Pretentious gimmick

Rating: 1/10 (21 May 2001)

Memento is one of those "films" that "film scholars" are supposed to like. Make that REALLY like. You see, it's one of those movies that require you to think really hard about what is happening. It is more of an exercise than a movie. It isn't fun at all to watch or experience. What it really is, unfortunately, is a waste of time. It relies on a single gimmick that I figured out 10 minutes into the movie. Without the gimmick the movie has NOTHING going for it. Oh there is the obligatory BIG TWIST at the "end." But it isn't all that compelling because all the characters in the movie are either repugnant or uninteresting. In fact, take away the gimmick and there is no story here worth telling.
This is a movie that will be embraced by wannabe film scholars and intellectuals. There will be people who like this movie for the right reasons. But unfortunately there will be an equal amount of people who will like it for the wrong reasons. (Trying to look sophisticated or REALLY smart.)