Rating: 
Summary: It Left Me Speechless
Review: This film is the best I have seen all year. The premise, the film technique, the characters...all of it was haunting. I knew very little about "Memento" when I saw it, and I'm glad I didn't. The way that the film is unraveled backwards is unique and mindbending. I often had to ask, "Wait, what just happened?" in my mind, but it is not too hard to follow. It's true, this movie has you asking "Why did that happen?" all throughout it. You see something happen, and have to wait until you backtrack further in order to understand it. When I left the theater, I could not speak, I was still trying to fully take in what I had just seen...I think it took me an hour to act normally. Give this movie a try, you won't regret it!
Rating:
Summary: "Memento": Kant...or Hume...how do WE perceive it?
Review: [From boating on the Catawba ... in the
"Musketaquid"] "There can be in us no modes of knowledge,
no conection or unity of one mode of knowledge
with another, without that unity of
consciousness which precedes all data of
intuitions, and by relation to which,
representations of objects is alone possible.
This pure original unchangeable consciousness
I shall name _transcendental apperception_.
* * *
This transcendental unity of apperception
forms out of all possible appearances, which
can stand alongside one another in one
experience, a connection of all these
representations according to laws. For
this unity of consciousness would be
impossible -- if the mind, in knowledge
of the manifold, could not become conscious
of the identity of function whereby it
synthetically combines it into one
knowledge.
The original and necessary consciousness
of the identity of the self is thus at
the same time a consciousness of an
equally necessary unity of the synthesis
of all appearances according to concepts,
that is, according to rules, which not
only make them necessarily reproducible --
but also, in so doing, determine an
object for their intuition, that is, the
concept of something wherein they are
necessarily interconnected....
[Immanuel Kant: quoted in W.T. Jones;
_A History of Western Philosophy_.]
* * * * * * * * *
"Where am I, or what? From what causes
do I derive my existence, and to what
condition shall I return? Whose favor
shall I court, and whose anger must I
dread? What beings surround me? and on
whom have I any influence, or who have
any influnece on me? I am confounded
with all these questions, and begin to
fancy myself in the most deplorable
condition imaginable, inviron'd with the
deepest darkness, and utterly depriv'd
of the use of every member and faculty."
* * *
"But setting aside some metaphysicians of
this kind, I may venture to affirm to the
rest of mankind, that they are nothing but
a bundle or collection of different
perceptions, which succeed each other
with an inconceivable rapidity, and are
in a perpetual flux and movement. ...
The mind is a kind of theatre, where several
perceptions successiveley make their appearance;
pass, re-pass, glide away, and mingle in an
infinite variety of postures and situations.
There is properly no _simplicity_ in it
at one time, nor _identity_ in different;
whatever natural propension, we may have
to imagine that simplicity and identity.
The comparison of the theatre must not
mislead us. They are the successive
perceptions only, that constitute the
mind; nor have we the most distant notion
of the place, where these scenes are
represented, or of the materials, of which
it is compos'd."
[David Hume; quoted in W.T. Jones;
_A History of Western Philosophy_.]
* * * * * * * * *
Good luck!!
Rating:
Summary: Moving Forward, Backwards
Review: "Without a mirror, we all forget who we are," says Guy Pearce's character in "Memento," a fantastic movie, with the lead as a superb actor whose facial expressions, mannerisms, and desire to find his wife's "killer" is so passionate that you feel sorry for him. The plot is so simple, it is complicated. Told backwards, in little "acts", you have got to pay attention to this movie. And be intent in your attention; no interruptions, as I had to rewind the DVD at least 5 times to catch up what was being said, or who was doing what. Each detail of the movie is important. The story unfolds--remember, the movie moves backwards--as Guy's character is looking for the man who he thinks has raped and killed his wife. The only problem with Guy's existence is that he has a "condition"...he doesn't process or remember short term memory. He remembers details by taking Polariods. Couple this with the fact that there are some dubious characters taking advantage of him so that he can carry out their dirty work and you've got a beautifully shot, cleverly acted story. I highly recommend it, as it truly one of the best movies I've seen.
Rating: 
Summary: Mind Games--or Games?
Review: Memento begins with the undeveloping of the death of Joe Pantaliano character, his brains blown to pieces, lying flat in an out of way ramshackle house, as Leonard Shelby, played by Guy Pearce, the killer cop in L.A. Confidential, stands with gun in hand thinking that this time definitely he's killed the murderer of his wife. Perceptions and reality clash very often in this movie, and we are in for a bitter shock when truth unfolds. How Leonard, and hence the audience, gets to that truth is crucial. One curious and often remarked about characteristic of this movie is its construction. Memento has an unwinding story line, that is shot in color, and a linear story line that is shot in black and white. Unwinding storyline is supposed to parallel the fragmentary existince of Leonard Shelby--often disjointed sequences in which he has lived since the murder of his wife and how he got where he is are depicted starting with Pantoliano's shooting. The linear story line is closer to present time in that it assumes prior knowledge with Leonard Shelby's story. Most troubling aspect of Memento is how these stories are given in an entangled and piecemeal fashion. In that, the style, undoubtedly the most innovative component of the movie, often takes away from the truly compelling aspects of the story. Befuddlement, if not dissatisfation, ensues after the first viewing. But dissatisfaction is close behind. Make no mistake about it: Memento is a daring movie. Nolan brothers have conceived of a brilliant idea and placed it under most extraordinary circumstances. But for sheer entertainment value the movie, in its high post modern ambitions, pales against the best of contemporary moviemaking , i.e. Jarmusch and Tarantino, who are hevily postmodern on their own right. Even in a historical sense comparing Memento to any Hitchcock movie would be aninjustice. Memento is innovative movie making. We'll have to see more from Nolan to compare him to the grand master of suspense.
Rating:
Summary: I will make you my John G.
Review: This movie was extremely good. When we watched it I was expecting the usua; blahzay blah, but was I ever wrong. The concept of the movie was different. It starts from the end and goes to the beginning. It'll keep you gripped to you seat saying, "Oh my God." I don't want to give away too much of the movie, but believe me it's well worth the buy.
Rating:
Summary: Memento DVD
Review: I really don't know what to say about this movie, except that it is the best I've seen in years. Reminicent of Hitchcock, it is unique...I've not seen a movie quite like it. The movie moves backwards, from the end of the story to the beginning, so the object of the viewer is not finding out WHAT happens, but WHY.The basic storyline revolves around Leonard, who has suffered a condition called short term memory loss, or the ability to make new memories. The last real memory he has is of his wife dying, after she was "raped and murdered" in their home. The premise of the story is that the only thing he is living for is revenge;to catch his wife's killer. The actors are fabulous, especially Guy Pearce, who shows that Academy Award acting often goes unnoticed, probably because of lack of publicity for the film. The movie is definitely worth renting if not BUYING! The DVD, however, leaves some to the imagination. Repeated viewing of the film does leave previous unanswered questions answered, but a cronilogical viewing would be helpful. However, this would take away the beauty of the film, so some director or director/actor commentary would be useful. Regardless, buy the DVD because no matter how many times you watch it, you will almost always find something you have missed before. Much to the director's delight, I presume.
Rating: 
Summary: But I've Told you this before
Review: His blood was red. I did like the scene where he shot the guy. P.S. James Cann Smells But that will come clear in future viewings. I was still confused about the plot. Even after watching it the second time, His best since LA Confidential. I hope to see him in other movies. Guy Pierce gave a good preformace. It made sense the second time around, but like in the Usual Suspects and Citizen Cane. Time lines were difficult to understand. I enjoyed it much more, but after the second time. Memento was a very hard movie to watch the first time.
Rating:
Summary: Best Movie Ever
Review: This is one of the best and orginal movies ever. The only movie that goes backwards. It is an awsome thriller if you want a movie that you will not guess the ending rather beginng.It is a must see for all thiller fans.
Rating:
Summary: A refreshingly original masterpiece.
Review: Christopher Nolan's 'Memento' is unlike any other film you'll ever see, a piece of film noir so original and so tense, it will stick with you for days. Told in reverse, the film follows Leonard (Guy Pearce) as he tries to find the man who raped and murdered his wife. There's just one snag: Leonard suffered a brain injury while trying to protect his wife that fateful evening. He can no longer make new memories, only able to recall his life before the event, everything else fading away within minutes. He wakes every morning still expecting to see his wife, never remembering who to trust and who to fear. Relying on Polaroids and tattoos to keep track of clues he drifts on, forever looking for a man who may be a lot closer then he thinks. From this premise, writer/director Nolan weaves a perfectly crafted tale which unravels itself slowly and methodically through flashbacks. We, like Leonard, are completely lost. By starting at the 'end' of the film, we gather more and more information as the story is presented, a chunk at a time, until the shocking finish, which makes the preceding 110 minutes all the more devastating. 'Memento' is a perfectly executed film, full of wonderful montages and unpredictable twists and turns. The cast shines. Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano are by turns sympathetic and heart-breaking and Pearce has never been better. There are few films out there that truly attempt at reinventing a genre and even less that succeed. This is one of those films and it is not to be missed. If I see a better movie then 'Memento' this year, I will be greatly surprised. A masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie
Review: One of the most interesting and well directed movies I have ever seen.
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