Memento

Name: Memento
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Released: March 16, 2001
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 81
Cast: Carrie-Anne Moss, Guy Pearce, Joe Pantoliano

2001

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 1520 Ratings

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8.9

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8.9	User Score Universal acclaim based on 1520 Ratings

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Memento

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Movie Details & Credits

Newmarket Films | Release Date: March 16, 2001 | R

Starring: Carrie-Anne Moss, Guy Pearce, Joe Pantoliano

Summary: Dismissed by the police, Leonard Shelby (Pearce) is obsessed with pursuing vengeance for the rape and murder of his wife. The difficulty of his quest is compounded by his rare, untreatable form of memory loss.

Director: Christopher Nolan

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 113 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

William Arnold

A delicious one-time treat. Read full review

100

Jack Mathews

One of the most original and ultimately confounding mind games to reach the screen since "The Usual Suspects." Read full review

Kenneth Turan

A provocatively structured and thrillingly executed film noir, an intricate, inventive use of cinema's possibilities that pushes what can be done on screen in an unusual direction. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

This demanding puzzle is not for the "Chocolat" crowd, but those who stay with it will experience perhaps the most dazzling film released so far this year - even though a second viewing is virtually mandatory.

Peter Rainer

Nolan sustains an arty note of existential dread that probably will work better for noir-steeped film critics and overserious philosophy grad students than for general audiences, but he brings off a few brisk bravura moments. Read full review

Roger Ebert

A diabolical and absorbing experience. Read full review

Michael Sragow

The dramatic content in Memento is as blank as Leonard's post-traumatic mental state.

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User Reviews

asthobaskoro

Feb 22, 2011

A Christopher Nolan's masterpiece, complex narrative is skillfully executed, keeping audiences guessing. Overall it's up to us, our interpretation, it's not just about the evidences

51 of 70 users found this helpful5119

Assonance

May 4, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. For the first "loop," as Christopher Nolan refers to each scene, the director wanted to throw in all the main elements that would make up Lenny's character as well as the idea of repetition with a very jarring and memorable image. "With this first loop in time, we wanted to have something truly unforgettable. A gunshot to the head seemed about as good as you can get." Nolan also mentions a key element to each loop was in the sound. He wanted to create a distinct sound for the end of each loop, Teddy knocking on the door to the motel, Lenny putting the clip into the gun, to give each section its own identity. Later in the film, Nolan used fragments of scene to transition, as the audience would then be comfortable with the film's rhythm.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

VinceRocks123

May 26, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Every time I think about Christopher Nolan, I remember him as the guy who directed the The Dark Knight trilogy and made amazing films that are still watchable to understand, but then I heard about this film how complex it was and how it requires multiple rewatches to see it and understand.

When I first saw Memento, I didn't understand it I was afraid I made pass it on saying I hated it,, but when I look back at the details and add them to the second viewing and getting advice from another cinemaphile, I realized in my second viewing wait.....I think I got it, amazing new storytelling technique, smart directing, mind-blowing twisted scrip, shocking ending and the results:

OMG! MEMENTO IS CHRISTOPHER NOLAN'S BEST FILM EVER!!!!!! oh thank you Platypusbunny419!

you've got to see this movie several times to understand. if your looking for something complex and hard to understand, a film you wanna keep digging deeper this is a film for you!!

Its like a modern experiment using similar techniques from Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction and Stanley Kubrick's non-linear film-noir 'The Killing' and make into something interesting! I dare you to see it MORE THAN ONCE!!!!!!!!! and for further information don't use reverse because it will ruin the special recipe.

A Complex Achievement

***** - 5 stars instant certified classic… Expand

7 of 7 users found this helpful70

grandpajoe6191

Mar 9, 2016

Christopher Nolan's "Memento" may a little confusing at times, but ultimately the film is a complex, harrowing visual masterpiece that dives into the realm of psychology and the importance of memory in one's life. With Nolan's planned precision and some experienced acting from Guy Pearce,Christopher Nolan's "Memento" may a little confusing at times, but ultimately the film is a complex, harrowing visual masterpiece that dives into the realm of psychology and the importance of memory in one's life. With Nolan's planned precision and some experienced acting from Guy Pearce, "Memento" is a definite must watch, a film that serves as a benchmark for the future films Nolan will create.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

Paxster

Oct 9, 2010

The planning this film must of taken must of been long and extensive for this is a complicated,calculated yet incredibly successful script. So clever and so revolutionary if Nolan had not nailed this we may not have seen him take on the big money films later on. This is confident cinema thatThe planning this film must of taken must of been long and extensive for this is a complicated,calculated yet incredibly successful script. So clever and so revolutionary if Nolan had not nailed this we may not have seen him take on the big money films later on. This is confident cinema that comes at you fully in the face. My only criticism is that it requires the upmost attention most of time,something you can't manage later on in the day. Apart from that, it's a Nolan essential.… Expand

7 of 7 users found this helpful70

AlvaradoKTA

Aug 5, 2012

Memento is somewhat overrated. It's an alright movie with okay actors and a good director.Nonetheless, Memento should be praised for a good reason. It is exactly the type of film it want to be, Nolan was going through a hipster phase and decided to make this out of chronological order. AndMemento is somewhat overrated. It's an alright movie with okay actors and a good director.Nonetheless, Memento should be praised for a good reason. It is exactly the type of film it want to be, Nolan was going through a hipster phase and decided to make this out of chronological order. And for something this chopped and screwed, it still makes sense by the end.… Expand

2 of 16 users found this helpful214

Nazgulero

Nov 29, 2010

I now know what is wrong with Christopher Nolan movies. The characters are lifeless. They are not real people. There is no vulnerability, no character development, the dialogue is static and robotic. No real person speaks like that. I can see the intention to create depths in the characters,I now know what is wrong with Christopher Nolan movies. The characters are lifeless. They are not real people. There is no vulnerability, no character development, the dialogue is static and robotic. No real person speaks like that. I can see the intention to create depths in the characters, but this is clearly not the way to do it. This movie is just nauseating to watch. From minute one, you see that the main character's hair is dyed...you wonder why that is. The way everyone looks is always...too deep, unreal, like they are on drugs, not connected to the real world.… Expand

3 of 113 users found this helpful3110

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26	#26 Best Movie of 2001
4	#4 Most Discussed Movie of 2001
10	#10 Most Shared Movie of 2001