We all need mirrors to remind ourselves who are....

Rating: 9/10 (12 January 2005)

This undoubtedly is a masterpiece of cinema. Shot in both B/W and color, with wonderful choppy editing that sucks you in and a soundtrack that jolts you back to reality.....but what is that? In Leonard Shelby's world, he can never be sure. Or if he does, he doesn't remember. He suffers from short term memory loss, a result of an attacker that raped and murdered his wife. He tries to find her killer, as he wanders around, using a series of Polaroids and tattoos as his guides. Leonard doesn't know who he can trust, who's using him, who he has met, and if they've hurt him before.
Pearce brings a beautifully subtle performance as Leonard, haunted by the past, because that's all he can remember. Despite his organized system, we see him struggle just to function. By reversing all the sequences of events, Nolan allows us to only know as much as Leonard knows. Moss and Pantaliano are a strong supporting cast, and you don't know if they're allies or enemies.
This film may require several viewings. It is worth it. As soon as you think you know what's happening, another fragmented, misplaced idea will surface. You will find yourself confused, lost, trying to remember what happened before. You will find yourself like Leonard. That is Nolan's trick. And he pulls out the rabbit, and doesn't disappoint.