Crippled mind/narrative in search of its own identity... Wow!

Rating: 10/10 (20 June 2007)

***Warning: Major spoilers ahead***
An original idea cleverly executed!
I don't want to dwell in the analysis of facts and coherence: the last images of "Memento" (or where they the first ones?) leave few possible, coherent or logical explanations, as we see Lenny's tattoos when his wife is still alive: was the character of Jorja Fox his second wife, and then whatever became of her? Did he kill her? Or perhaps his only wife survived the attack and Lenny's tattooed himself to create a puzzle and distract himself from the tragedy of memory loss...
Too complicated. Lenny's amnesia could be simulated, and in fact sometimes he seems to forget to play the amnesic (what an irony!). This would explain a lot. But, like in "The Prestige", do we really need an explanation? What if the illusion is more interesting? In fact, Nolan has set us up with false memories and a puzzle where the search for coherence is the McGuffin that drives another search: that of meaning for our lives, identity for ourselves, and all those little daily routines or sentimental rituals that define us. What makes you who you are? Your car? Your dress? Your money? Your home? Your hotel? Your job? Your restaurant? Your disease? Your actions? Your friends? Your lovers? Your family? Your lies? Your crimes? Your death? Your memory?
The presence of two "Matrix" actors (Moss and Pantoliano, the girl and the villain) is an interesting coincidence. Both films are about invented or fictitious lives: one created from inside the person, and the other crafted from outside the individual.
After "Memento", I'm interested in everything Nolan has done or will do in the future: even if he films a three hour prequel to "My stepmother is an alien", I will watch it with enthusiasm: I know that he will turn it into something interesting. He already did that in "Batman Begins".
Unforgettable memento of the unlimited possibilities of cinema.
10 out of 10 for Christopher Nolan, and also for John Nolan (author of the narration that inspired the film).