Memento
Details
Memory is the foundation of identity. Because we remember our past, we know who we are today; what we loved, what we lost, what we believed in. But what if this foundation collapses? What will be left? Christopher Nolan poses this very question with this masterful work he directed in 2000, and presents the answer to the audience in a way they will never forget. There is a man named Leonard; he lost his wife, vowed to find the perpetrators, but could never make any progress. Because the short-term memory function completely collapsed following the trauma he experienced. They can't remember what they talked about a few minutes ago, who was who, or which clue led them to where. The tattoos he has inked on his body, the Polaroid photos he constantly takes, and the notes he scribbles on them are his only guides. The search for justice under these circumstances turns an ordinary story of revenge into a much deeper and more frightening interrogation: how much can we trust the stories we tell ourselves? What made Nolan's film etched in cinema history was not just the story, but the way it was told. The sequence of scenes is turned upside down, the chronology is fragmented; the viewer lives in Leonard's mind, does not know that he does not know, sees with what he sees. Although this structure initially appears to be merely a creative choice, it gradually becomes the narrative itself as it progresses. Confusion is not an obstacle; it is the essence of the experience. Guy Pearce portrays Leonard with both vulnerability and a stubborn determination. Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano, on the other hand, deliver performances that fuel the uncertainty surrounding them, raising new questions with every scene. You can't trust anyone completely; maybe not even Leonard. One of the most original examples of the neo-noir tradition, this film draws its suspense not from an ordinary crime story, but from the way a person constructs and protects his own reality. It leaves behind the kind of questions that linger in the minds for a long time after watching. How much do you trust what you remember?
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Reviews
John Chard
July 13, 2015
9/10
We all lie to ourselves to be happy. It's not until a film like Memento comes along, or that you personally have to deal with someone close who suffers a form of this subject to hand, that you get jolted to remember just how your memory is such a prized and treasured thing - and crucially that it's one of your key safety devices. Christopher and Jonathan Nolan crafted one of the best films of 2000 based on those facets of the human condition. Their protagonist is Leonard Shelby, played wit...
talisencrw
May 14, 2016
10/10
Excellent. I can't believe I've finally gotten around to watching all of Christopher Nolan's films (I have 'The Prestige' on DVD, but have yet to see it), but it's been well worth the wait. There are a couple of handful of English-language directors operating right now that I will make sure I watch every single film of, and Nolan has become one of those for me, and rightfully so. A very fine twist on the noir framework.
mattwilde123
March 09, 2017
10/10
‘Memento’ is director Christopher Nolan’s tribute to classic film noir tales of revenge and mystery. By adding a new twist to traditional conventions, Nolan is able to consume and grip the viewer throughout the entire film and for years after. The aspect that differentiates this neo-noir from its competitors today is its jumbled and complex narrative which continually moves backwards in time. The viewers first see the main character complete his revenge murder (a triumphant scene we usually asso...
AstroNoud
February 26, 2022
8/10
Structuring the film in such a way that the viewer knows as little as the protagonist, the Nolan's have created a nifty puzzle that slowly unravels to its climax. 8/10
r96sk
May 16, 2024
10/10
Phenomenal. What a movie! I had heard plenty about <em>'Memento'</em> prior to watching in regards to how high-quality it supposedly was, though didn't actually (thankfully) get spoiled on anything that occurs onscreen - I did know of the note-taking, though for some reason thought it was via post-it notes rather than polaroids - no idea why! It's a very satisfying movie come the conclusion, concentration is very much the order of the day but the film does connect enough dots rather sharpi...
CinemaSerf
May 30, 2024
7/10
I reckon what makes this work from Christopher Nolan is the creation of a cerebral maelstrom that is every bit as confusingly frustrating for us watching as it is for his protagonist "Leonard" (Guy Pearce). Now we don't know how he has developed his menacing ninja skills, but we do know that he is trying to get to the bottom of his wife's murder, and that he has virtually no short-term memory to help him. As he pieces things together, he has to leave himself notes, or polaroids augmented with sc...
ekaari
June 18, 2024
7/10
A similar style to Inception, pay attention or you’ll lose it
Dr_Nostromo
May 18, 2026
9/10
89/100 A man uses tattoos, notes and photographs to hunt down his wife's killer as he has lost his ability to create new memories. This early effort by Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight", "Inception") is sheer genius. Starting at the end of the story and then continually leap frogging back short periods denies the viewer any memory leading up the current events placing them in the same mental condition as our protagonist. Despite this, the end, which is the beginning, still manages to provi...
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Frequently Asked Questions
Memento was released in 2000.
Memento has a runtime of 1 hr 53 min (113 minutes).
Memento belongs to the following genres: Mystery, Thriller.
Memento has a rating of 8.2/10 from 16,312 votes on TMDB.
In the United States, Memento is available to watch on: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus.