The most innovative film ever to grace the cinema!

Rating: 10/10 (9 October 2002)

`What if I just forget about what I've done.what if I just pretend it never happened.' This is a quote from Leonard Shelby (played by Guy Pearce) as he speaks of his own acts in the film `Memento'. Written and Directed by Christopher Nolan, adapted from a short story by his brother John Nolan; `Memento' is one of the greatest films I've ever seen. This is such a tough film to break down, due to its complexity; but I believe once you do break it down, you'll have a feeling of accomplishment that you would never have figuring out any other movie.
Looking at this film broadly, it seems so simple: `Memento' is a psychological thriller about a man seeking revenge on his wife's rapist and killer. This is definitely a classic storyline. As you indulge yourself deeper into it, you find that the main character has a memory condition called Short-term Amnesia. This is a rare case where you remember your past before your accident, but you can't remember what you've done fifteen minutes ago, after your accident. To top that off, the film is edited where the last scene is the beginning and the beginning scene is the last.
Although the film is structured oddly, many claim that this film is non-linear, but it's actually more linear than most films. If this film weren't as linear as it actually is, it wouldn't even work. The only obstruction is that the film is shown chronologically backwards by scene.
As the film unfolds, the audience sees the darker side of the protagonist, which wasn't often seen in Classic Cinema. This is also true with the storyline; like the character, the stories weeds off and changes the audiences' perspective. The balance in the film is barely apparent and the key to this film, I believe, is disruption. This film was meant, among other things, to trick the audience. The great part about this film is, other than the disorder of scenes chronologically; this film hardly ever manipulates the audience with tricky character placements and camera shots. The only way it does, is through it's main character Leonard Shelby and this is due to the fact that he has a memory condition. Therefore, his mind is foggy and very uncertain. This mentality of the main character transcends beautifully upon the audience. This is one of the only films to ever do this.
Technically, this film is a basic marvel. Veteran editor Dody Dorn: who was nominated for several awards, superbly pieced this film together. I loved the subtle photography and the ambient music and sound. Any dramatized musical score would have probably ruined the film.
All in all this is a great story powered by great acting from the entire cast. The editing is sheer and flawless, with obstructions of only intentional means. The screenplay couldn't have been better, even from the simplistic basic story that the film displayed. Christopher Nolan is a prime example of a dedicated filmmaker, with so many aspirations for originality. A marvel accomplishment and one of the greatest films of all time!