Memento

Rating:
Summary: Astounding
Review: A serial story told in reverse, by scene. Truly mind numbing.

Rating:
Summary: Uhh, You're WHO?....
Review: I watched this movie three times. The first time, I thought it w the perfect example of overblown avent garde, with redeeming visual factors. The 2nd time, I was drunk, so I liked it. The third time (gotta give everything a chance) I realized I liked this movie more than the second time, even with the flaws. I flat out found it intriguing. wanna get this? Okay. Close your mental eyes. You have no short term memory. I mean NO short term memory. Anything that happened 15 minute ago has evaporated from your brain. The only way you can identify (NOT REMEMBER!Only long term memories exist) with anything, is by the photos in your pocket, or the bold tattoos you've had inked on your arms and legs. each of these are a direction to solving the murder of your wife, and the bludgeoning that resulted in your memory loss. Now, don't trust anyone, especially those who proclaim themselves to be your friends. Not a bad premise eh? Now, live your life in reverse from a seamy hotel room you're not sure if you rented... The only clues other than the tattoos (they are new each time you wake up) are notes you've jotted down on the backs of polaroids you THINK you've taken. The result? You are basically (...)no matter what you do.

The actors? Don't worry about any big names other than Joe Pantelione He's the best of the bunch.

I can only tell you this, I was very weirded out. If you enjoyed Things To Do In Denver (Andy Garcia/Christopher Walken) you will count this as a film to watch three times.

Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best Films of 2001
Review: Guy Pearce (L.A. Confidential) is outstanding in this hypnotic film noir that is simply one the best films of 2001. The film is told in reverse but the neat thing about the DVD is that you watch the film in order. It's totally up to you. But if you want an interesting ride where you have to pay close attention to every aspect of the film then watch it as the director intended.......in reverse ! Carrie-Anne Moss (Chocolat, The Matrix) has one of her juiciest roles to date as a "femme fatale" in this excellent thriller. One of her best lines in the film is, "You sad, sad freak." You get to see another dimension to her skills as an actress that you've never seen before. If you've seen the film then you know what I'm talking about. For those who haven't, you will have to buy or rent the movie to find out. Joe Pantoliano (Bound) is equally compelling in his supporting role. Be sure not to miss this entertaining and thought-provoking film. This movie is for people who get sick of boring, cliche' mainstream films and want something that'll make them think.

Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal Movie, but lacks closure
Review: Memento was, as director Christopher Nolan describes, although chronologically reversed, a very linear movie. It is gripping from Act 1, Scene 1 and grants the viewer a slightly different experience the second time around. The only reason that one might give this movie four out of five stars is the fact that it lacks real closure. However, to Nolan's credit, the intention was not purely for the viewer's feeling of closure, but rather for some key cinematic effects; for example, the rather artistic display of reverse chronology, the sense of indeterminate time, and the superb acting.

Rating:
Summary: Amazingly original and entertaining
Review: This is definitely the most original movie in a long time. It takes all the elements of a suspense/thriller and twist them around in such a way that it will be like nothing you have ever seen. It includes good acting and a great plot. Guy Pearce portrayed his character flawlessly and made it completely believable. Carrie Ann Moss and Joe Pantoliano also turned in wonderful performances. The plot was good and played out beautifully. It could have worked through the conventional way movies are shown (forward) but the unusual twist made it all that more interesting. People who don't understand the plot or think it is hard to follow simply didn't pay attention, or dont understand that you weren't intended to understand it until the end. Or they jusy weren't smart enough to figure it out. This movie is one of the best thrillers and rates way up there with the likes of Fight Club and The Matrix. Go see it.

Rating:
Summary: awesome masterpiece
Review: This movie is so twisted that I don't where to start. I can't really explain anything because the story is so well presented that it is at the same time confusing. The fascinating thing about the movie is that it begins at the end and goes back to the beginning where everything is elucidated. All in all, awesome movie "du genre NOIR."

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, not great
Review: Momento is pretty good, nothing too special. The way the film was edited is interesting, as was plot development. I found it lacked in its ability to keep my attention though, kind of slow moving in more than a couple of parts.

Rent this one, one viewing will do nicely for a long time.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly Backwards.
Review: The director does a wonderful job of putting the viewer in the shoes of the main character - a man who cannot create new memories. All of the negative reviews for this movie are made by people who simply don't understand this. Buy this movie instead of renting it to save on the huge late fee you'll have from watching it over and over to piece together this masterpiece.
Bravo.

Rating:
Summary: First Rate Nonsense.
Review: Christopher Nolan directs this stunningly akward and rather destructable piece of, need I say- waste, about a man who's life changing accident leaves him with a memory disorder- in which he can only remember previously before this accident, but the present and everything afterwards just flies right over his head. He is obcessed with trying to find John G, the man responsible for the murder of his wife. Through taking pictures, writing notes to himself, and tatooing his body to remember things, this man's life gets more confusing as time goes on, because to him- time is nothing, and he can't really feel it. THE MATRIX's Carrie Anne-Moss and Joe Pantoliono star with Guy Pearce in this deranged thriller.

To start off, this plot is so confusing and holds so much, it relies on itself being so non-understandable to make the viewer think there actually is a plot going on. The point of the film is basically to surpass as something very original, which it is, but the problem is that its originality makes no sense whatsoever. Sometimes we never know at what point in the film we are because they are constantly flashing back to the past to try to show us an event that took place that (Guy Pearce) can't remember. Carrie Anne-Moss plays the mistook Natalie, a beaten woman who is trying to help out Leonard (Pierce) solve this case. There is so much strange build around each character, including the odd Teddy, another man who seems to stick around and pretend to be Lenny's friend. The purposterous events that take place over and over- like Leonard waking up in the motel and wondering where he is, looking at himself in the mirror, and questioning who people are- even telling the same people over and over about his condition; it gets to the point where you are tired of hearing it. You are ten times ahead of the film and where the characters are at that you want to just get over with the film.

All of these events lead up to a wonderous conclusion, but the problem is that you can't understand it, and you keep thinking about the strangeness of it after it's over. All of this is topped off with unique acting, disgusting language used constantly- of course because these people can do and say whatever they want to Leonard and he wouldn't remember it fifteen minutes later anyway.

The cruelness of the film, to its nonsense plot, its characters, and audience is enough to plague the whole idea of motion pictures. They are meant to entertain, not to poison the mind with film algebra that has no answer. This technically skilled and wondrous film would work if only it knew when to stop itself, if it could understand the boundaries and tolerances of audiences. The film is highly skilled with an edge to it that the audiences want, but it is overdone with originality that the film doesn't make any sense anymore. If only the plot wasn't like playing catch, going back and forth, when instead it should be keeping us in an orderly fashion of the film's movement, we'd all be able to keep up with it. But as Christopher Nolan has left it, it is a stand-alone which will pit the audience in brain-freeze and they'd rather go see Pootie Tang instead.

Rating:
Summary: I can't stress how much I loved this movie!
Review: It's the story of a man who has a memory problem-he can't make new memories. By itself that doesn't sound like it would make a great plot for a great movie but add to that the fact that this poor man has this memory problem because two guys broke into his home, broke his head (which caused the memory condition) and raped and murdered his wife. Then add to that that now he is on a mission to find the man who did this, but because he has this "condition" he has to take pictures and write notes to aid him and you have the makings of a great story. Now you need a great screenplay, great acting, and great direction. You get all this and more in this wonderful movie. I'm impressed. Guy Pearce turned in a simply stunning performance as the poor man with the memory problem-Leonard Shelby, and Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano supply key supporting roles as friends (or enemies) of Leonard. Christopher Nolan's screenplay is presented to the best advantage by the fact that the story is told in reverse chronological order, and some people may find that annoying or gimmicky, but I assure it works. The audience needed it that way-why?, you may ask? Well, to better understand the agonizing plight Leonard is in we need to see events the way he's forced to, meaning we don't know what happened BEFOREHAND to get us to the point we're at. This is sheer genius storytelling, because we as the audience are swept up in this story along with Leonard as we too try to figure out who's the real villian. Brilliant!