Memento!!

[jdros13]

Re: Memento!!

*SPOILER*







Unlikely that many notice it the first time, but for those that have watched it more than once, have you noticed that there is a scene in the mental hospital where they are showing Sammy sitting in a chair on a close up of his face (around the middle of the movie if I remember correctly, may be a little more towards the end though - I haven't watched this in a while) and a doctor or orderly (someone in a white coat) walks between Sammy and the camera, blocking our view of Sammy for a second or two. When the doctor passes by, the person sitting in the chair is no longer 'Sammy', but rather it is Guy Pearce who is sitting in the chair, turning his head to look at the person that just walked in front of him. it is only a couple of frames though, and almost no one notices it in the first viewing, as our mind is expecting the same person to be sitting in the chair.

Others may disagree, but to me this clearly demonstrates that either Christopher Nolan wanted to put this to screw with people, or Sammy does not exist, and is actually Leonard. You would watch the movie differently on a second viewing even not knowing this for sure, but knowing this changes the film drastically, and makes what Teddy says at the end of the film even more powerful.



*END SPOILER*





This is one of my favorite movies of the decade for sure, and I enjoy it more everytime I watch it....I haven't put it on for probably a year, and I was looking at it the other night. Perhaps it is time to watch this again. Maybe back to back with Fight Club one night, another movie I get more out of everytime I see it.

[Blzer]

Re: Memento!!

One of the movies didn't involve Adam Sandler and Rob Schnieder, I think that's all that needs to be said.

What I mean is the condition was deemed unrealistic in 50 First Dates, and I think was plausible in Memento.

[Money99]

Re: Memento!!

If you can, check out "The Salton Sea" with Val Kilmer. It's not as good as Momento but it's still a very good movie.

[Money99]

Re: Memento!!

*** SPOILERS ***






Blzer, I agree with your assessment. There might be some holes but in the end, I believe Teddy was telling the truth. Leonard did kill his wife accidentally and he did help him get back at the original rapist. But then he used him to get more criminals off the streets



*** END SPOILERS ***

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Memento!!

Has anybody seen Nolan's first film, Following?













SPOILERS









I haven't watched this movie for a couple months, but from the several viewings of it, my assessment is that there is no Sammy at all. I think that becomes pretty obvious as the film progresses, with the quick shot of Lenny "replacing" Sammy in the chair at the mental hospital and then of course Lenny and his wife in the same shots as Sammy and his wife. I think Lenny actually remembers giving his wife the insulin shots and in the back of his head realizes he killed his wife, but he choses to block those memories, instead choosing to "remember" his wife being raped and killed; therefore, he he has something to live for - which is to hunt for his wife's killer. It doesn't matter who they are, so long as he's looking for them. There are several pieces of dialogue that goes along with this. One is a blunt statement Teddy makes: You don't want the truth. You make up your own truth. Another is something Lenny says after Teddy checks his pulse and tells him he is living, to which Lenny replies: Only for revenge.











END SPOILERS

[MachoMyers]

Re: Memento!!

This movie rocks, aside from...



SPOILERS



Either they made it difficult to figure out that Lenny is "Sammy Jankis" like some people have listed above or the entire premise of the movie is flawed because if he did in fact have no short term memory after the attack on Lenny then there is no way he would remember not having short term memory, make sense?

[kweiss]

Re: Memento!!

By the way, why is it that short-term memory loss is realistic in this movie and not in 50 First Dates? Is it because she only loses it when she sleeps? I was just wondering... I mean, neither can make new memories since their accidents, but remember everything prior.

Also, how is it that Lenny knows he has short-term memory loss? Wouldn't he not know since he was probably informed after the accident? Or did they tell him and then surgically remove that piece from his brain?

I never saw 50 first dates, but Lenny's condition is real, it's called "anterograde amnesia". Apparently most people with the condition somehow know that they have it.

[jdros13]

Re: Memento!!

Has anybody seen Nolan's first film, Following?

Yes, although not for a number of years now. Good movie, but very, very short (around 60-70 minutes I think), it's in black and white, and it is extremely low-budget indie fare.

Nothing on the scale of even Memento.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Memento!!

http://www.otnemem.com/

Check this site out, but make sure pop-ups are off first. Pretty cool and gives some insight into the film.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Memento!!

Memento is an excellent movie.

[CMH]

Re: Memento!!

I know Christopher Nolan directed it (and he's on the brink of very good to greatness in direction) but can we give Jonathan some credit for actually writing the short story this movie is based on?

In essence, when you talk to Nolan you talk the Nolan brothers and together they are very good filmmakers.

[jfsolo]

Re: Memento!!

I know Christopher Nolan directed it (and he's on the brink of very good to greatness in direction) but can we give Jonathan some credit for actually writing the short story this movie is based on?

In essence, when you talk to Nolan you talk the Nolan brothers and together they are very good filmmakers.

Yeah directing gets all the love, but IMO the writing is equally important if not more so. Great scripts tend to "force" actors and directors to elevate their game to the level of the material even if they aren't usually considered great craftsmen.

A poor script will destroy a film no matter who is acting or directing. I've seen directors like Eastwood, and actors like DeNiro come across as hacks because of a garbage screenplay.

So Jonathan Nolan definitely deserves his props.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Memento!!

Has anybody actually read the short-story that Jonah wrote? I would like to read it, just to see how it is. But I agree, Jonah and Chris are a terrific team.

[CMH]

Re: Memento!!

Has anybody actually read the short-story that Jonah wrote? I would like to read it, just to see how it is. But I agree, Jonah and Chris are a terrific team.

I'm not sure if the short story is published.

I was always under the impression that Jonathan wrote it and never did anything with it and when Christopher came across it he realized it was a gold mine.

Perhaps someone knows better than me.

[CMH]

Re: Memento!!

I did some research and apparently the short story was published on Esquire.

I also didn't know that Jonathan pitched the story to Christopher without having written a draft. It was just an idea at the time.

Both wrote their versions at the same time so the stories are very different. The only similarities are the amnesia, the murderer killing his wife, and the tattoos to remember important bits of information.

I also found a link with the short story here:

http://www.impulsenine.com/homepage/pages/shortstories/memento_mori.htm