Memento ~ The Movie

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 18 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #593 in Movies & TV, #14,437 overall

Memento (2000): Some Memories Are Best Forgotten

Memento - one of the best films of 2000 - was inspired by a short story by Jonathan Nolan, the brother of the film's director Christopher Nolan.

The short story, Memento Mori, became Memento and stars Guy Pearce as a former insurance fraud investigator (Leonard Shelby), who is hunting for the man who he believes raped and killed his wife during a burglary.

Unfortunately for Leonard, he now has anterograde amnesia, which he contracted from severe head trauma during the attack on his wife. This renders his brain unable to store new memories. To cope with his condition, he maintains a system of notes, photographs, and tattoos to record information about himself and others, including his wife's killer.

He is helped in his investigations by Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) and Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss), neither of whom he can truly trust.

Memento: A Review 

If you're looking for something intense, suspenseful, and different than your usual effects-packed thriller, this is the best movie you will see in some time.

You will be talking about Memento at work, at the grocery store, and you will find yourself joining conversations when you hear the word "Memento". That's why this little film that received almost no marketing stayed in theaters for months and was in the top 10 money makers for several weeks.

The movie starts with a murder -- a revenge killing, in fact. But was the right person killed?

Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) is a man with no short-term memory. He hasn't been able to form new memories since the night his wife was murdered. Now he's on a hunt to find the murderer but with no way of remembering names, dates, places, facts and faces. Instead he tattoos himself with mementos of his search. When someone knows his name, he checks Polaroids to see if he knows them. Does he like this person? Does he trust this person? Is this the killer? He doesn't know unless he's scribbled a note.

Don't worry about trying to empathize with Leonard because writer/director Christopher Nolan puts you right in Leonard's shoes. You live the story in reverse order so that you never know more than Leonard does. In one scene you see Leonard getting information from a person who knows him -- maybe a good person, maybe bad. In the next scene you see a previous meeting between the two which sheds more light on their relationship. Later still, you see how they met. But is that all of the story? You've yet to find out... and you won't know everything until the last scene. By living it backwards, you, like Leonard, have no knowledge of what came before.

It's brilliant story telling. But you might get frustrated because you don't know what's going on. That's normal. In fact, that's the whole idea. Just sit back, try to relax (though that's difficult in this movie), and find out just how twisted and complex Leonard's world is.

This film will leave its own memento on your mind, and you'll have a hard time forgetting how much you enjoyed it.

The Trailer For 'Memento' 

'Memento' Trailer Rated R For Bad Language & Violence

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Memento: The Details 

Genre:
Crime Thriller

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Actors:
Guy Pearce
Carrie-Anne Moss
Joe Pantoliano

"We all need mirrors to remind ourselves who we are. I'm no different" - Leonard Shelby

Guy Pearce is Leonard Shelby 

Guy Edward Pearce (born 5 October 1967) is an English-born Australian Screen Actors Guild Award-nominated actor and musician, perhaps best known for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Anterograde amnesia victim Leonard Shelby in Christopher Nolan's Memento, his performance as Sergeant Ed Exley in the film L.A. Confidential, and for his role as Mike Young in the popular Australian television series Neighbours.

Memento ~ English Language Poster

Memento: The Opening Scene 

'Memento': Rated R For Bad Language & Violence

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Spotlight on Memento 

Memento

Amazon Price: $8.49 (as of 07/09/2009)Buy Now
List Price: $14.94

Just when you thought film noir was dead and buried, along comes the memorably mind-bending Memento. Every incident, every conversation is a mini-mystery waiting to be unraveled. Ironically, it's one of the most memorable films of 2000/1.

Carrie-Anne Moss is Natalie 

Carrie-Anne Moss (born August 21, 1967) is a Screen Actors Guild Award-nominated Canadian actress known for her roles in The Matrix trilogy, Memento, and Chocolat.

Memento: Viewer Reviews 

Memento 2002, DVD: Viewer Reviews
DVD: MEMENTO, the second feature by writer-director Christopher Nolan, an intricately constructed film noir that masterfully inverts time to comment on the foggy relationship between memory and...

Great Memento Deals 

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"It must be hard living your life off a couple of scraps of paper. You mix your laundry list with your grocery list, you'll end up eating your underwear for breakfast" - Natalie

Spotlight on The Making of Memento 

The Making of Memento

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Christopher Nolan's Memento--the deceptive, ambiguous tale of a man with short-term memory loss consumed by the need to avenge the rape and murder of his wife--has already been hailed by critics as "a new classic", provoked more discussion than any other film of 2000, and in a near-instant established Nolan as a major player in the industry.

The Making of Memento is the perfect companion to what is sure to be regarded as one of the first great films of the new century.

Memento Movie Poster - The French Version

Joe Pantoliano is Teddy 

Joseph Peter "Joe" Pantoliano (born September 12, 1951)Joe Pantoliano Biography (1951?-) is an American film and television actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Ralph Cifaretto on The Sopranos, and for his role as Cypher in The Matrix.

Memento: The Limited Edition 

Memento (Widescreen Two-Disc Limited Edition)

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Guy Pearce and Joe Pantoliano shine in this absolute stunner of a movie. 'Memento' combines a bold, mind-bending script with compelling action and virtuoso performances.

Pearce plays Leonard Shelby, hunting down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The problem is that "the incident" that robbed Leonard of his wife also stole his ability to make new memories. Unable to retain a location, a face, or a new clue on his own, Leonard continues his search with the help of notes, Polaroids, and even homemade tattoos for vital information...

Will You Watch Memento? 

Are you inspired to watch Memento?

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Yes, it sounds great!

archetekt says:

One of my top films, i'd see it again.

drifter0658 says:

one of the best I've ever seen

star says:

hell yeah

Intuitive says:

Yes, I'd not even heard about it. Where have I been?

clouda9 says:

Yep...it is on my watch list now.

mulberry says:

You've certainly roused my curosity!

No, it's not my thing at all!

nightbear says:

Really not my thing, I do't care for violence and R rated movies, but your lens is beautiful. At least now I know before I go.

 
 
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Your Comments About This Memento Lens Are Appreciated 

glowchick wrote...

This is on my Top Ten List of Best all time Movies. In My opinion, the mark of a great movie is still wanting it to continue when you have reached the end. This film definely does that for you.

ReplyPosted May 20, 2009

drifter0658 wrote...

This movie was one of the best I've seen The Following and Insomnia, both by the same director, are well worth renting as well.

Film Noir is hot. The Cohen Brothers are wicked at it it, and another piece I liked was Novocaine starring Steve Martin.

Thanks!

ReplyPosted April 05, 2009

Brain_Washer wrote...

One of my all-time favorites. Recently there was a movie in Bollywood (Mumbai, India) called 'Ghazini', which was inspired by 'Memento'. Ghazini was a big hit in India. Here's a link:

http://www.rememberghajini.com/

ReplyPosted March 29, 2009

clouda9 wrote...

This looks like an intense film! Gotta see it now.

ReplyPosted December 11, 2008

Mayflowerblood wrote...

Sounds like must see!

ReplyPosted December 10, 2008

ArtByLinda wrote...

I really want to see Memento now, it does sound really good.

ReplyPosted December 10, 2008

 
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