I was going to wait for Thursday to post this, but my online communications class ends today and I wanted this post to be up before I present my blog. So yeah, that’s why I’m cheating. Am I really cheating though? Don’t I get to make up my own rules?
“Yeah, Ryan, you do!” I imagine you’d say.
So now that my inner struggles are settled, I suppose I’ll review a film.
Christopher Nolan is a downright fantastic director. “The Prestige?” Awesome. “The Dark Knight?” Best Batman film to date. “Inception?” Crazy cool.
There is, however, one Nolan film that trumps them all. One that I can safely call one of my favorite movies of all time. “Memento” is that movie. Seriously, if you haven’t treated yourself to this film, just go do it. Don’t even finish this post. Just watch the damn movie and sit in awe of what it will do to your brain. Not only is “Memento” smart, it’s scarily enjoyable and invites repeat viewings. I think I’ve probably seen it four or nine times by now.
The year was 2000. The genre of “cerebral thrillers” was not really a thing yet, at least, not like it is now. Films like “Black Swan” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” would later find great success in this up-and-coming genre, but “Memento” got their first. Not only was “Memento” heaped upon with critical praise upon its release, but it actually found an audience. Now, “Memento” can be considered a cult classic, much like “Fight Club” from the year before.
The basic concept of the film is simple: a man, Leonard, suffering from short-term memory loss, uses post-its, notes, and tattoos to hunt down the man that he thinks killed his wife. The tattoos, particularly, are used to remind Leonard of what to do and not to do, who to look for, and who not to look for. The execution of the film is anything but simple. Nolan constructs the film in a way that we feel like we are also suffering from short-term memory loss. We know, and don’t know, exactly what Leonard does. How freaking cool is that? Nolan basically puts us right into the film.
This type of unique execution does make the film a little more than confusing at times, but you just have to trust that it will all come together. Believe me, it does. Spectacularly.
“Ok, so what else happens in the film?” You’re probably asking.
Well, I won’t tell you. I hate how reviews often spoil the biggest of payoffs in film. I refuse to do that. This film is too special, and the payoff is too great. Do yourself a favor and put this one in your instant queue. Better yet, just watch it. Right now. Take a studying for finals break, OK?
Grade: A
Ryan at the Movies 