I guess I'm hopping on the bandwagon...

Rating: Null/10 (12 July 2003)

Mild spoilers follow; general comments on aspects, no revelations here.
Normally I have a tendency to take issue with the status quo and play devil's advocate. Stupid? Perhaps. Amusing? Most definitely. Memento, however, overcomes my instinct by its nature as a piece of nearly flawless filmmaking. Any mundane aspects of the plot are completely obscured by the incredible structure of the film, and indeed, the simplicity of the story (insofar as one can know the real story) is a perfect complement to the film's complex execution. The incredible acting, particularly by Guy Pearce, also makes Leonard's shattered world a convincing if not a completely comfortable place to reside for a few hours. While some of the lines are not perfectly executed, the script for the most part is brilliant.
To this, add masterful cinematography which emphasizes the way in which Leonard is forced to live: shots which imitate a jarring blow, a slip of memory, deja vu... The protagonist's entire experience is mirrored excellently in each shot.
As for the mood, get ready for some realistic suspense. Ever wake up and forget where you are, or even just wake up thinking you were facing the other way in bed? Makes your heart race a little, doesn't it? Now imagine your life in danger, searching for meaning in a broken reality, in which every second you are bombarded by new surroundings that rise up from a few minutes of hazy memory. Suspense is the fear of the unknown, and in this film, nothing is known for certain. Hence, it is one of the most suspenseful films I can remember.
The best part is this film's repeat performance value. I am not one to easily sit through a movie (or even a song) twice unless I truly loved it, and even then I normally like to wait a while. Having just seen the film for the third time, I can say that every time was more enjoyable than the previous. As you are less confounded by the sheer unorthodoxy of the film, you begin to take in details which make the film not a shallow experiment in film making but a rich world behind a broken lens. I guarantee that you will come to understand things better and to spot amazing clues as you watch the film additional times. There are some images gone in a blink, or conversation easily overlooked. Your mind simply filters out some of the dialogue as meaningless since you have no stable references on a first viewing. Having grasped the plot, you will now have the necessary understanding to enjoy together all the intricacies of the dialogue.
Overall, a great film. It is an intelligent idea executed with true genius. [10/10]