Memento

Rating:
Summary: Mind Bending Masterpiece
Review: A great director is born! The sign of a true artist is to take a simple story or scene and recreate it masterfully. That, in short, is what Christopher Nolan has done with what would have otherwise been a by-the-numbers film noir tale. Memento sticks with you like a bad head cold. You just can't get it out of your system long after you've seen it. The endless plot twists, the ingenious editing ploys, the ambiguity and mystery of each character, the backwards tatoos, and oh that cool Jaguar! All superb! Memento is the thinking man's mystery movie.

Guy Pierce gave the performance of the year. This was arguably the most difficult role in years. Here's why: Guy had to play a character that a) did or did not rape and kill his own wife, b) if he did kill his wife, he had to hide it behind the deer-in-the-headlights performance, but that would be difficult since he has forgotten the details of the murder thus he would have to invent conceit from fleeting bits of memory, c) if he is innocent, as an actor, Guy can't give away that he is innocent otherwise he gives away the movie. So how do you play a guy that might or might not be innocent of a crime that he doesn't remember committing or maybe he does but has conveniently forgotten. See what I mean? Guy Pierce deserved the Oscar if for no other reason than he delivered an impeccable American accent (the guy's Australian).

This is about as close as modern filmmaking will get to duplicating the effects of Hitchcock's masterpieces. Hitchcock literally took us inside his character's mind by going to great pains to show the story unfold from the character's perspective (Vertigo, Spellbound, Rear Window, etc.) Christopher Nolan accomplishes similar results with the visual trick of looping back every 10 minutes and repeating the action because the character's short term memory only lasts about 10 minutes then he has to re-create his life again. This goes on throughout the entire film (and possibly ad infinitum). We never actually solve the mystery which is the most frustrating and yet most deliberate part of this film. You, the audience are actually supposed to figure the mystery out. You are, believe it or not, required to think through this film. I know, I know, we're supposed to think? At a movie?

The character played by Carrie-Anne Moss is actually similar to the character of Constance played by the gorgeous Ingrid Bergman in Hitchcock's 'Spellbound'. She too had to help an amnesiac, played by Gregory Peck, regain his memory.

Memento has some sidesteps that confused and frustrated me. For instance, the ending was a bit abrupt and could have been more skillfully explained. Saying that Leonard "raped" and murdered his wife was probably over-the-top and made me wonder why would a husband rape his own wife first and then murder her? It cast doubts in my mind that Leonard committed the crime because most crimes of passion don't involve raping your wife first. The black and white flashbacks of the old man were a distraction and a side story that I have yet to piece together. Some eagle-eye observers on the internet spotted Teddy in the background of those flashback scenes. Did Teddy kill Leonard's wife? Did Leonard kill his own wife and then kill Teddy to shut Teddy up? Will Carrie-Anne Moss go out with me?

Rating:
Summary: An intriguing film, but you've got to pay attention!
Review: I was able to buy this DVD when it appeared in my Amazon Gold Box (having a one-year-old in the house, the Gold Box is the only way I can buy DVD's anymore!), and I could not refuse the [inexpensive] price I was offered. I'm very glad now that I opened my Gold Box at the right time. Even at full-price, this is a must-see film.
My first introduction to director Christopher Nolan's work was in Insomnia- another must-see if you haven't already.
As the Amazon review explains, Shelby Leonard (Guy Pearce) is a man with an unusual mental condition that prevents him from creating new memories. To complicate the situation, he is trying to search for his wife's murderer. The police won't help him because they don't believe him- as they see it, the case is open-and-shut.
The most effective way Christopher Nolan found to confuse the viewer (as much as Leonard must have been) was to portray the film in ten-minute segments- in reverse. This technique reminded me a little of Tarantino's jump-around technique in Pulp Fiction, but "Memento" was more linear- the end of one segment was the beginning of the previous segment.
Although I was expecting all of this from reading the other reviews here, I was not expecting to get as thorougly confused as I did. I paid full attention to what was happening, but at the end I still felt like my head was spinning. I have seen several movies that have left me confused (case in point: Eyes Wide Shut. I'm sure Kubrick was a wonderful director, but I still don't get the way that film unfolded), but this left me pleasantly confused; I'm still thinking about it several days later, and enjoying the film even more in retrospect.
The entire cast was well-chosen, from Guy Pearce as the fiercely determined Leonard, to Carrie-Anne Moss as the highly intriguing Natalie. I'm still not sure if she was a "bad guy" or a "good guy." Joe Pantoliano (Moss' co-star in "The Matrix") was also excellent as John G./Teddy.

Although the beginning of the movie starts with finding out the identity of Leonard's wife's killer, the film is most definitely not that simple. At the end, the film takes everything you've expected thus far and throws it upside-down.
I don't typically get into "thinking person's" movies (neither does my husband), but this was one such movie that I'm sure I will be watching again, to see what I missed the first time around.
For film buffs, the limited edition packaging is also a great perk: it is modeled after Leonard's evidence file in the film.

Rating:
Summary: Calling it art doesn't excuse anything
Review: This movie bites. I don't usually write a review with such a base and overly simple description, but this one deserves it. I found nothing what so ever in this movie to like. Some people have hailed it as the intellect's movie. That is why I originally wanted to see it. But, an intellect's movie is good because the movie is intelligent, not because you have to be intelligent to understand the movie.

The precept of the movie, that a man with a memory disorder becomes a hired killer because he'll never feel guilty about what he can't remember, might have been interesting if it had been taken advantage of. Unfortunately, I think the precept probably never actually made its way onto the screenwriter's desk.

The film makers wanted to do something different by starting at the end and moving the the beginning. Well, I guess they did something that hadn't been done before. Perhaps they should have thought a little about why it hadn't been done before. The sum effect for me was simply irritating, as I was forced to watch the same footage over and over again, as it eventually lengthened to the beginning (which was actually at the end). Did you get all that?

The acting was ok, but who cares in a movie so annoying and stupid. Don't buy this movie, don't even bother to watch. If my review still hasn't clarified the movie for you, just go to a thesaurus and look up all of the synonyms for pretentious and stupid. Then you will know all about Momento.

Rating:
Summary: Memento Limited Edition DVDisturbs Again
Review: This review will only deal with the features found on the "Memento Limited Edition 2 Disc Set", and not the merits of the movie proper.

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My only qualm with this DVD edition is the packaging. Wrapped in a tight-fitting but flimsy cardboard box, designed to look like Leonard Shelby's case file, it's almost impossible to get the discs out on first try. I find that I have to open the back to push out the innards, which tends to warp the shape of the box. Found inside are several loose sheets of paper, which look like psychological tests, notes from the case history, and, as you will soon see, the DVD's on-screen menus. The whole thing is ostensibly held together by a little plastic paper clip, whose only real purpose, I've deduced, is to get lost behind my TV set.

The first thing one notices once Disc 1 of the DVD loads is a psychological test, asking the viewer to commit to memory a list of words that will go flashing by on the screen. Don't be alarmed. Although Chris Nolan and Co. have set up the DVD to look like a series of tests, you really don't have to read through or pay much attention to everything on the screen. However, because sometimes they can be quite entertaining, I suggest you do. "Why are these people laughing at you?" asks one question. "We know you did it," ominously states another. This edition can get trippy if you let it.

After the memory flash, you are then asked to select from a list of words the ones you didn't see. Like I said, this isn't really a test, but an ingenious way to present the disc's main menu.

Selecting WATCH plays the movie. Selecting READ allows you to choose between English or Spanish subtitles, while LISTEN allows you to hear the movie in either English or French, 5.1 Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 Surround Sound. CHAPTER sends you right to the scene selection option. And COMMENTS turns on Christopher Nolan's Director's Commentary track.

In my review of the commentary track for "Following", Nolan's first movie, I called his delivery "monotone... somnolent at times" but that he's "so smart and precise about what he's saying you can easily overlook that and become engrossed in the content." I can say pretty much the same thing here. Except that, in some ways, it's a less effective track. Nolan spends a lot of time analyzing the story, deconstructing the main character, his motivations, the structure, etc. They are the kind of out-loud thoughts a screenwriter might use when figuring out his screenplay, but serve little purpose for a viewer watching the film (okay, I suppose prospective screenwriters will get some value out of it). It is thrilling to see how Nolan's big brain works, how he's thought through every situation, and has a reason for including everything in the movie. But it's just one note played over and over for an hour and a half. If Nolan had mixed things up a bit, included more anecdotal information, or behind the scenes goodies, it would have been a stellar track. As it is, it's got a very narrow appeal.

Disc 2 begins much the same way that Disc 1 did, except this time you are asked to view a series of pictures, and then are asked to select which picture from a list wasn't shown. This is, as I'm sure you have guessed, the menu for the additional material features.

Selecting the COMPASS shows you a behind-the-scenes photo gallery, as well as pages from Leonard's Journal. The BOOK allows you to read Nolan's script while listening to the audio track of the movie. You are even privy to the notes he made in the margins of the script, offering further thoughts on how scenes might be filmed. The GLOBE brings forth a whole mess of international promotional material, while the BINOCULARS give the option of viewing the international and North American theatrical trailers.

Selecting the SKULL starts a featurette, produced by the Sundance Channel, called "Anatomy of a Scene". Nolan, his editor, composer, producer, cinematographer, and one actor (Joey Pantoliano) discuss the whys and hows of the production. Particular emphasis is given to the opening few scenes, detailing how they were set up to gently bring the audience into the aesthetic of the film. Overall, the 25-minute segment further cements the notion that Nolan is an intelligent filmmaker, in full control of his cinematic palette.

Although not listed in the features on the DVD box, the much-ballyhooed 'Chronological Version' -- playing the scenes in the order in which they happen rather than back to front -- is here. Trust me. I just watched it. I'm not going to tell you how to find this version, for I think that would be a spoiler on par with giving away the end (beginning?) of the movie. But I will say that this information is available in several places online, so those of you who get frustrated with the puzzle should easily be able to obtain the answers (if not, drop me an e-mail). And I must say, "Memento" is still quite a gripping tale when told this way. But it does make Nolan's reason for telling the story his "gimmicky" way quite clear. The problem with this feature, however, is that it doesn't offer you the option of fast forwarding or jumping from scene to scene. So unless you can watch the whole movie in one sitting, you better not press 'stop'.

If you enjoyed "Memento" because it was a complex puzzle of a film, than I suspect you will enjoy this equally complex and even more puzzling DVD version. I'm almost positive that there is more to this edition than the features I've listed above. And I look forward to hunting for them in the future... or is that the past?

Rating:
Summary: Watch this DVD--More Than Once!
Review: Very complex film with lots of surprises. I've seen it once, and I loved it, but I get the feeling that I'm going to watch it two or three more times before everything finally falls into place. The movie starts at the end, with a series of questionable actions, then proceeds to fill in the gaps in reverse sequence as it moves along. Really great characters, plot, and emotional level. Very intelligent audiences will swoon over this one.

Rating:
Summary: You'll remember this
Review: Not a box-office smash, this film is for people who enjoy storyline over special FX/car chases etc.

The film starts with the end of the story & works its way back. You are kept guessing the whole time.

Carrie-Anne Moss manipulates Guy Pearce who, following the traumatic death of his wife, can not form new memories.

This film is great

Rating:
Summary: Suspense, thrills et all wrapped up in one video cassette
Review: Memento is an absolutely thrilling movie based on an original screenplay written by Christopher Nolan. Memento (Latin for "Remember"), told in a clever backward/forward reverse sequence in 10-minute or so segments, exemplifies quiet brilliance in a completely innovative style that replicates the confusing sequences viewed from the perspective of the main character (Guy Pearce).

Guy Pearce plays Leonard Shelby who witnesses his wife's rape and murder and in the process, loses his ability to retain short-term memories. From hereon end, Shelby is intent on avenging his wife's death - but he's hampered through his inability to retain any knowledge and relies solely on tattoos and Polaroid photos to ensure the "truth".

From the opening scenes where a gun is fired and a man is killed, a fast pace is picked up and maintained. However, the true exaltation felt is not in watching a scene unfold, but rather in discovering why the scene unfolded. Critics rave over the astuteness demonstrated by this film as complex characters reveal new sides of their personality throughout the film.

The revelations shown in the final seconds weave the finale to the fascinating storyline that will inevitably catapult a chain of similar films to follow. In retrospect, the audience can only follow so far as Leonard Shelby can and that's enough to keep you mesmerized in this film for a while to come.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent movie, despite a major flaw.
Review: Over the past six or eight months, people have been telling me that I need to see "Memento" and that, given some of my other favorite movies, I would most definately enjoy. While, it is a very good movie, one nagging flaw prevents it from living up to its potential.

A quick overview--the main character, Leonard, wants revenge for the murder of his wife. So, he embarks on a quest for revenge. The only catch is that since his wife's murder, he has no short-term memory (caused by an injury suffered while attempting to save his wife). He can no longer remember things. To aid him, he makes notes, takes photographs, and gives himself tattoos, so that he knows what he has seen and what he is doing. To enhance this, the director tells us the story backwards, that way, we, much like Leonard, do not know what has just happened.

I was reading a review for this movie, by Roger Ebert, and in his review, he brought to light the following question "If the last thing Leonard remembers is his wife's murder, then how is it that he knows he cannot form new memories?" This is what did it for me. This question almost destroys the otherwise excellent plot.

If you discount the flaw, however, and just accept that he just knows, then you are left with a smart and adventurous movie. The acting is excellent, and the method of story-telling does make you feel like you are in Leonard's shoes. Discounting the one major flaw, this movie is probably among the best of the year (My vote for 2001, the year this was release, I believe, is the Royal Tenenbaums, but that is a different review).

Ulitmately, this is a great movie, that is taken down just a bit by a slip up in writing. It is well worth the money spent on it, and will provide a thought-provoking, enjoyable experience.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie, horrible case
Review: Movie itself deserves 5 stars, it is an original movie, casting is good and it really entertains for about two hours. But this is a limited edition, packing case was supposed to be a collector's item, but in fact it's horrible, paper is very fragile and discs are kept inside so tight that it's pretty hard to take them out. Also design is poor. It's probably the worst DVD case I've seen. For instance I compare this case with Fight Club's case or X Files Complete Season's case (any of the 5 available collections by the moment). Even though those cases are made of paper (as Memento's one) those are real collector editions, great design and quality. But Memento,... it really disappointed me. Then I gave the case -2 stars, that's the reason for my 3 stars to this edition.

Rating:
Summary: Glad I got this as a video and did not see on big screen
Review: I assume that you have gathered that this movie runs backwards. I am also of the opinion that if I give away too much information it will spoil the movie for you.

When Roper of Chicago Sun-Times reviewed the movie he said, "don't go to the restroom during this movie or you will be lost when you get back". Actually, the VHS/DVD format is great - stop the movie if you take a break! This is not an effects movie - so there is no value added from seeing in a threatre anyway.

The reason that I give this 5 stars - is this is like seeing the very, very best of Hitchcock. The twists and turns have twists and turns. The "ending" (actually "beginning" in time order - but at the end of the movie) is totally unexpected and jolting.
The acting is sensational.

A possible thumbs down: The "F" word is stated about 50 times during the movie. It does not offend me personally, but precludes letting my son watch it. It could have been made without it. I think I would be derelict as a reviewer not to mention this.

All in all, I think 50 years from now - people will be watching this movie as a great classic.