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Joe Pantoliano plays Teddy, a character who always jumps out at Lenny. But is he really Lenny's friend or is he manipulating him? Carrie-Anne Moss plays Natalie, a compassionate friend who has also lost someone. But is she really Lenny's friend or is she manipulating him?
Memento is a really great movie. It unravels backwards so you learn information along with Lenny. Once you see it that way, other movies look weird because they're played in chronological order. It juggles with real time and regular set, with real time in black and white and Lenny talking to someone on the phone.
Joe Pantoliano is really great, even though he doesn't really have much seriousness in the movie. He's mainly there for comic relief. Guy Pearce does a break-out role (sort of), even though he's already a name. I liked Carrie-Anne Moss, she was terrific. Stephen Tobolowsky, as Sammy Jankis, a man Lenny helped out when he used to be an insurance investigator who had the same problem, although however small, was very good. Was this the same guy who said "sure as heckfire" in Groundhog Day?
The plot wasn't anything new in terms of actual plot. The side-information (memory loss, etc.) was something I have never seen or heard of in cinema. But since when did you leave the theater (or your couch) scratching your head at a movie that didn't jumble lots of symbolism (*cough* Mulholland Drive *cough*) in with a screwed-up story? If you look at it realistically, it makes perfect sense (kind of). I'm not making any sense, am I?
Beware the director's commentary on the Limited Edition DVD, director Christopher Null is very drab and boring and doesn't really offer much information. However, it does have four(!) endings. And I wouldn't really suggest buying (or renting) the LE DVD because it has some information about the ending on the box and DVD.
Memento is a very cool un-Hollywood movie that has some thrills, great acting, and a new idea for movie makers.
Rated R for language and violence.
Review Date: November 11, 2002
MY TAKE ON THE MOVIE:
Obviously, this is going to have SPOILERS, so don't read ahead unless you've seen the movie.
Teddy told the truth to Lenny at the end of the movie. He is a cop, and Lenny killed the real John G. Teddy and Jimmy were on the same line, but only Teddy talked. Jimmy was corrupt and Teddy wanted him killed. Natalie wanted Dodd killed because he was involved with Jimmy, but Lenny didn't kill Dodd. Lenny killed his wife instead of Sammy Jankis, the "remember Sammy Jankis" tattoo was to remind himself that he thought that Lenny himself didn't kill his own wife. The "I've done it" tattoo in the end of the movie was after he killed the real John G. He wanted himself to forget it so he got it removed. However, Teddy said Jimmy told him to go to the Discount Inn, even though Teddy himself told him to go. Maybe Jimmy and Teddy were drug dealers together and Jimmy turned on Teddy, so Teddy wanted Jimmy killed but Teddy still liked the Discount Inn.
OK, this is what I think, post what you think on the message board.