Phenomenal!

Rating: 10/10 (9 January 2013)

I will not reveal anything about the plot. It is a phenomenal story and screenplay that is confusing and awesome at the same time. One cannot stop appreciating the writer's intelligence and how he manipulates the protagonist's short term memory loss in his reverse chronology. There are more than 20 scenes that take place in reverse order and they being clubbed with the chronological scenes that take place before the reverse one makes it far more confusing than I imagined it to be before viewing. The reverse as well as the forward chronology of the scenes contributes tremendously to maintaining the suspense in the film. The film might tend to get boring if you lose track of the story. Nothing is spoon fed and the film expects the viewer to keep his thinking caps on throughout.
Confuse the viewers and they don't question is the simple formula the film follows. But confusion doesn't mean plot-holes. If the film is reassembled into the chronological order (in the suggested 1, V, 2 , W, , 21, B, 22/A order), everything makes sense. The only illogical scenes in the film are the momentary flashbacks involving Sammy Jankis, his wife and the protagonist Leonard, which even after multiple viewings doesn't answer some important questions. The film's order is the most important aspect of the film that has been discussed about. After watching the film, I would suggest going through the dissections by various critics on the net to understand the story better and appreciate the hard work behind it.
Reviewing the film after a single viewing is an injustice to the film; absolutely nobody can decipher the complex story in one go. The film doesn't make a lasting impression in the first watch because of its non- linear and blatantly confusing nature. I bet most of the negative reviews are mainly because understanding the film for a common mind is difficult. But that doesn't affect the prototypical nature of the film that is sure to have inspired many other films and will do so for years to come. It is a rarity that even those who hate it actually hate it for the same reasons why I call it a rarity.
Cinematography was functional but the background score was good. Editing is razor sharp. Direction by Christopher Nolan deserves immense praise. I did not like the Batman series very much but Memento covers it up. The complex story that questions the accuracy and deformability of memory required a director of his level. He nails it and how! Guy Pearce essays subtle shrewdness that his character has despite the disorder. Carrie- Anne Moss is passable. Joe Pantoliano is an actor to watch out. He slips into his sleazy and unconventional character with effortless ease and shocks at many points in the film. His character has multiple dimensions and he never messes them up.
Memento is landmark cinema that can't be overlooked.
8.5/10