Deeply compelling, Brilliantly rich

Rating: 10/10 (27 July 2008)

Mind-bending. Time-altering. Disorienting. Christopher Nolan's 'Memento' is a dark and bleak experience, an ingenious picture that stares into the soul of a man filled with vengeance and anger. A movie that begs to be seen more than once, 'Memento' is as confusing as it is thoughtful, as bizarre as it is brilliant. An engrossing story that pulls us into the driver's seat and never takes its foot off the gas, this is modern film-making at its best. And once again, Nolan proves why he is one of the best filmmakers of our time.
'Memento' doesn't wait to build the tension before showing us what ultimately happens in the end. It's how the movies begins. The fragmented storytelling keeps the film a perplexing mystery, we see what Guy Pearce sees, one confusing episode after another. It keeps us on the edge of our seat, certain of how everything is wrapped up but without any knowledge of the twists and turns that bring us to this very unsettling circumstance. Christopher Nolan's inspired vision is impeccable, but it is Dody Dorn's editing that makes 'Memento' the non-linear masterpiece that it is instead of one jumbled piece of incoherence.
Guy Pearce finds himself in a wonderfully complex role, a haunted man who has many different layers but can't retain short-term memory for more than a few minutes. He delivers a brilliant performance, and most importantly, makes it absolutely believable. Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano turn in great supporting roles as their own characters have secrets that unravel before our eyes. 'Memento' is often a frustrating viewing experience, but a mind-blowing one at that. You can't possibly pick up on all the subtleties and details during a single sitting, which makes 'Memento' a rich and rewarding movie many times through.
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