Wow.

Rating: 10/10 (21 January 2002)

Many many spoilers!
I am still thinking about this movie months later. It is the most original, mind-bending movie I've seen since Clockwork Orange or the Usual Suspects. I saw this movie simply because I liked Guy Pierce in LA Confidential. I knew nothing about the plot or style beforehand, and I think that is the best way to initially view this film. (If you haven't seen it yet, stop reading and watch it...NOW!) I saw it in the late afternoon in a theater with four other people, none of whom I knew. This movie captivated me from the very beginning. I loved how it started with something that every one of us has done; developing a Polaroid picture by waving it back and forth. It quickly progresses to an action that (hopefully) very few of us have done; murder. I had no clue that it was backwards, so I was surprised that someone would be killed in the first five minutes. As the movie progressed, I kept thinking of various explanations of what was going on. I usually observe movies and think about them later, but Memento is so captivating and has such a creative style that it is impossible not to come up with motives and theories for what is happening. It was like riding a roller coaster backwards and blindfolded. I thought I knew what was going on, but by the end I was so amazed and dumbfounded that I didn't know what to think. Memento is so great because of the director's style. I felt as lost and confused as Lenard, because I didn't know what had just happened. All of the characters knew, except for Lenard, but they didn't want to tell us. Although the movie is confusing, it is not difficult to follow and all the components are tied together very well. One other thing that surprised me is that this movie is very funny in a morbid sort of way, especially the parts with Dodd and the hotel room. This is a great movie, one for the ages. My vote for Best Picture.