This a most unusual movie both in its plot and in its style. As a result of the injury, Shelby cannot retain any new memories but his old memories remain intact. Despite this handicap, Shelby is trying to find his wife's killer. He resorts to some very ingenious ways of keeping track of things even though he can never remember anyone he's met before or anywhere he's been. Added to the confusion of the main character, is some confusion for the audience.
Memento is shot backwards.
The film opens with the last scene and every scene thereafter is followed by the scene that happened just before it. This technique is applied with such dexterity that each scene naturally follows the one before it even though we are moving backwards through time. And it is amazing how it kept me on edge trying to figure out what's going on even though I'd seen the end of it. Australian actor Guy Pearce is excellent as the guy who can't remember who he's talking to unless he has a polaroid of him or her in his pocket. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and L.A. Confidential .