"Fact may be Stranger than Fiction." (Part 1 of 2)

Rating: 1/10 (20 March 2002)

Fusing elements from such cool plot twisting films like "The Usual Suspects" and "Fight Club", "Memento" was a groundbreaking exercise in narrative presentation.
Leonard Shelby, a former insurance investigator turned vigilante avenger was hell bent on finding and killing the man who left him seriously injured and his wife, dead. But due to his aforesaid injury, this poor bloke now suffers from permanent brain damage with symptomatic short term amnesia(memory loss). Apart from whatever happened before his injury, our main man would not be able to remember whatever transpired beyond his last fifteen minutes. So how is a physically and emotionally damaged man gonna do what he set out to do? Oh, did I mention that this film begins with the end of the story and ends, at the beginning? Go figure.
Due to the film's reverse-chronological structure, the equally paralysed audience shared the protagonist's compulsion to concentrate on any vital developments which may help unravel the mystery. This thus made the viewing experience highly participative.
Of course, there were more to this film than above gimmick, or it would not have sustained the audience's interest, nor explain their willingness to engage in such a cerebral exercise.
Apart from the occasional jokes on his mental handicap and the gradual unveiling of his investigative efforts, we also saw Leonard Shelby as a man, remembering his woman. Along the way, we witnessed his idiosyncratic attempts in dealing with his loss, in searching for a closure. Through these introspective scenes, we were offered a glimpse into the psyche of anyone who have lost people dear in their lives.
Such unexpected insights from an already inventive crime thriller, bring to fore Memento's true ambition. It does not want to be just a film with A Beautiful Mind(pun intended), but also one with A Beautiful Heart(ditto). To which I feel it almost succeeded in accomplishing. Keyword here is "ALMOST".

Before any fanatic supporters of "Memento" out there decide to silence my lone dissent, allow me to acknowledge that being such a fiendishly innovative film, "Memento" deserves the feverish cult following it inspired.

But I can only go so far in my praise as there is something missing. I will explain my position and more in the concluding "Part 2" of my commentary. Till then, watch this space.