guy Pearces performance is a fantastic one, capturing the anger, confusion, and misery of Leonard, as well as his dangerousness and complete vulnerability. It's a shame hes never really been able to find another project as good for him as this one.

I was never impressed with Carrie-Ann Moss in "The Matrix" films, but she has something to really work with here, and she plays it to full effect. Joe Pantoliano is his usual sarcastically cool self, playing a character whos wickedly charming while also being highly questionable.

The whole thing strikes as a very modern noir story, and that was no doubt Nolan's intent. And while on repeat viewings one may come to find plot holes, there are so many theories that can be generated to support them that you find it very hard to nitpick. It's a film that leaves you with a lot to talk about, long after youve enjoyed watching it.

Next week: Wha? I already told you, I'm off to bed!

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