An examination of mental illness

Rating: 8/10 (3 March 2018)

This review contains spoilers.
Memento is directed by Christopher Nolan and stars Guy Pierce. Guy Pierce plays an investigator called Leonard as he tries to find his wife's killer. Leonard cannot form any new memories as he embarks on this quest. It is this disability that causes Leonard to come into contention with characters that knew him in the past.
Memento requires the audience to be patient as the beginning of the movie can appear convoluted. The movie is edited in a way to not play the scenes in chronological order. The movie also interplays flashbacks of Leonard before his condition and of an old insurance case he investigated. The movie wants the audience to stay but it is difficult to continue if they are not interested in the mystery. The mystery is fun to follow and many plot elements that are introduced in the opening scene is followed up by the end of the movie.
Memento is not a complicated movie, but it is told in a complicated way. With the backwards narrative to allow the audience to journey through Leonard's condition, the audience can relate to the confusion of Leonard. They can also form an overall narrative for the movie. The audience can judge each of the characters that Leonard interacts with by remembering key details of what he says. Memento is still flowed, but its gimmick of a backwards narrative is still engaging.
I would recommend Memento to any mystery thriller fan.
Grade: B