10 Best Films of the Decade 2000’s #6 Memento (Christopher Nolan, 2000): USA
Reviewed by Byron Potau. Viewed on DVD.
In the hands of a lesser director Memento may have been nothing more than a novelty, more akin to something M. Night Shymalan would have done. In the hands of Christopher Nolan it is an original and fascinating probe into memory, perception, and having a purpose in life, and that’s enough to make it #6 on my list of ten best films of the decade.
Nolan sets up his film in the opening shot as we watch a Polaroid snapshot fade to black like a memory, mirroring our protagonist’s condition. Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) is looking for the man who raped and murdered his wife so he can have vengeance. The problem is that he was also injured in the attack and since cannot make new memories. He can only remember things for a short period of time, say about five minutes, before he forgets where he is and what he is doing. For the important stuff he tattoos it on his body, such as the killer’s license plate number. He keeps a small stack of polaroids of his car, the place he is staying, and the people he is interacting with which contain a short note or two about who they are.
The film is told in five minute scenes that end where the previous one began so the story unfolds in reverse. Nolan also mixes in some black and white scenes that give us a little information on the story and insight into our main character including a story about Sammy Jankis (Stephen Tobolowsky), a man Leonard dealt with in his days as an insurance investigator who had a similar condition to Leonard’s.
Nolan does an excellent job of making the audience feel a little lost at the beginning of each scene and slowly letting us realize what is going on. Leonard’s narration is of little help as he often knows less about what is going on than we do, but it adds to that feeling of mystery about not only what is going to happen next, but what is happening now. Nolan deftly balances the scenes to create a smooth flow from beginning to end and uses creative storytelling to make this seemingly simple neo noir mystery engrossing.
Guy Pearce gives an incredible, quietly intense performance as Leonard. Sure of his actions when he shouldn’t be, manipulated by others without even knowing it, his pseudo detective is one of the most memorable characters in recent films. Carrie Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano are also both excellent in supporting roles as Leonard’s friends that use him for their own benefit.
Aware that the gimmick might wear thin, Nolan adds plenty of depth to his film as well. The film has a slow, methodical pace, but is deceptively complex. Though it initially uses the gimmick of telling the story backwards it lends itself very well to repeat viewings because there is so much more to the film than the gimmick. Leonard is a fascinating character and his situation gives many opportunities to bring up questions and thoughts about memories, what is real and imagined, how we perceive what is going on, and how we might deceive ourselves so that we may have a purpose.
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