Memento

Memento was unfortunately a movie of limited release, playing mostly in art theatres across the country. Now that it's readily available on video or DVD, however, you have a convenient opportunity to see what I consider one of the best movies of the last decade, and certainly one of the most unusual.

Guy Pearce (more recently appearing as H.G. Wells in The Time Machine) plays a man named Leonard in this low budget thriller. His character, after having received a head injury, has no ability to store short term memories. He therefore can't remember anything that's happened since his accident. He attempts to live with his affliction by taking Polaroid pictures on which he writes notes to himself as reminders, and by tattooing important things to remember on various parts of his body. If this situation doesn't lend itself well enough to a variety of interesting plots, here's the real kicker: Memento runs backwards. That's right, the movie opens with the end. But I promise you this: When you finally get to the beginning of the movie some two hours later, you will be astounded.

Carrie-Anne Moss plays well a supporting role as a woman who isn't quite what she seems to be, and Joe Pantoliano is superb as a man who has his own secrets and motivations to hide. Throw poor Leonard into their small circle of influence, and the struggle begins.

The movie obviously didn't cost a lot to make, but you won't care. The quality of the acting and an award-winning script will have you riveted to the screen. Perhaps the best recommendation I can give this film is to say that my husband loathes art flicks. But when we walked out of Memento, he turned to me and said: "Wow." Now that's a recommendation.

Family Suitability: Memento is rated R. It is sufficiently dark and complex that the rating seems appropriate. I'd recommend the movie for anyone 16 and older, and I do recommend it most highly.

©2002 by Lady Liberty and ladylibrty.com, all rights reserved.