CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
Bil’s rating (out of 5): BBBB.5. USA, 2000. Newmarket Capital Group, Team Todd, I Remember Productions, Summit Entertainment. Screenplay by Christopher Nolan, based on the short story Memento Mori by Jonathan Nolan. Cinematography by Wally Pfister. Produced by Jennifer Todd, Suzanne Todd. Music by David Julyan. Production Design by Patti Podesta. Costume Design by Cindy Evans. Film Editing by Dody Dorn. Academy Awards 2001. Golden Globe Awards 2001. Independent Spirit Awards 2001. Toronto International Film Festival 2000.
An amnesiac (Guy Pearce) has brain damage that left him without the ability to make new memories after being attacked in his home by the thieves who also raped and murdered his wife. To counter this, he tattoos reminders of his daily activities on his body, takes Polaroid photographs and writes everything down, all in an attempt to find the culprits who destroyed his life. The story is told backwards, scene by scene, and every time you think you’ve got it all figured out something jumps out to surprise you. Carrie-Anne Moss is excellent in a supporting role as a woman Pearce helps out of a difficult situation, and Joe Pantoliano co-stars as a mysterious know-it-all who appears out of the blue all the time. Brilliantly done, this one will stay with you for days.
