Muddled

Rating: 6/10 (28 December 2010)

A man is determined to avenge the murder of his wife, but his mission is complicated by the fact that he suffers from short-term memory loss. The film is unique in that it tells the story backwards, starting at the end and moving to the beginning scene by scene. The purpose of this narrative device is to let the viewer experience what the protagonist is going through. It may have seemed like a clever idea on paper, but it makes for a muddled and unsatisfying film. The plot is preposterous and there are too many loose ends. Nolan seems more interested in propagating a gimmick than in telling a compelling story. It's not bad, but it's really not worth the trouble. Pearce is good.