Memento Movie Review

Hello, fellow moviegoers!
   Christopher Nolan has directed great films such as The Dark Knight, Inception, and Interstellar. Interstellar received an 8.75/10 from me, Inception a 10/10 (which I don’t give very often), and whenever I review The Dark Knight (which may or may not be happening in March) I’ll giving that an amazing score as well. So yeah, you could say I’m a fan of Christopher Nolan fan. He is one of my personal favorites. That being said, I’ve yet to see all of his films. The Prestige and Insomnia are both on my never-ending list of movies to watch. Memento was on that list until this past weekend.
    Memento stars Guy Pearce as Leonard, a man that lost the ability to make new memories after his wife’s murderer slammed his head against a mirror. He’s out for revenge against that man. But his condition makes it extremely difficult. He writes notes and uses a Polaroid camera to help him remember anything important. So how does Memento compare to the rest of Nolan’s work? What is it that makes it so intriguing?

   I absolutely loved Memento. In typical Christopher Nolan fashion, this is one of the most original films I’ve ever seen. You can tell a lot about this film from the very first minute. The entire first scene played in reverse as we see a Polaroid image slowly disappearing. This is representative of the film as a whole because, the entire thing is told backward. The first scene of the film is the last scene to happen chronologically. So, the entire time you know how the movie ends, but the rest of the film gives you the context behind it. It’s as if we are Leonard remembering what happened as we go along.
   It’s a very interesting concept that is executed so well. The tension that builds throughout the film is palpable. There was always an uneasiness as to what is going on. It sucks you into the film and never lets you go. Memento makes you question everything you thought you knew about it as it goes on. Whenever you think you know what’s going on, something new is revealed and everything is suddenly seen in a different light. It’s a very interesting way to tell the story. Even some of the characters themselves take on a completely new context as the story builds. Someone you think has good intentions has bad ones and vice versa.
   The acting in the film was also superb. Guy Pearce was the standout. He portrayed this man with short-term memory loss so well. He’ll do a complete “one-eighty” in a single scene as his character forgets what it was he was doing or going to do.
   The cinematography in the film was just as brilliant as everything else. The film jumps back and forth between black-and-white and color. You'd think it would get distracting but it wasn't. It was a great way to differentiate times in the film as well as different stories. Not only that, but you can tell that every shot in the film was looked over time and time again until they were perfect. Which is refreshing to see, since a lot of modern films are rushed into theaters to make a quick buck.
   The film does get a little convoluted at times. Which is an odd complaint because this film centralizes around a thick plot that really makes you think. There are times that it gets so convoluted that it takes you spend too much time trying to figure out what’s going on and you might miss a couple plot points.
   Overall, Memento is an amazing film! It’s one of the most unique plots I’ve seen, and the way it is told fits the film perfectly. This is a film that you have to see. You are absolutely going to love it. This was one of Nolan’s first films and it really set the pace for what was to come.
9.5/10

   So what do you think of Memento? What’s your favorite Christopher Nolan film? Let me know by commenting on this post! If you enjoyed this review, share it on Facebook and Twitter. It really helps! Don’t forget, I post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so check back then for new movie reviews and editorials!
 
Thanks for stopping by!

I would also like to point out that AMBI Pictures decided it's a good idea to remake this film. I won't say it doesn't need to be made because no film needs to be made, but I'm confused as to why they would want to remake it. Who would go to see a remake of a film in theaters when they can find a used copy of the original (which happens to be directed by Christopher Nolan) at the store for three dollars? It makes no sense...