Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior, Russ Fega
2000-10-11
Leonard Shelby is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty of locating his wife's killer, however, is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of short-term memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he's going, or why.
Christopher Nolan's early masterwork, Memento, serves up an intricately constructed puzzle box revolving around trauma, amnesia, and memory. Guy Pearce inhabits Leonard Shelby with eerie determination, and the reverse chronological unraveling keeps one perpetually engaged despite initial confusion — perhaps reflecting cognitive dissonance experienced personally? Ultimately though rewarding upon second view once pieces fall into alignment satisfyingly.
