Rating: 
Summary: Some food for thoughts...
Review: This movie is very good because it really makes you think. There are a lot of sublety in this movie. The nutshell is that Leonard (Guy Pearce) wants to find a guy who killed his wife. He suffered a head injury, which causes him to have short term memory lost. He only remembers events up to the point where his wife was killed. Ever since, he can't remember anything even if it happened 2 minutes ago. To help himself, he tattooed his body with statements and takes polaroid photos to remember objects/people. The directing and acting are superb. The story is kind of played chronologically backward. The audience see an event that happens and then it witness the events leading to it. Furthermore, the events are fragmented. If you see it, you'll know what I mean. This really gets you to think and put the puzzles pieces together. This is what I really like about it....I think this story probes a lot of human behavior issues. One of them is how much we really convey the truth. Do you remember things that happened to you when you were a kid? And somehow as an adult when you tell the story again, it sounds like (from your kid's view) that it's been exaggerated? Well, this story mentioned how easy it is for us to believe in alternate views. Leonard basically convinced himself that the Jaguar was his car, but of course it isn't. Another issue that this movie brought up is conditioning. If I conditioned myself to believe in something, I would eventually believe that it's true. There are so many examples in this movie, of course in more extreme cases. I don't want to spoil the movie for you folks, so I'll keep a cap on the examples. The last thing I want to mention is that this movie ask us: "What motivate us to live?" Leonard virtually losts the capability to live a normal life. But what keeps him going? He is convinced that he is living because he wants to find the killer. As long as the killer isn't found, he will continue to search and have a motivation to live. I think this movie brings up a lot of those human issues. I could be overanalyzing this movie, but if you watch the movie and keep an opened mind, I think you'll have a wonderful time and have quite a conversation with your spouse/friends afterward. 'Nuff said.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing, original, touching and chilling
Review: Memento is like nothing you have ever seen. That much I can garantee you. Guy Pierce suffers from a specialized form of amnesia where he no longer can make short term memories. His long term memory is intact right up to the incident which caused his condition...and his wife's death. Thus our swiss-cheese brained hero is seeking revenge for his wife, while his memory is wiped clean every ten minutes or so. Covered in tatoo's, pocket's full of polaroids with notes scribbled on them (such as a picture of what his car looks like, aptly labeled "Your Car") Pierce has to try and find the man responsible for the way his life is now while mixing with a great assorment of characters with no idea of how he met any of them or who he can trust. This is easily the best movie I saw this year and I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Psychological Thriller Ever!
Review: When the creditS came up on this film I was left speechless for ten minutes. From the outstanding screenplay, to the Oscar worthy acting and cinematography, Memento is what movies are supposed to be! Memento is the tale of a man who lost his wife, and short term memory when they were both attacked by intruders in their house. The husband, Lenny, then desperately tries to find the second killer who the police do not even believe exists. Lenny's condition makes it impossible for him to generate new memories. Instead he must rely on tatoos, pictures and notes that he writes to remind himself of the clues he finds. Yet are the clues real, or is he being manipulated into killing the wrong person? The film is shot from the ending and scene by scene it goes backwards until the beginning is reached. Never before have I ever seen a film this incredible. Memento is rated R for some strong violence, nudity, strong language, sensuality and drug use. This film is meant for mature audiences only and might be too intense for most crowds. For anyone who is tired of the relentless junk that Hollywood is sending out these days, Memento is proof that great films can still be made without a budget the size of the Titanic.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous film-making. Pulp Fiction meets The Fugitive.
Review: The comparisons to Pulp Fiction will be unavoidable given the structure of the movie. It is told in a series of flashbacks, one taking place mere moments after the next. The "hero" of the film suffers from a strange mental condition where he can't remember anything that took place more than a few minutes before. He can make no new memories. "What's the last thing you remember?" asks a woman he may or may not be involved with. "My wife", he replies. "That's sweet." "Being raped and murdered." This exchange sets the tone for the entire film. He is on a quest to find his wife's murderer and forced to deal with his mental malaise in very creative ways. He utilizes a complex series of notes, diagrams and even tatoos to keep him focused and on track. (And I thought my Day Runner was tough to deal with!!) Guy Pierce manages to come off both as intense and helpless as the mentally impaired vigilante. One cannot help but feel both pity and excitement as he frantically searches for a pen to jot down some important piece of information before his mind is wiped clean fifteen minutes later. I'll be completely honest here; multiple viewings may be required to get the entire film straight, but this is a movie that you won't mind sitting through a couple of times. The script sizzles with great dialogue and the plot is reminiscent of Hitchcock all the way down to the macguffan we're given right at the outset. Look for a best adapted screenplay nomination. At the very minimum give this flick a multiple day rental. I have my copy pre-ordered already.
Rating:
Summary: Movie of the Decade
Review: Next to Die Hard and Brazil this is my favorite movie of all time. I have seen it 3 times in the theaters. It is so original and so filled with great ideas and plot twists, ...I have never rubbed my head or been absorbed in deep thought so many times within a single movie. Advice: Don't see this movie while out of school, your brain will hurt from thinking so much.
Rating:
Summary: A Must See, More than once!
Review: First of all, this movie must be seen and experienced, it's hard to describe how a movie can tell a story while it is actually moving backwards in time. I told you this is hard to understand. I have never seen a story told exactly like this movie. It is an interesting story of what a driven man will do when pushed to the edge and he has nothing left to lose. This movie requires you go back a second time because so many details wind up being important clues and hints later in the movie. It's a mental workout trying to figure it all out, But I gotta go, I have to go see this movie again!
Rating:
Summary: Bring your BRAIN...if so equipped
Review: First a warning. If you enjoyed Pearl Harbor or The Mummy maybe you should stay home. (like kids banished to another room). A very refreshing movie that will force you to use that thing taking up precious space in your skull. I know it hurts, but once it's been running for a few minutes it passes. No special effects at all. "I dun-no, ain't no splosions atall?" Movies like this are all about screenplay baby!
Rating:
Summary: Possibly the Best Movie Ever
Review: I have an extremely hard time picking my "favorite" movie ever, because I keep changing my mind, but Memento has a very legitimate shot at getting the number one spot forever. An un-original story told in an innovative and original way with extraordinary acting (Guy Pearce and Joey Pants both deserve Oscars), and the best ending since The Usual Suspects (okay, maybe The Sixth Sense too). The end of the movie makes you really want to go back and see the whole thing over again. Honestly, I don't know what to say because the movie was so good. I went with high expectations of seeing something that wasn't retreaded Hollywood garbage, that was an exciting thriller with a real story, good action without overdone special effects and with real acting. I was not disappointed. I swear, if this movie doesn't win an Oscar in every eligible category, something is amiss.
Rating:
Summary: Scrambled eggs to sunny side up!
Review: Ever tried UN-scrambling eggs? Ever get a 10,000 piece jigsaw puzzle of the seas and the cloudless skies for Christmas? Well, this is how you'll feel with "Memento". This fascinating flick, destined to rack up the Academy Awards,is an example of one of the most original methods of filming & editing. Based on 10 minute segments going BACKWARDS, this movie unfolds into a terrific thriller! Leonard (Guy Pearce) is out to seek revenge on the person who raped & killed his wife and left him without short term memory. Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) is his "buddy(?)" cop(?)! BOTH deserve awards for their performances! The ending is fascinating but I can only say one more thing: Rent it, buy it, whatever...just SEE it. Not for the simple minded or Van Damme fans (Ha!)
Rating:
Summary: Top-notch film-making
Review: A very intelligent piece of film-making which you will need to concentrate on and probably see again a few more times. The ending is a little uncomfortably in-conclusive. However, the film sets out to achieve this sense of disorientation even when you think you know what just happened. It does it very well. Go rent it out/buy it on DVD in September 2001.
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