Guy Pearce, Joe Pantoliano, Carrie-Anne Moss, Mark Boone Junior, Stephen Tobolowsky ...( see more  see more... ) , Jorja Fox

A man, suffering from short-term memory loss, uses notes and tattoos to hunt for the man he thinks killed his wife.

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93% liked it

320,699 ratings

Critics

93% liked it

134 critics

R, 2 hr.

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Release Date: September 5, 2000

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DVD Release Date: September 4, 2001

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Stats: 28,663 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (28,663)


  • February 5, 2010
    Complex, bewildering and intertwined Memento is a masterful experiment in cinema which pays off.
  • February 4, 2010
    ''I can't remember to forget you.''

    A man, suffering from short-term memory loss, uses notes and tattoos to hunt for the man he thinks killed his wife.

    Guy Pearce: Leonard

    Memento(2000) is deeply psychological, as soon as it starts you can see

    ...( read more)in between the lines, the stylish layout and the Adult thriller Hitchcock-esque execution, that this is birthed from the mind of Nolan.
    That being said Memento not only is derived from acclaimed Director Christopher Nolan but also Jonathan Nolan who wrote the short story Memento Mori.
    Christopher does the Screenplay which to my opinion holds no faults, it's virtually flawless.

    Carrie-Anne Moss as Natalie, and Joe Pantoliano as Teddy Gammell again show as they did in The Matrix that they have a knack for clamping down and getting roles in deep, challenging, twisty, intellectual pieces. Which also pretty much describes Memento to a small degree. They do a good job in showing no one can be trusted within the film and everyone raises more questions rather than answers.
    Guy Pearce the main focus and Leonard character of Memento, genuinely comes across as being a mysterious faceted three dimensional entity thanks to the mind bending script. Guy's narration really gives the film a gritty Film-Noir detective feel which really lifts Memento to dizzying heights.
    We see his short term memory effortless put forth to us, we see his tattoos and his troubles state of mind. In this sense Nolan succeeds in using his tool Guy Pierce to as near success as heaven doth allow.

    ''I have to believe in a world outside my own mind. I have to believe that my actions still have meaning, even if I can't remember them.''

    So what is the plot that Memento offers us? It consists of an emotional shock that results in unhinged revenge, Leonard Shelby is now piecing back the bits of remembered past? Or is he? Is he alive? If we agree that a person doesn't exist as an entity without memory, existing in a uncanny state of limbo, and that this dead Leonard is watching his life flash by. It is a genius question which for all us deep thinkers allows to theorize on our own conclusions.
    As all the pieces start to come together in this jigsaw, at the climax yet in the narrative's ascending beginning, Leonard is denied all the usual action of a hero's benefits and indeed rewards reaped: Increased self-knowledge, knowledge of the world and the plot of occurrences.
    He is given the answers at the start yet only remembers the questions. Leonard at the end is a more coherent character than at the beginning.

    Is this due to the fact we've given a mass of information by then and think we know him and his situation better? Or is he, as his narrative progresses, getting vaguer, moving towards inertia, the catatonia that finally swamped his alter-ego Sammy Jenkins. Our problem is that the film comprises not one plot, but four, all fragmented, full of gaping black holes, all mediated by this character who knows nothing. One is Leonard's narrative as he sees it, as he tries to avenge his wife's murder. The second is told in monochrome flashback; Mostly told in mysterious phone calls, and seem to flesh out the gaps missing in the first plot, but actually creates more. The third is the real plot that may have something to do with the police, betrayers, false companions, or indeed hallucinated, misremembered by Leonard, or simply placed there as a smokescreen for another plot that is a paradox. The fourth thread is the story of Sammy, whom suffered the same condition as Leonard. ''Remember Sammy Jenkins...Remember Sammy Jenkins.'' is what Leonard has tattooed on his hand; It's meaning? Sammy Jenkins is symbolizing Leonard's tragic past.

    All four unique strains are obviously connected with each other to create a discordant vision, but each undermines the other.
    In a relative sense, hell is here, and Leonard is in a never-ending hell. We can only take the opening sequence, where Leonard stands holding a fading photograph over a dead man's bloody body as the only reliable image, and in this image, it is slowly slipping away, untouchable, like Leonard's memory, like the film, like Memento. It's ending is the beginning.

    ''My wife deserves revenge, whether I know about it or not.''

  • January 5, 2010
    A mind-blowing and electrifying thriller. A real classic. Stunning, breathtaking, mind-bending and exhilarating. It's stylish, witty, nail-biting, intoxicating and terrifically addictive. A great body of work. It works from all corners and pieces itself nicely. A masterpiece. It'...( read more)s amazing, astonishing and unforgettable. This film takes it's place as one of the finest crime thrillers ever created. An explosive and hard boiled plot that never let's up for a second. It gets richer with every layer. A real adrenaline fueled cocktail of a film. It will keep you on the edge of your seat then it will be blow you away. The suspense appears from every corner. Guy Pearce gives a brilliant and incredible performance, he acts with such dedication and nobility to this character. Carrie-Ann Moss gives a strong and compelling performance. Joe Pantoliano is terrific. Director, Christopher Nolan is an extraordinary new filmmaker of uncompareable talent. A unique and creative style that will only get better. You will want to watch it again and again and it gets better every time.
  • December 13, 2009
    Brilliant in its strategic use of information by building the story in secret right under your nose, in the way its unreliable narrator keeps you guessing, in the way each scene is necessary yet ambiguous and adds new dimension to the story. The film takes you on quite a trip. Fr...( read more)ustratingly confusing but hugely rewatchable, it is a different viewing experience every time you see it.
  • December 2, 2009
    The Idea was very nice though the acting could have been a tiny bit better.
  • February 9, 2010
    I don't think I got it...hmmm?
  • February 7, 2010
    Great movie twist and turns throught the whole movie and the way it all ends up fitting together it pretty amazing and well thought out. Guy Pearce is pretty kick ass and you can see why christopher nolan got to direct the batman movies after seeing this.
  • February 7, 2010
    Taught psychological thriller. Intense, captivating storyline that keeps you on board most of the way. Unfortunately, when you get past the innovative mechanic that drives the movie, it seems like there isn't much there. The story in proper order, from start to finish, actually s...( read more)eems rather ordinary and lacking. Nevertheless, it's an experience and it should be seen.
  • February 6, 2010
    When I saw Memento probably 9 years ago, it is THE film that made me really come to appreciate movies and fall in love with them. The way the film is made and how the story plays out backwards is so incredible and still has an amazing twist ending, or beginning however you want t...( read more)o put it. Christopher Nolan is definitely my favorite director out there right now, I mean look at his recent achievement with The Dark Knight and Memento marked his rise to fame. Memento is easily my favorite movie of all time, Memento is film making at it's best.
  • February 6, 2010
    I like3d it, but I gotta warn ya, my mother and brother didn't. It's cerebral and loaded with flasshbacks and choppy direction because the makers convey a confused state of the protagonist, so the viewer is never certain what is real. Clue: It's a movie. Nothing's real.

Critic Reviews


April 13, 2001
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A diabolical and absorbing experience. full review

March 30, 2001
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Terrifically satisfying film.

March 16, 2001
David Edelstein, Slate

Scary and exhilarating, at least for an hour. full review

March 16, 2001
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

A brilliant feat of rug-pulling. full review

February 22, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

This jolting jigsaw puzzle of a movie grabs you and won't let go. full review

View more Memento reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • aiforge
    September 3, 2009
    Am I the only one that got the story in the first viewing?? It wasn't that hard to follow. Was it?
  • Ole2404
    October 14, 2008
    The best montage I`ve ever seen! I have no words! And the story is awesome too. Good work!
  • AgentLexi2132
    October 2, 2008
    One of the Best films out there! A puzzle and not your typical flick where it's all in chronological order. Helps us to relate to Leonard's perspective. Memento deserves multiple viewings.
  • chrismid259
    August 21, 2008
    Boring? That made me laugh.
  • garyX
    April 20, 2008
    I read recently that some critics slated this film, saying that "it wouldn't work if it didn't use a reverse timeline."
    Yeah, and Jaws wouldn't work if it didn't have a shark in it.
    Twats.
  • rbevanx
    April 10, 2008
    If your only gonna watch one film in your life. Make sure its this one. It's that good.
  • fazelix
    January 5, 2008
    its a boring film dont see it
  • Waldheri
    August 19, 2007
    Memento is one of the most unique movies I have ever seen and has a continuous stream of surprises. It's so (awesomely) sophisticated you have to watch it twice to get it all. The antichronological is brilliant and offers unique ways to manipulate the audience. A true masterpiece!
  • TheJadedOne
    June 1, 2007
    The movie that inspired me to become a screen-writer. This movie is scarily brilliant and done to perfection.
  • ninjacobra
    March 3, 2007
    Sick Movie!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts


  • Fun Fact:
    Brad Pitt was originally supposed to play the role of Leonard. But due to budget concerns, they had to go with an actor with a lower salary.

Memento : Watch Free on TV


Memento Trivia


  • Carrie Ann Moss and Joe Pantoliano have starred together in The Matrix and which other film?  Answer »
  • In this movie i need to tattoo important tips on my body in order to find my wife´s killer because i can´t retain any memory of a situaton that happened a few minutes ago, so i´m  Answer »
  • Carrie-Anne Moss & Joe Pantoliano both star in the film Memento, what other film do they have in common?  Answer »
  • What film is this quote from: "I meet Sammy through work. Insurance. I was an investagator. I'd investigate the claims to see which ones were phony. I had to see through people's bullsh*t. It was useful experience, 'cause now it's my life."   Answer »

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