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"Memento"
(Reviewed February 28, 2001)
-
I know what you're thinking. "Gimmick movie." But trust me, the gimmick works like a charm in this clever, fascinating film.
The gimmick is that the film unfolds backwards. But this is not a ripoff of the classic backwards "Seinfeld" episode, even though comparisons are inevitable. In this case, there's an actual reason why the film is constructed this way: The lead character cannot retain any short-term memories for longer than a few minutes. And so, just as he does not know exactly how or why he ended up in the situation that begins the movie, neither do we--until we see things unfold in reverse, scene by scene.
If this is the first review you have read of "Memento," I urge you NOT TO READ ANY OTHER REVIEWS until after you see it. Most critics simply can't resist ruining surprises (the bastards!), and this one is too good to spoil. Just go. Go, already! A movie this "small" won't be in theaters long, and watching it on video would be a crime. It's that good.
Guy Pearce plays the noir-ish lead character with complete believability; there is no mugging or campiness. Carrie-Anne Moss (seen previously in movies as diverse as "The Matrix" and "Chocolat") also is excellent.
One warning for your wallet: If you see it once, you are guaranteed to want to go back and see it again, just to pick up on things you may have missed the first time around.
This is the first truly satisfying movie of 2001, and the first one this year to get an "A" from this reviewer. GO!!!
Back Row Grade: A
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