Movie Review: Memento
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that MEMENTO follows the efforts of a
man to avenge the rape and murder of his wife. Throughout the
film, Leonard is motivated solely by his desire to find and
execute the man he believes killed his wife. Characters drink,
smoke, steal, lie to one another, sell drugs and commit
murders. This is not a film that most viewers will be able to
absorb easily: The plot is relayed in a jumbled fashion, as
Leonard suffers from short-term memory lost, and the audience
primarily relies on him for information.
Families who watch this film can discuss the unorthdox storytelling. Did you find the different style here engaging -- or just confusing? Why don't more movies take risks like this one? Can you think other stories -- movies, books, etc. -- that unfold in non-linear ways?
Common Sense Media Review
When first released in 2000, MEMENTO made quite a splash.
The film's narrative is far from traditional, and the movie is
definitely aimed at an audience with a high level of visual
literacy.
Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) wakes up one night to find his wife missing from their bed. When he goes looking for her, he interrupts a man in the process of sexually assaulting her in the bathroom. Leonard suffers a blow to the head which destroys his short-term memory. The last thing he remembers is his wife dying, and he is bent on revenge. Without a short-term memory to guide him, Leonard relies on Polaroids, notes and daily tattoos to assist him in closing in on his wife's killer.
The story in MEMENTO is relayed in fragments, echoing Leonard's experience of short-term memory loss. For many viewers, the film will be something of a head-scratcher, the kind of thing that bears a few repeat viewing and a lot of furrowed brows. Director Christopher Nolan's sparse style plays well here. The plot is complex enough on its own, and the film rests largely on the strong performances of the major characters.
For viewers willing to invest the effort, Memento provides plenty of fodder for discussions on memory -- and on storytelling. Families who enjoy this film may also enjoy other films with experimental narrative structures like Pulp Fiction , or neo-noir films like LA Confidential, which also features Guy Pearce, or the more recent Sin City .
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