Memento
Memento

Memento

2000Movie113 minEnglish

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.

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Insights

IMDb7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes93%
Metacritic86/100
Google Users92%
Director: Christopher NolanGenres: Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

Leonard Shelby is a man suffering from anterograde amnesia, unable to form new memories. He navigates a world of confusion using notes, tattoos, and Polaroid photographs to track a mysterious killer. His investigation into his wife's murder unfolds in reverse chronological order, challenging the audience's perception of time and reality.

Critical Reception

Memento was met with widespread critical acclaim, praised for its innovative narrative structure, complex themes, and gripping suspense. It is considered a landmark film in neo-noir and psychological thriller genres, earning significant praise from both critics and audiences alike for its originality and execution.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its ingenious, non-linear storytelling.
  • Lauded for its compelling performances, particularly from Guy Pearce.
  • Recognized for its masterful manipulation of audience perception and suspense.

Google audience: Audience reviews highlight the film's unique and mind-bending narrative structure as a major strength, appreciating its ability to keep them engaged and guessing. The performances are frequently commended, and viewers often express satisfaction with the film's thought-provoking themes and surprising conclusion.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing) and won numerous awards including Best Screenplay at the Writers Guild of America Awards and Best Director at the London Film Critics Circle Awards.

Fun Fact

Christopher Nolan developed the screenplay for Memento based on a short story his brother, Jonathan Nolan, wrote titled 'Memento Mori'.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

7 reviews
ekaari

ekaari

A similar style to Inception, pay attention or you’ll lose it
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

I reckon what makes this work from Christopher Nolan is the creation of a cerebral maelstrom that is every bit as confusingly frustrating for us watching as it is for his protagonist "Leonard" (Guy Pearce). Now we don't know how he has deve...
r96sk

r96sk

Phenomenal. What a movie! I had heard plenty about <em>'Memento'</em> 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 th...
AstroNoud

AstroNoud

Structuring the film in such a way that the viewer knows as little as the protagonist, the Nolan's have created a nifty puzzle that slowly unravels to its climax. 8/10
mattwilde123

mattwilde123

‘Memento’ is director Christopher Nolan’s tribute to classic film noir tales of revenge and mystery. By adding a new twist to traditional conventions, Nolan is able to consume and grip the viewer throughout the entire film and for years aft...
talisencrw

talisencrw

Excellent. I can't believe I've finally gotten around to watching all of Christopher Nolan's films (I have 'The Prestige' on DVD, but have yet to see it), but it's been well worth the wait. There are a couple of handful of English-language ...
John Chard

John Chard

We all lie to ourselves to be happy. It's not until a film like Memento comes along, or that you personally have to deal with someone close who suffers a form of this subject to hand, that you get jolted to remember just how your memory ...