This thought-provoking story is nothing for fans of Britney Spears.

Rating: Null/10 (16 September 2007)

It's always nice to finally come across something original. In this case the unique elements (at least I THINK they're new/unique) is a plot moving in reverse time-wise, and the main character having a chronic short-term memory loss problem. No, the story going backwards has not being handled idiotically like in Philip K. Dick's dumb time-reversal novel (I forget the title); instead, there is a very clever build-up of a mystery plot that will keep you guessing what is real/true right up until the very last scenes. As far as Pierce's short-term memory, that is a fascinating mental problem and it's a wonder that it hasn't been utilized before in film (or has it?). There have been movies about amnesiacs in the past but that is quite different from this affliction.
Writing and especially editing a movie like this must have been a major headache. And to do this in such a way that it isn't confusing for the viewer (unless your name is Paris Hilton or Drew Barrymore) verges on brilliant. The only objection I have is the direction; Nolan fails to create a visual look that would complement the great story. There are some clever ideas/shticks, but there is a lack of mood. Whether this was due to an insufficient budget, I don't know. Had "Memento" been made with that Fincher or Coen brothers visual touch, it would have been practically flawless. The cast is good, no complaints there. Maybe Nolan could have shown the attractive-in-an-unusual-way Moss in a more exposing light in the bed scenes; it wouldn't have hurt...
Toward the end it seemed as if nothing will add up satisfactorily; this would have been typical of a thriller. But, as in the brilliant "Possible Worlds" (not a thriller, but a mystery), all the loose ends are tied up neatly so that I really don't see any glaring or even minor logic problems here. Maybe a doctor who is an expert on Lenny's affliction may find a few problems in that area, but otherwise the script is very tight, which is extremely RARE in (modern) thrillers. I guess this time around it's substance over style (unlike "Saw", for example). It's just a pity that we didn't get substance AND a sufficiently flashy directorial style.