The Nolan Brothers' Memory Play's Tricks

Rating: 8/10 (10 January 2010)

Model-perfect Guy Pearce (as Leonard "Lenny" Shelby) has a problem with his short-term memory. No, it isn't marijuana - he and his wife were attacked by intruders, leaving Pearce brain-damaged. At least, that's what Mr. Pearce believes. According to his reality, his wife was raped and beaten to death. Pearce survived, but with no short term memory. According to the film's official synopsis, it's "a rare brain disorder - the inability to form any new memories. 'Lenny' can remember in detail everything that happened before his injury, but anyone he has met or anything he has done since that fateful night, simply vanishes."
Certainly, this rare brain disorder ("anterial-grade memory loss") was picked because there is no danger of an advocate group of sufferers forming to proclaim this film does not accurately represent their plight. Told backwards and in flashbacks, this is a film to try your "willing suspension of disbelief." It's also one people whisper they really didn't think was "all that," but don't want to be thought out of the loop. If you examine it under a microscope, "Memento" fades, which is why it works better in pieces. The pieces are fine, by director Christopher Nolan, brother John, Pearce, editor Dody Dorn, and cinematographer Wally Pfister.
DON'T READ ON UNTIL AFTER YOU'VE REACHED YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS.
The film's epiphany occurs near the ending of the running time, when Pearce's "Lenny" realizes he's being used by Joe Pantoliano (who should have received some "Best Supporting Actor" notices as John Edward "Teddy" Gammell), a corrupt police officer. Pearce writes "DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES" on the photograph and takes down the license plate number, to program himself to kill "Teddy" as his wife's attacker (rapist). But, at that moment, Pearce knows this isn't true - he gave his own wife (who survived) too many insulin shots. Stephen Tobolowsky (as "Sammy" Jankis) is the real insurance investigator. Tattoo you.
******** Memento (9/5/00) Christopher Nolan ~ Guy Pearce, Joe Pantoliano, Carrie-Anne Moss, Stephen Tobolowsky