Review of Memento (2000) by Renzo V — 25 Feb 2014

"SOME MEMORIES ARE BEST FORGOTTEN".

- 'Memento' is a 2000 psychological mystery thriller directed by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Trilogy). This movie is divided into two segments: a black-and-white part that is shown in chronological order and a color part that is reversed. This way of telling a story is a bit confusing at first, so as a viewer you need to pay close attention because every part is a piece of the puzzle. In the very end everything falls into place. I like the complicity of the film that has memory and revenge as its foundation. The usage of Polaroid pictures and tattoo's to help the main character remember his quest is brilliant. In the cast we see Guy Pearce (Prometheus), Carrie-Ann Moss (The Matrix Trilogy), Joe Pantoliano (The Goonies) and Mark Boone Junior (Sons of Anarchy).

Leonard Shelby (Pearce) has a rare form of amnesia and is unable to store recent memories. He wakes up in a motel room. On his body he has tattoo's that indicate that his wife was raped and murdered, and that he has to find and kill the culprit. He also has some Polaroid pictures with notes on to help him remember the people around him: there's Natalie (Moss) who helps him and also lost someone dear to her and there's Teddy (Pantoliano), a guy he shouldn't trust and his number one suspect. Bit by bit the puzzle comes together...