One of the best films of the decade!

Rating: Null/10 (25 July 2008)

I just watched this film, and having seen another film done by Christopher Nolan, the Prestige, this film is just as bizarre, if not more...
I will start off with the writing. It is a very complicated, thought-out screenplay. Us having to wonder throughout the whole film why the character of Leonard kills a certain man, 'John G' gives us a reason to watch the film. This film is just like a puzzle. It gives you bits and bits, and it gives you real life memories that Leonard cannot himself remember. It starts off, and it had me worried, since these types of films can only do so much to solve the puzzles. The writing is consistently strong, as the film goes along, we are able to finally see how Leonard meets all these characters, and how he interacts with them. Well, the film is not only helped by its puzzling screenplay, but also by stand-out performances. Guy Pearce, this is the second film in which I have seen he stars in, and I know enough to say that he is a very underrated actor. His character has to carry the whole film, and his performance is consistently strong. His plays his character with grace, with confusion, and with emotion and force to do what he is willing to do to get revenge. The supporting performances are also all stand-out. Carrie-Ann Moss plays her mixed character amazingly. In one scene particularly, when she and Leonard have their only 'fight', well, her acting I thought was Oscar-worthy. It was also nice to see Joe Pantoliano be in this film. I have seen some of his work in The Sopranos, and in this film he really gives his character or Teddy a realistic touch, he gives him personality. I also thought some brief performances, like Stephen Tobolowsky, another TV star, I thought he did very well. Another great thing was the film editing. i can truly say it is amazing, and it makes the film feel fast-paced, yet complicated and never boring. The musical score was also settling, and was a very nice tone to the whole film.
Now, this is a sort of a film you have to figure out, and about the ending, I am still a bit confused, and I can tell before I visit more fan topics about this film, that some people will absolutely HATE the ending. I don't hate it, but i think it works in both positive and negative ways. The negative is that it was not the final 'revelation' that films like these usually have. It wasn't really similar to The Prestige, with a big twist, and I thought needed to have one. BUT at the same time, it was a huge twist. The ending I do appreciate, because Nolan was not just trying to just tell a 'amnesia' thriller type film he was trying to say something more, and he succeeded. Now I can view as the main character, Leonard, as being both sort of crazy and alive. I think what the ending meant was that Leonard really needed a reason to live, because of his wife's death. That is why he will continue to create puzzles for himself. In a way, I appreciate film-making like this, but I do have my usual complaints.
Overall, this is a film not to be missed. I had never heard of it, and I think after seeing a couple of Nolan films, it proves he is at the top of being the most original, complexing, 'alive' director(Note- i have yet to see The Dark Knight) I will try to purchase this film, I think it deserves a repeat viewing, especially since the ending didn't reveal 'too' much... Anyways, a thought-out independent film, one that I think should be remembered in years to come. Definitely among the best of the decade