But don't listen or read too much more - just dive into this shimmering mirage of a movie and work it out for yourself. Take a big breath first. Compelling and thought provoking, its visuals are striking, with sharp editing and the grainy black and white integrated with colour. Through its clever script and assured direction we meet three richly drawn characters whose complexity is magnetic. Films about amnesia have always been a source of fascination.
Memento is a satisfying edgy interlude that triggers the key to the door of our own imagination.
From the very first images of a murder site polaroid which is followed by the killing itself played in reverse, Christopher Nolan's film is a juicy treat at every turn. And there are multiple twists and turns as Guy Pearce navigates his way through the blur his life has become since his wife's death. Using cinematic technique you won't find described by me because it's thrilling to discover once the lights have dimmed, Nolan makes us in the audience work as hard as Leonard. By that I mean that you need to take mental notes and remember back three or four scenes to keep a grip on what's happening. It can be done and it's a captivating exercise in manipulation and deduction.