A truly engrossing movie

Rating: 10/10 (20 April 2001)

Time stopped when I watched Memento. From the first brilliant image I was hooked. When the movie ended I desperately wanted more. I had to settle for a lengthy and spirited discussion about it with my friends. And, of course, I intend to see it again as soon as I can.
You already know more of the plot than you should in order to enjoy this movie, so I won't repeat it. I will however say that there is more to this movie than the plot, so anyone who laughs it off as a director showing off or a writer using techniques he's borrowed from other films, is wasting their time. The plot is what the movie is hung on, not the other way around.
The lead characters, Leonard, Teddy, and Natalie, are all superb. I was completely engrossed by them, and didn't for a second disbelieve my eyes. And that's the key to the movie.
Anything I say about the ending, or even the middle of the film will hinder your enjoyment, so instead I will tell you: Go see this movie blind. The less you know the better. Go in with an open mind and observe. Take witness for Leonard, since he himself is incapable of doing it. And try to put the pieces together. And don't kick yourself when you can't. In many ways you're not supposed to.
In a year where Hollywood seems to be dumbing down even its dumbest movies, this is a film with enough intelligence for three films. Its at once a noir, a thriller, a mystery, and a deconstruction of noir, of thrillers, of mysteries, of film. And it's a flick that is perfectly suited to the DVD format. I can't wait to get my own copy. A mind-blowing headtrip of a film.