How do you track a killer when you can’t remember who you’re looking for?
One word - lost. It’s how I felt throughout Christopher Nolan’s creative and unique psychological thriller. If you’re looking for a rollercoaster of a movie, then take a seat and get strapped in. Warning: whiplash may occur with the constant back and forth of Shelby’s memory.
The facts: It’s a simple concept. A man is on the hunt for his wife's killer while suffering from a rare, untreatable form of memory loss. Sounds straightforward, right? Think again. To some degree, it’s understandable what it’s like to live in Leonard Shelby’s mind of suffering amnesia. My mind was scrambled throughout, but that didn’t stop me from watching it again and again.
Released in 2000, Memento stars heart-throbbing Guy Pearce who does a flawless performance playing Shelby’s character. It’s no surprise he won Best Actor (2001) for his work. Making us feel as though we are part of his journey, we must question the significance of each memento and figure out its validity to piece the puzzle together. A man on a mission, the Independent Spirit Award for Best Film (2002), is very much fixated on the widower’s journey as he relies on his tattoo-noted body which holds vital facts. But like many of us, Shelby is no exception to the influence of his peers. Enter: Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss). I won’t spoil it for you… but perhaps you should never judge a book by its cover.
“Ok, what am I doing? Oh, I’m chasing this guy. No. He’s chasing me.” Shelby sure knows how to survive for someone who has the memory of a goldfish and questions his every move. And so does Nolan’s one hundred and twelve-minute masterpiece with its intelligent and exhilarating storyline, keeping you on your toes. It's refreshing not having to wait until the end to find out the outcome. As we open with the end, it goes against all narrative rules. Alternating between black and white scenes to convey the past and vivid colours for the present leads us through the story.
Don’t question your intelligence if you can’t quite grasp the film straight away. It does require some effort to keep up. But the creativity of the storyline is remarkable and truly holds a different take to your usual thriller. It is fathomable why it earned numerous awards, including the Academy Awards USA (2002). So perhaps pour yourself a cup of coffee to keep your brain working. One thing is for sure, Nolan’s thriller is definitely worth investing your time into.
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