Memento (1999), a film directed and wrote by the ingenious Christopher and Jonathan Nolan.

Rating: Null/10 (14 September 2011)

Memento (1999), tells the story of a man named Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) who suffers from short-term memory loss (Leonard is incapable of making new memories). The movie opens with Leonard killing a man named Teddy (Joe Pantoliano), and at this early stage of the film we do not have much to go on regarding the motive of this murder. The only clue given is the Polaroid picture of the victim and a brief description of the character on the back. This scene is the first glimpse that we have about the film's disconnected format. The film's main character, Leonard, is trying to find the man who raped and killed his wife. It was during this attack on Leonard's wife that he suffers a blow to his head, resulting in his memory loss condition and the driving force for Leonard in the film.
Memento is centered on the style and structure of the film. The viewer is given vague details in the film, with answers surfacing throughout either earlier or later in the film. The film also introduces two characters, Natalie (Carrie Ann Moss) and Teddy, who seem to assist and scheme against Leonard throughout the movie.
For example, we are shown a blurred photo of Natalie that Leonard keeps with him. At the bottom of the photo we see words that are crossed out; however, we are not told why until later in the film which is when we actually see Leonard writing the note, than scratching it out. One moment we are watching Leonard sitting in a bathroom and the next scene we are watching Leonard run down the street. Pay close attention to the motif (repetition) phrases in the film, such as Leonard's continuous reference to a man named Sammy Jenkins (watch the movie to find out the twist with Sammy).
Leonard never really knows who he can trust and relies on a series of pictures with notes and details that he has had tattooed to his body pertaining to his wife's case. Do not be thrown by these idiosyncrasies, because all good things come to those who wait and the pieces will fall right into place.
Memento is not chronological and frankly I am not sure how great the movie would have been if it was shot in a traditional beginning, middle, and end sequence. The movie incorporates voice-over narration from the mind of Leonard, which helps at time understand what is happening in the film. Viewers that prefer traditional movies may not enjoy this film due to the constant changing of the film's direction. Scenes will repeat, providing the viewer with different relevant information to the plot depending where the viewer is in the film.
If this review has you second guessing watching Memento and if you have never seen a film that incorporates twists and turns, or jumps from present day to future, and back to the past, than I highly suggest starting off with one of the Nolan's later film, such as The Prestige (2006). This film is slightly less complicated in the manner that the film was shot, but still delivers on suspense and twists as well. The Usual Suspects (1995), by director Bryan Singer is another sure bet to prepare you for Memento. Although, I found the storyline from these two films much more interesting than Memento, I still feel that Memento is artistically more challenging.