Memento (2000)

"Memento," released in 2000, is a brilliantly novel take on an old classic. It centers around a man whose wife has been tragically killed. In typical revenge narratives, the man would be out for retribution, but "Memento" adds an unexpected twist. This man, Leonard, is unable to retain any new memories since his wife's death.

He is capable of holding onto short-term memories, but they quickly fade away. To cope with this, he pens instructions to himself before they are forgotten. Each morning presents a fresh start for Leonard, as he wakes up with no memory of the day before. To combat this, he has taken the extreme step of tattooing the most crucial instructions on his body.

Every morning is a puzzle for Leonard, as he wakes up to find his body covered in tattooed instructions. These cryptic messages remind him of his wife's death and his subsequent quest for revenge. But what sets "Memento" apart is its unique storytelling structure.

As an audience, we don't watch the movie in chronological order. Instead, we are thrown into a reverse chronological narrative. The movie begins at the end, with Leonard exacting his revenge for his wife's death. From there, we move backward, witnessing the events leading up to this climax. This unusual method of storytelling places us in Leonard's shoes, as we too have no recollection of what happened yesterday, or even the hour before.

This highly unusual approach to storytelling, which is perfectly aligned with the intriguing plot, makes "Memento" a truly exceptional movie. With its unique premise and compelling narrative, I thoroughly recommend this film.



You should not watch Memento if...

• You are under the recommended age of 16 due to mature content
• You prefer linear and straightforward storytelling
• You are uncomfortable with depictions of violence or psychological distress
• You are not interested in mystery or suspense genres
• You dislike movies that require a high level of attention and concentration
• You prefer movies with predictability and clear resolutions

Whats the deal with...
Warning: The following may contain spoilers:

What's the deal with "Memento?"I mean, the whole movie is backwards. It's like the director was making the film, dropped all the scenes on the floor, and said, "Ah, just put it together however. Nobody will notice!"

And the main character, Leonard, he can't remember anything. He's got more tattoos than a sailor and yet he can't remember where he put his car keys! You'd think one of those tattoos would say: "Check your pockets, dummy!"

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