A gimmick but it works

Rating: 8/10 (5 December 2003)

Once the hilarity wears off of seeing that bloke from Neighbours in an actual film on a big screen, wowee, Memento turns into a very cleverly structured and utterly rivetting film. The replaying loop of events, gradually augmented, has been done before but relax, Groundhog Day this is not. Quite how plausible the hero's predicament is is hard to say but the story is credible thanks to some very careful continuity and no doubt some equally artful cutting. The acting is ok, secondary to the feel of the film really. In some ways Memento reminds me of The Usual Suspects. It might even stand comparison were it not for the absence of K Spacey. Guy Pearce proves he can act, just about and director Nolan is definitely somebody to watch.