Wick's Review

Summary - Great 4.0

Deserving of its wide acclaim, Memento nonetheless remains a bit of an aficionados’ treat. The central conceit of the story – the ‘condition’ that restricts Guy Pierce’s Leonard from forming new memories – drags on the dialogue and doesn’t allow the story to gain momentum. Still this movie is essential viewing for mystery and serious film fans.

Acting - Very Good 3.5

Guy Pierce delivers an overly laconic albeit effective performance as befuddled hero Leonard Shelby, he of the famed inability to form new memories.

Joey Pants turns in one of his patented fast-talking creep-on-the-make performances as the guy who may have raped and killed Leonard’s wife, or may be the cop trying to catch the killer.

Carrie-Anne Moss, here as in her Matrix character, is a dismal screen presence, engendering neither sympathy or intrigue. Her Hollywood success remains a mystery.

Film - Really Great 4.5

Brilliantly conceived and executed, Memento stands as a modern day Citizen Kane, proof that extraordinary movie making needn’t rely on high tech tricks to deliver a dizzying perspective.

Edge - Risqué 2.1

Reality - Glib 1.7

5 Comments

• Wick Sep 12, 2010 11:18AM

  Regarding moviedude’s Review
  Agreed Dude. Your review prompted me to reread mine, where I noticed that I’d dubbed Memento a modern day Citizen Kane. As it happens, I also made the same claim about Inception, for which I took some heat from a buddy on facebook.

  I don’t recall making the Citizen Kane comparison about any other director’s movies, just Christopher Nolan’s. The guy’s a genius, that’s for sure.

• MJ5K Apr 21, 2010 10:00PM

  Interestingly enough, ever time I watch Memento it gets better each time. I guess thats why I boosted it up to a Perfect 5. Heck, I think it might just be my new favorite movie.

• MJ5K Feb 17, 2010 8:12PM

  Regarding izzio’s Review
  Great review, izzio.

  I’m glad to see me and Wick aren’t the only people who think Guy Pearce is an underrated and underused actor.

• MJ5K Feb 7, 2010 1:53PM

  Thanks, Wick. I honestly didn’t mind Moss in this film, I’ve just never showed an interest in her work or acting abilities. However, I think she was pretty good in this movie.

• Wick Feb 7, 2010 12:27AM

  Regarding MetalJunky5000’s Review
  Solid review MJ. Happy to see we gave it virtually the same marks.

  My only point of disagreement is Carrie-Anne Moss, who I thought was significantly less than great. Of course, I’ve never liked her, so I may be a biased judge.

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