Memento (2000)

Memento (2000)

2000 R 113 Minutes

Mystery | Thriller

Suffering short-term memory loss after a head injury, Leonard Shelby embarks on a grim quest to find the lowlife who murdered his wife in this gritty, complex thriller that packs more knots than a...

Overall Rating

9 / 10
Verdict: Great

User Review

  • WHAT I LIKED: Where to start with 'Memento'? Well when Christopher Nolan sat down to write and direct his first big hit, if he was ever in any doubt about where to start, it certainly doesn't show in the final product. Yes this brilliant early feature from who is now arguably the greatest director working today broadcasts his confident ability and bold brilliance in all its shining glory, and in a way there it hints at much of what we might see from his future filmography whilst it also stands out as something radically different and more playful or experimental than much of his later work.
    That's no mean feat, but building on the brilliant work he did in 'Following' and establishing a snappy and gritty tone with an even more ambitious and occasionally thematic narrative means it is most definitely the case. But what's even more impressive than Memento's long reach is once again its impressive grasp, and that largely lies in the hands of the film's human characterisation and increased tense energy that captures and engages to deliver a truly immersive experience that somehow keeps you right in the thick of things despite the wild ambition.
    WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: That crazy narrative structure can get confusing at times...
    VERDICT: Take 'Following' and turn up the dials; such a madly ambitious and madly successful film so early in a director's career is rare, but 'Memento' shows Christopher Nolan taking huge risks and delivering brilliance like very few ever manage at all.