an intriguing look down "memory" lane

Rating: 9/10 (21 March 2001)

clever is the first thing to come to mind after seeing this movie mystery/thriller. i knew a little about the premise of the flick since i'm big fans of both guy pearce and carrie anne moss but was still floored at its originality and structure. i appreciate directors that try to challenge the audience to be a part of the story and try to understand a character's action and situation without having to simplify the process by showing people the obvious. mr. nolan by doing this has created a world where we are, as the audience, just as confused as the main character, played expertly by pearce. its no shame to confess that at first viewing i'm still left out in the dark at some points of the story, but i think that is one of the movie's strength is its complexity and its testing of your memory, which in reality is what this movie is all about. this is not unlike the sixth sense whereas you'll probably need a second viewing to answer all those unclear thoughts in your head and if everything shown connected to everything else. not to compare the two in story but just the keenness of it and its ability to reflect on what you saw and question it afterward. any movie that can have you talking about it afterward and immediately wanting to see again for the answers to some questions is well worth the effort. i believe so and will do so tomorrow.