What a brilliant way to edit a movie and make us feel like we have short term memory loss. This holds up incredibly well and is even better with more rewatches.
HERE IS NO SPOILER, JUST THE MOVIESTRUCTURE.
It's a difficult movie. Nolan (director) has cut the movie into two pieces. Part A and Part B:
These two pieces are again cut into several minor pieces. And these pieces are presented backwards. So that you see the Beginning of the story at the end of the movie.
So the Moviestrcture is like this:
A9 B1 A8 B2 A7 B3 A6 B4 A5 B5 A4 B7 A3 B8 A2 B9 A1
The obvious Question is: Is it not boring, to watch the End first ? NO ! Because the story is so good written, that the tension gets higher when you come to the beginning of the story.
I know, it sounds weird, but works perfect. And it rewards you with the best ending of a movie.
10/10
A masterpiece, watched it recently and still holds up, not only cerebral in its clever structure but also profound in its portrayal of unresolving grief and denial as a coping mechanism.
This is some of the finest storytelling I have seen put onto film. The black and white scenes representing the present and the scenes filmed in color representing the past .
Christopher Nolan really is a fabulous director.
Original story written by his brother Jonathan as he did with ‘Inception’.
The film will keep you captivated and questioning every plausible possibility.
Great film noir.
The movie goes backward. I know how it ends but I was curious about how it starts! One of the best. And the start really shocked me.
Wow, I am amazed. The movie has a great story. It is from end to end (<-- if you know what I mean ;)) well planned. The topic of short-term memory loss is serious and it has some kind of message in it. It was very exciting to watch and many passages gave me goosebumps.
What I really, really liked is:
- You had to think. Otherwise you wouldn't get along with the story.
- Everything is so confusing and jumbled. And suddenly more and more begins to make sense.
- The movie consists of just a few places where the story takes place
- The character development, especially of Natalie is amazing
- The plot is stunning
What I liked the most is:
In my opinion the movie had the effect on me that I had some kind of "short-term memory loss". There are many different scenes, placed in a "random" order, which makes you forget about what just happend or what happend at which time. You have to conceive the order of the movie. Amazing.
One of the few films you want to watch again just after you finish it and even after that you can watch over and over again and again. This really proves there is no need for special effects or high budgets for a great film. A good script is essential if you want to see something decent and no matter what you do with no script there is no film.
The film that got Nolan noticed and rightly so. It's also important to note that the structure of the film is vital and not just a gimmick - it's easy to relay through dialogue that the character has a memory problem, but trying to put the audience into that mindset is inspired and the decision to tell the story in reverse ensures that the audience experiences the same sense of disorientation every time that the central character does. Watching the film in chronological order would just not work. Fortunately, the weaving of a secondary timeline through the narrative some clever editing ensures the film never becomes too confusing, even as the film raises more questions. Its is immensely satisfying to see the threads come together at the end though if there is a flaw, it is that film's structure ensures the audience is more focused on this than caring much about the characters themselves, but that is a minor quibble for what is a fantastic film.
This is the first movie, where I sat 5 minutes without speaking. It shook me to the core and forced me to think about the perception of seeing things. Just incredible....
No spoiler here however this movie is mediocre I could barely make it through 30 minutes without making a funny commentary the movie is extremely slow moving and for being a thriller it's deathly not very thrilling
Oh and the continuity in this movie is pretty flawed you do not inject insulin intravenously you have to put that in the belly into the paratonial cavity injection into the veins is fatal usually and apparently in this movie it's not nice job on the realism guys
Nolan's films have suchv re-watchability especially when you forget what actually unfolds and you spend your time trying to re-piece together what you thought you already knew. I am literally in love with the style of this film and I'm so glad it hasn't been tainted by cheap knock-offs. Not that I've seen anyway. It works so well with the subject matter and really puts you in the action right there with Leonard. A massive recommendation for everyone to watch this film.
Bizarre film, but very, very good.
"How am I supposed to heal if I can't feel time?"
Following a non-linear unique structure of storytelling (one timeline moving forward and the other moving backwards), Memento is a clever cerebral piece that explores themes such as memory and identity. It's about the hold that identity has on us and how it can even overshadow the loss of short-term memory. Compared to facts, memories are irrelevant sinse they're inacurate and easy to forge with the mind. Interpretation aside, this movie's a real mindfuck and after nearly 2 hours of watching YouTube videos, I officially have a headache.
The editing's the real star here, it's fascinating that with so many timejump fragments it somehow all fits together and flows great. I like how the movie adresses that people always take advantage of disabled individuals, it's done in an enlightening way. Leonard Shelby is truly an excellently well-written character. Sublime use of colors mixed with black & white, great acting, perfect direction and a clever puzzle narrative that'll leave you thinking. This one demands a second viewing!
Note to self...
Absolutely blew myond when I first saw it and still does. Most definitely the last true masterpiece of the 20th century.
"Memento" proved that a competent director, a revolutionary idea, and a decent cast could sometimes be enough to make a groundbreaking film. The film is essentially a neo-noir thriller played backward. Leonard is looking for the man who raped and killed his wife, but the traumatic events caused him short-term amnesia. Unable to store memories for more than a few minutes, he leaves clues for him to find, like scribbles, tattoos, and polaroid pictures. Every time Leonard loses his memories, he has to guess how things happened by looking through the clues he has.
At the beginning of the film, Leonard already found the killer, but cannot remember how. We are then progressively taken back in time and shown the events that lead to each piece of evidence. As the viewer only knows what would happen, but not how it happened, it's easy to feel in Leonard's shoes. Each episode starts where the following scene would end, and despite the fragmented storytelling, everything flows coherently. There is also a parallel timeline (shot in black and white) that proceeds forward in time to converge with the backward timeline in the end.
As the story progresses (or I should say, regresses), our view of Leonard and the other characters drastically changes, until we lose our trust in memory and reality. Facts and evidence are the foundations of truth and the only things that lead Leonard's search, but they cannot be reliable as they are subject to the influence of the individual who processed and recorded them. Leonard is so sure about the absolute value of facts and the impermanence of memories, but in the end, memories are the only things that help us define our reality. Wrong assumptions and fabricated evidence are enough to lead his search on the wrong path.
The success of "Memento" turned Christophe Nolan into one of the most prestigious directors in Hollywood, but at the same time caused his self-pressure to create increasingly revolutionary and conceptually complicated films, mostly with forced and incoherent results.
Oh. Really good story(scenario) but bad part system.
A bit confusing. One Movie and too much Reverse parts like a puzzle.A bit hard for watch.
I watch two times this movie but i still feel unsatisfied.
movie recommendation
if you like this movie , watch "shutter island" too. // Maybe "Ghajini" too(but not same)
"How am I supposed to heal if I cant feel time?"
Wow. This movie is one of the best I have seen in a while. First, the format of this movie is geniuinely insane. It's not good because it is complicated. The entire way things are set up helps create tension and bits of info. The tension in that one scene where he had his arm tattooed to not answer the phone... It is also good because it not only fits with what is happening and the themes, but it also makes for some great reveals and moments. For example, when Natalie is manipulating Lenny because she knows she can. It made my jaw drop and actually furious. The movie also made me pity Lenny so bad. It was very difficult for me to watch him deal with all the bullshit. The fact he was also being used by two different parties against each other was also insane. The entire story itself is also tragic when you realise he tried to force himself to believe his wife was killed by somebody. He tried to get rid of this guilt, but he ended up making himself believe that somebody had killed his wife. It was fucking devastating. He tried to convince himself he didnt kill her in some way, but with that came his own delusions forcing him onto a dangerous path where he ended up murdering people and fucking up his life and others' lives. The movie was also gripping due to this constant movement and pace building up. It made for a very enjoyable journey. If I have to say one thing that disappointed me, it was the ending. The ending is still good, but it also left me wanting more. I know adding more to the movie wouldn't have made much sense. However, it still made me mad that Lenny went off course, though he did it to himself when he lied to himself once again. This could eventually cause his life to derail even more, but it was still sad to see. Another extra little thing I wanna talk about is memory and how memory is a very dangerous part of humans as many things can be misremembered. I can really relate to this as a lot of the reviews I write are to remember how I felt about the thing right after instead of romanticizing certain things over time. Overall, what I will remember this movie for: The tragic story of Lenny. The perfectly structured story and its unique way of portraying events and using Lenny's condition. Finally, the gripping part of piecing together different information and thinking about how each information was given to Lenny (questioning every piece of info he had). It was a great movie that is super unique and will be pondering on for some time.
At Time of Review:
Solid 9/10
Story and Characters: 9/10
Presentation: 10/10
Enjoyability: 9/10
"Memento", a film directed by Christopher Nolan, released in 2000, is based on the story of the same name written by Jonathan Nolan. The film alone offers a unique cinematic experience and is about a man named Leonard Shelby (played by Guy Pearce) who has an accident that causes him to lose his short term memory, and he is forced into a time when Unlike everyone else, suffer from everyday forgetfulness.
In "Memnonto" the story unfolds inconsistently; Different parts are from the end to the beginning and other parts are from the beginning to the end to bring the experience of a state of amnesia similar to the main character to the audience. This story structure requires viewers to challenge and understand the story in a focused and intelligent way. Using its unique story structure, in a non-linear way where all the pieces of the story finally come together, the film "Memenonto" explores such characteristics as madness, madness, revenge and human psychology.
The conclusion for the movie "Memenonto" can be that this movie increases the excitement of the movie as much as possible and entertains and motivates the audience until the last moments by using the unique story structure and way of introducing information. Also, the film makes metaphors about issues such as memory, identity and reality, and talks about the ability of humans to control and maintain their truth and identity.
Finally, "Memnento" is known as one of the outstanding and admired works in the history of cinema, which has been able to attract the opinion of many critics and audiences both in its story structure and in its performance and acting. It is very new, it still remains as one of the most interesting movies in the cinema field.
In the vast universe of cinematic storytelling, Christopher Nolan's "Memento" shines as a celestial body all its own, an innovative and audacious piece of filmmaking that challenges the very way we perceive narrative structure. Nolan displays an unparalleled craftsmanship, a mesmerizing ability to play with time and memory to create a psychological thriller that keeps the viewer constantly on edge. Guy Pearce's captivating performance as Leonard Shelby, a man battling anterograde amnesia in a grim quest for revenge, is executed with deft precision and profound vulnerability. The ingenious reverse chronological order, a narrative Rubik's Cube, forces us to inhabit Leonard's fragmented mindset, creating a maddeningly intriguing cinematic experience that tests the limits of our empathy and understanding. The sublime script, filled with myriad twists and turns, is a study in both narrative intricacy and simplicity - a puzzle that invites, and rewards, multiple viewings. Nolan's penchant for the exploration of human psyche, reality, and identity, woven into the dark tapestry of "Memento," heralded the advent of a visionary director. In a nutshell, "Memento" is a groundbreaking film that transcends the conventions of its genre, a true testament to the power of storytelling.
Fantastic movie, unique with a great story. I recommend it!
Mindf*ck movies. Kept me on edge of thrill throughout the movie. Surely best work of Nolan ever. Dialogue were superb and end was epic.
"I have this condition."
When I watched this as a kid I did not truly understand it. Years later I find this film frustrating, but in a way that Nolan intended it to be. It is unique and really good. The ending makes the story come all together and without the ending I am not sure I would like this movie as much, but once again.. Nolan proving he knows how to tell a story.
Was watching 2nd time after long enough to forget. Even I was remember something still my mind blown. Masterpiece. One of my favourite movie of all time.
The story about someone who is going to kill the murderer of his wife. The issue? He can't remember anything that has happened more than 10 minutes ago, and he is making photos and notes to help him on that. Yet, his notes and what people do or claim to do are contradicting often, and it becomes a mayor theme of the movie who he can even trust.
Often, movies with such a premise ended up being a mayor disappointment for me because the execution being pretty lackluster, but this one not so.
Pretty much every movie is just going forward, occasionally looking into the past for backgrounds of actions, or sometimes, like Deadpool 1, set the start of the movie of the past.
This is different from that. You begin with the end of the story, and you will literally discover the truth about how the story began at the very end of the movie. Not conspiracies or anything like that, but literally the whole timeline.
I think this is really a movie of it's own kind and can barely compared to any other. It is at times confusing, especially at the start if you are unaware of how the story is told in the first place.
Rating: 10/10
Memento follows colour and black-white sequences. Colour sequence is a reverse order of things happened and black-white sequence refers to things happened before the colour sequence. It's a mind blowing screenplay. Credits goes not only to director Christopher Nolan but his brother Jonathan Nolan for his short story to inspire "Memento"
Totally-brutal mindf*ck and so great written, directed, ordered... Just amazing.
This movie isn’t confusing it’s STUPID
I'm myslef an all time fan of Nolan's work. The narrative structure is totally justified by the plot of the film, and perfectly done, I'm really impressed with that.
But there's a slight but: the pot twist. I really wanted it to shock me, but about the middle of the flim I kind of started to see what was going to be the style of the ending.
It's not predictable (at all), I just saw that it had the vibes of films like (might be spoiler if you haven't watched these) "The Fight Club" or "Number 23" ant it just ruined the shock of the last scenes for me. Maybe if I had watched this movie before any of the others, I'd be posting this comment in one of the other lims, who knows.
Anyway, there's no doubt this is a cinematographic masterpiece.
Confusing puzzle. Some part in black and white which has a meaning. The plot order and mystery are insane. Over complication doesn't mean it's a great movie for that reason but it also happens to be a great movie apart from that. Needs a few views and that doesn't bother me.
OMG. this is fucking insane. when you think you know that is going on ... boom ... you don't. I watch it and them when it end it, I play the movie again and I understood more and more. if you want to really understand this movie you have to watch multiple times.
Excellent! 9/10. Te mantiene atento toda la película y el final es genial. Recomendadisima!
I Finished this movie and I did not understand anything -
BAD MOVIE!!
This was simply one of the best films that I have ever seen. What an innovative way to tell a story making it just that much more compelling. I would enjoy telling stories one day in the film format and this will be a reference on how to tell it properly.
Very intriguing but also quite hard to follow. I liked it but you have to pay attention, otherwise you will feel lost for sure!
I am speechless. And so, so, so glad I went in spoiler free. It made the ride so much more fun and thrilling. I honestly don't know where to start with the brilliance of this movie. A true masterpiece. Can't believe now is my first time watching it. And it sure as hell won't be the last. Probably deserves multiple rewatches to appreciate it even more. Totally get why it's a classic and always in the top of the best films in history.
A great concept even though it does make for a rather confusing story to follow. Guy Pearce plays Leonard a character that's easy to like for most of the movie. Carrie-Anne Moss's Natalie also morphs into something different as the story unfolds...or should I say folds? Christopher Nolan directs a real thinker's film in "Momento".
After stretching his legs in the arthouse scene with 1998's Following, Christopher Nolan gets a little more mainstream in this swervy, concept-rich tale of amnestic vengeance. Guy Pearce plays a man with short-term memory loss, constantly overwriting the VHS tape of his near-past as he tracks a nameless, faceless killer. He employs some blunt methods for retaining important information - hand-written notes and Polaroids for loose facts, tattoos for solid truths - but when you're operating on such a short timer (the dreaded memory wipe seems to occur every ten minutes), I suppose you've got to take what you can get, even if it makes you a target for manipulation.
The whole fable unfolds in a sort of stuttered reverse, immediately revealing the plot's ending before slowly walking back to its beginning, which leaves the viewer feeling almost as handicapped as Pearce. It's an early example of Nolan's experimental nature, his interest in tinkering with traditional storytelling formats to bend viewers' perceptions, and it works just as well here as we might expect from his later works. At each intersection, we're forced to second-guess everything we thought we knew, which continually changes the context of that first ten minute chunk. Our trust is earned, betrayed, diverted and rehabilitated.
Sure, sometimes it feels like this is more about the experiment than the plot (for all its ambition, the actual story is very small-scale), but conceptual risks carry a lot of weight with me and Memento is a verifiable playground for such things. It's as effective a "walk a mile in my shoes" experience as any I've seen on the big screen, and a large part of that can be credited to the Nolan brothers' peculiar knack for outside-the-box cinematic creativity.
Just a mess, no worth at all
oh.. my go, what do i say, loved it and I didn't understand the story after watching it first time.. and i do watched it 4 times continuously..
A very good movie about short-term memory loss worthy to give a try.
Simplesmente genial, como todos os filmes do Nolan, claro.
Phenomenal.
What a movie! I had heard plenty about 'Memento' prior to watching in regards to how high-quality it supposedly was, though didn't actually (thankfully) get spoiled on anything that occurs onscreen - I did know of the note-taking, though for some reason thought it was via post-it notes rather than polaroids - no idea why!
It's a very satisfying movie come the conclusion, concentration is very much the order of the day but the film does connect enough dots rather sharpish. I thoroughly appreciated the ending itself, Guy Pearce delivers the final moments supremely. Speaking of he, I've not seen much of him before but this is a terrific lead performance!
Joe Pantoliano and Carrie-Anne Moss are excellent in their respective roles too, even Stephen Tobolowsky and Harriet Sansom Harris manage to leave an imprint on my mind despite much less screen time; first time I've seen Harris in anything properly since I was in my teens a decade or so ago, always remember her great showing in 'Desperate Housewives' (interestingly the first television show I ever got into, it's quality, don't @ me :sunglasses:).
Anyway, back on track... Christopher Nolan - some director, eh?! I'd put this right in my top three ranking of his work, behind 'Inception' and 'Interstellar'. Such a fulfilling movie! I hope for similar-ish with his other pictures in 'Insomnia' and 'The Prestige', two flicks I know absolutely zilch about. I don't anticipate that Mr. Nolan will let me down at this point.
Couldn't watch all the way through, too frustrating
I really liked the way the story was told and that during the whole movie a puzzle in my head was completing. But it just didn't hit me. Objectivly, this is a great movie. But it didn't make me feel anything, it made me question though. This is what makes it kind of boring to me.
I haven’t seen this movie in over a decade so I got to be Lenny again!
You can clearly see the ideas he liked early in his career and how he further explored them in his later movies. This was really just a warm-up movie for him. Still a good one though.
Brilliant, a movie that completely reinvents the wheel in terms of structure. The heart of it is a typical film noir story, but the puzzlebox presentation makes it fresh and engaging. The script is tight, the performances are excellent (I’m still surprised how much better Carrie Ann Moss is here compared to The Matrix) and as a filmmaker Nolan arrived at the scene with a distinct voice. I think this is actually more well shot than some of his films that followed this, and I can’t help but how much of an influence Darren Aronofsky’s Pi had on this film stylistically (dark electronic score; black & white cinematography; themes of paranoia). No real complaints, this is essential viewing that keeps a good balance of accessibility and challenging the viewer, and depending on your preferences it’s still arguably Nolan’s best.
9/10
I did not like it, and not because I didn't get it, it was all written down for me. The real reason I didn't like it, is because I just forgot what it was about.
Very good buildup thriller with the twist of him altering his memory to keep searching for a killer and find purpose- very good
i didn't think a movie that was directed to in a way where the story starts backwards (in a sense) would be this interesting to watch, but i loved it, wanted to finally check out this movie after so long, and knowing it was one of Christopher Nolan's first works, i knew i wouldn't be disappointed and i wasn't,
great movie, confusing, but great
The memory gimmick made the reveal a bit predictable, and I was honestly kind of bored throughout? Definitely a very overhyped movie, although I think I'm just not a fan of this format.
Admittedly biased for Christopher Nolan movies, this has not aged nearly as good as many. Don’t get me wrong, I still love it, but it’s harder to recommend to a mass audience. Much like Inception or The Prestige, you have to pay attention to everything. With each watch you catch more that happens. I look forward to watching this many more times!
Rating: 4.5/5 - 9/10 - Highly Recommend
Very interesting and stimulating. It is convenient to see it a couple of times to capture the nuances.
Absolutely brilliant nonlinear film!
It's always a testament to great writing when the audience is initially encouraged to be supportive of the protagonist, only to realise too late that he/she is also the antagonist.
A genius is born in this flawless thriller.
A believe that this is best work of Christopher Nolan and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. This movie is absolute masterpiece. Pretty sure that this movie should be stander to measure mindfuck movies.
This movie turn around the theme of denie the realiaty. The idea that we can not live without a purpose, motivate the main character to do everything as possible to go forward, persuing a lie, resulting in the death of Teddy at first scene of the film. Telling the story backwards, make that us feel like as if we are the character, without any clue of what is fucking happening, we have to start collect the clues with the main character, what make us engage in the plot.
A fun puzzle to solve
what is chris nolan smoking every time he makes a movie?!?
no, seriously, i was proud of myself that i figured out teddy wasn't actually the killer and that natalie was using leonard's revenge to get her own with more or less 40 minutes left of the movie. i thought i'd managed to figure out the big plot twist ahead of time like i did with fight club and was feeling all cocky until the movie threw me another curve ball with Leonard being Sammy all along lol. amazing ending. amazing movie.
Revolutionary in the way cinema tells a story.
Brilliant movie, I love it
should have watched by myself and paid more attention. didn't get it, can't rate it.
An unforgettable trip into the mind of a man with no memory.
You need to and will want to watch it twice. I still love this movie. It was quite unique when it came out.
Whoever thinks this needs to be remade is an idiot. What's the point in remaking a movie with a twist that everyone knows by now ? That's like remaking Seven or the Usual Suspects. Which is probably next.
brace yourself to caught the storyline.you need to think more.
The movie's a fucking trip. I didn't get it. I'll have to watch it again before rating.
What an Amazing clever movie ♡ ♡ ♡
Outblasting.
Who is teddy? ;-)
Definitely A "must see"
Shout by ♡BlockedParent2017-04-02T14:24:15Z
You will feel completely lost for most of the movie, but it's all worth it in the end. Although a bit confusing at times, Memento is still engaging and entertaining. This is one of those movies that stick with you for some time after watching it and really make you think about the truth about existing in a constructed reality and the nature of the human condition. Definitely a movie worth multiple rewatches.