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Memento

Memento

List Price: $24.95
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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: (Mostly) 25 Word Or Less Review
Review: Too clever for own good. Like "The Usual Suspects", ending colors entire film on subsequent viewings. So much emphasis on mystery that resolution hurts experience.DVD side-note: Extremely cool formating of extras.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Okay, now where was I ?
Review: This film has one thing that makes it really, truly great - the end clears up the central plot completely and will surprise the audience (MAYBE you can figure the "what" but NEVER the "why" until the end) while leaving room for interpretation of subplots by the audience. However, lazy viewers beware - the central theme of this film is how we restructure our own past via our memories to make sense of our lives. As in life, not every "memory" you will see is "true". The cinematography gives the only clues - there is absolutely no atmosphere at all in the main storyline, but the "flashback" sequences are stylized based on time, location and condition to help the viewer make sense of the film as a whole. Given some EFFORT, viewers will figure out what is "true" in the context of the film. The structure and complexity of the film can throw off a viewer unaccustomed to paying close attention - the story is told backward, each scene followed by the scene that precedes it chronologically, allowing the viewer to share the main characters disorientation. Guy Pearce plays a man who cannot make new memories - he forgets everything he has been through since a horrific incident that cost him his memory and his wife. He keeps himself aware of his progress on the quest for his wifes' killer via scribbled notes, annotated Polaroids and tattoos of the most crucial "facts" in his quest. Viewers adapt quickly and the technique actually increases suspense. It also makes the film hysterically and unexpectedly funny in places. The acting is understated - the characters act like people, not actors - quite refreshing. Guy Pearce is perfect trying to convince everyone, himself included, that he "knows" what he's doing and has his "facts" straight. Carrie Ann Moss is GREAT as a bartender who helps Our Hero - more or less. The only thing keeping me from awarding 5 stars is that the DVD extras are pathetic. You get trailers, a couple (literally, two) pictures of the tattoos of the main character, the film website, a copy of "Memento Mori" - the excellent short story on which the film is based - and an interview with director Chris Nolan. The interview is very good, but the only extra worthy of the name. I would have paid extra for an option to play the film in "real time", just for kicks. However, the film is excellent and a definite "buy me". Finally, I leave with a primer for the unobservant:
** Black and white sequences of Guy in his hotel IMMEDIATELY PRECEDE the film time frame and move in NORMAL time (i.e., forward). All other "flashbacks" are keyed to specific time frames and types of events, but to discuss them, I'd reveal too much. Suffice to say, there is a logical scheme to the flashbacks that will tell the careful viewer exactly what happened - more or less - by the end of the film. (...)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best Movie of the year.
Review: I would say that this is the most original movie I have seen in a while and by far the best movie I saw come out of 2000. Great screenplay, acting was right on and (most importantly) the movie genuinely allows us to see what it is like to be the protagonist, Mr. Shelby. NOTE: You will HAVE to watch this movie more the once to understand it all.
That being said, I also want to respond to Afaf's question about the pinch/insulin shot: It was definitely a pinch and he did not O/D his wife like Sammy. Based on the guidelines presented for Leonard's disability, he would recall everything up to the truama. This would inlclude the fact that his wife was NOT a diabetic. Mr. Shelby states this, although in a barely audible mumble. If you watch the movie again(which I had to..) it will become obvious.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: If you can understand it, this will be one of the best movie
Review: If I could explain this movie in two words, i would use confusing, and great.

It stars Guy Pearse(L.A. Confidental, The count of monte crisco)Joe Pantiliano(The Matrix, The sopranos television series) and Carrie Anne Moss(The Matrix).

Gur pearse is a man who has no short term memory, so he cant remember anything past 15 minutes.To remembe things, he takes pictures, wirties notes on them and also get tattos on his body.Joe Pantiliano plays a man who is friends with guy pearse, but you never truly know who he is.Finally Carrie Anne Moss plays a mysterious women, who doesnt turn out to be who she really is.The plot of the movie is that guy pearse is trying to find out who murdered his wife.

Sounds simple right?Well its not. The story is told backwards.it gets very confusing. For example:lets say that a scene begins with guy pearse getting dressed, that scene will play and then the movie will go to black and white and he will be talking on the phone.Then, he stops talking another scene happens, and that scene would end with him getting dressed.it continues like that until the end.For most of the movie, you dont know who he is talking to, but when you find out, you wont be disapointed.

The movie is rated R for Violence, Language, and Some Drug Use, so the movie is not for everybody.This might be a movie where you need to watch it more than once to understand it.If you can stay with the plot, the ending will mesmorize you, it's so great how its connected to the beginning. I suggest you go see this movie right now.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Gave me a headache
Review: This is one of the most confusing and twisted movies that I have ever seen. I hated it at first, but once I was through watching it and started thinking about everything that I had just seen (and took some aspirin for the headache it gave me) I started to understand and enjoy it. I have now watched it several times and each time I see it I discover something new that I had not seen or noticed before. It is truly an awesome movie that will keep you guessing long after you have turned it off. Plus, all of the acting in it is fantastic. Plan on spending an entire night watching and rewatching this one. Enjoy!!!! (get that bottle of aspirin out!!!!)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: This is one to remember.
Review: (Read this review from the last Sentence Backward)

Either Way, I hope you enjoy Memento.

It might be a bit too 'plotty' for some viewers.

The DVD well captures the film and its unique use of soundtracking...

The performances by GUY PEARCE (L.A. CONFIDENTIAL), Joe Pantolino (MIDNIGHT RUN) and Carrie-Anne Moss (THE MATRIX) are quirky enough to make this film appear outside of the mainstream.

This makes him a bit odd and what appears to be forgetful...

He too, has a condition that makes him unable to create new memories.

It is all mirrored by our hero.

And that discovery is filled with surprises that build (or destroy) to an exciting surprising thesis.

So, you know what is going to happen, you only have to learn how and why it happened!

And what makes it so unique is that it is told chronologically backward.

MEMENTO is one of the most unique films of the past decade.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Novel and interesting
Review: The format of the movie is very intriguing, the plot plays backwards, and you don't find the motivation for any of the characters' actions until after each scene plays out.
This is one of those movies that leave you questioning what really happened; in fact, even more so, because the main character himself has to question what really happened since he can't remember!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Frustrating
Review: Telling the story backwards is a clever device, but the payoff once you get to the "ending" just isn't there. When you find out what this movie is all about, you will feel somewhat disappointed. If it was told forward in a normal forward fashion, it would be just another shlocky Sunday afternoon TV flick.

An intriguing and worthwhile movie, but it doesn't deserve the hype.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: INTELLIGENT AND CLEVER
Review: Guy Pearce gives an excellent performance as Leonard Shelby, a man trying to find the people who brutally raped and murdered his wife and left him unable to make new memories, in this complex thriller told backwards by writer-director Christopher Nolan.

Because of his condition Leonard has to continually keep notes, on paper, with polaroids but also with tattoos and notes written on his body, as his only ways of retaining any new information. From day to day he has to rely on his notes to remind him of his progress and trust that they are correct. His life is permanently lived in present-tense and his only purpose is to find those responsible for his wife's murder.

What makes this movie really intriguing and keeps you on the edge of your seat is the fact that the story is told from the end backwards, each segment of the movie revealing a little bit more of what has previously happened. Who is a friend who is an enemy? This is what keeps you interested, this what keeps you guessing. I saw this movie at the theatre and what made it a great movie first time, apart from the excellent story and excellent acting from all concerned, is the surprise element and whilst if you are watching this movie for the first time it really is a rewarding experience, my concern with buying it on DVD, is that like many great thrillers it's maybe not so good for repeated viewings. Despite the fact that it is undoubtedly excellently crafted and has top notch performances from Guy Pearce, Joe Pantoliano and Carrie Anne Moss, it's the intrigue that holds the movie together and hold it together it does very well, for this is an excellent, very intelligent movie. I just feel that once you know the end of the movie (the beginning of the story) it might not hold the same allure (or your attention) second or third time around. If you haven't seen it though and you like slow-burn, complex, intelligent thrillers, this comes highly recommended and will hopefully bring Guy Pearce an Oscar nomination. If you are looking for something upbeat or fast paced this wont be for you...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Qualification and Question...
Review: Maybe the best film to ever come out of the american indie scene. You really can't experience this film properly outside of the theater, and it's better not knowing anything about it beforehand. But still, it's well worth getting on DVD. I recommend you experience it as a whole, in one sitting, and don't try to figure out what will happen/has happened. It is an extremely re-watchable film, but do allow it to sink in after the first time, and think about it. That's the point....


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