Friday, June 4, 2010

The Film Mind Twisting Movie Memento

By Jillian Valentine

Chances are, if you're taking a look into an article like this one, than you are trying to get a better glimpse into the very critically acclaimed and instant classic, "Memento". Sure, there is a good bit to know and to understand about this film, most of which will likely be discussed within this article and the content of its paragraphs.

I suppose that the best way for you to learn anything at all about this film, would be to really take a brief overview of the plot synopsis so that you can best understand the sequence of events that allow this film's climactic points to even be possible. The only trouble with just reading or writing a plot synopsis for this film, is that it follows no feasible chronological order, and therefore it becomes difficult to describe the events of the film.

So for the sake of this article and the explanation of the film itself, you will simply have to excuse the film being described in chronological order, when in all actuality these events are rather spread out through the film in various orders. The reason for this is the very nature of the film, and without it being so sporadic, the film might not have been as good.

The reason, is that the main character of the piece, Leonard Shelby, suffers from anterograde amnesia. This is a condition that allows you to keep all the memories that you have up until the time you get it, but you cannot create new memories from then after. He got the condition from receiving a blow to the head when he attempted to stop two men from raping and killing his wife. He managed to kill one of the two, while the other clubbed him in the head. This blow caused the amnesia.

As unique as the experience is to watch on film, Leonard is often on the wrong end of someone's dirty laundry or just plain getting taken advantage of. He is talked into doing all kinds of things on the premise that the individuals and events are related to finding the second killer of his wife. Anything that he feels is important to tracking down the second killer, he tattoos onto his body.

It isn't long into the story that Lenny gets a call from a guy claiming to be a police officer (later to call himself Teddy) who has information about the whereabouts of the second killer. Lenny believes him and soon he is in route to meet this Jimmy, a slummy drug dealer. Turns out, after Lenny kills him, we learn that he had nothing to do with Lenny's wife's murder.

You meet several people throughout the story, and they all play an intricate role into the very complicated nature of this plot. In the last sections of the film, you deduce along with Leonard who the second killer is, and you accompany him to exact his revenge. Though the film was written very well, you might care to take note of the incredible performances from Guy Pearce (Leonard) and Joe Pantaliano (Teddy).

"Memento" can be hard to follow if you aren't paying very close attention to it. The film was likely as successful as it was given the nature of the title character's condition and how the events of the film played into the chaos that living without being able to make new memories would inspire.

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