Memento
Review by Lindsay Williams

How can I summarize “Memento,” a film that is made up of flashbacks that are shown in chronological order, backwards?

Leonard Shelby is an insurance investigator who witnesses his wife’s murder. During his struggle with the attacker, he suffers a head injury. It causes him to have, what he calls, a “condition.”

He develops a short-term memory, so short that he forgets everything every 15 minutes. His only clues are in memento’s: pictures he takes of the people and places that he encounters and the tattoos on his body. Confused yet? Don’t worry, it’s reassuring that the main character in the film isn’t so sure what’s going on either.

So, to make this short and sweet, Leonard is searching for his wife’s murderer armed with very confusing clues and a group of people that he can’t really trust, or that’s what his tattoos say, at least.

Guy Pearce plays Shelby, a handsome but very monotone character. He played this movie identical to his role in “L.A. Confidential.”

Another lead role is played by Carrie-Anne Moss, a sexy but sketchy barmaid trying to help Shelby. You may remember her as Trinity in “The Matrix,” and I couldn’t get that particular character out of my head while watching her. But she definitely broke free of any stereotypes and played this role with a lot of charisma.

Christopher Nolan claims both titles of director and writer for “Memento.” This is his feature length film debut and bound to make an impression on the film industry. It is the most twisted and creative plot I’ve ever seen on screen. It’s a movie that makes you think and try to figure out the ending on your own. “Memento” makes “Pulp Fiction” seem fairly simple.

So, if you have to make a bathroom break or grab some candy and a soda, be sure to do it before the film starts because you can’t miss a thing.

Lindsay Williams
l.m.williams@student.tcu.edu