Memento (film)
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| - | [[Memento (film)|''Memento'' (film)]], a feature-length film directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Guy Pearce | + | |
| + | '''''Memento''''' is a [[neo-noir]]–[[psychological thriller]] [[film]] written and directed by [[Christopher Nolan]], adapted from his brother [[Jonathan Nolan|Jonathan]]'s short story "[[Memento Mori (short story)|Memento Mori]]." It stars [[Guy Pearce]] as Leonard Shelby, a former insurance fraud investigator searching for the man he believes raped and killed his wife during a burglary. Leonard suffers from [[anterograde amnesia]], which he contracted from severe head trauma during the attack on his wife. This renders his brain unable to store new memories. To cope with his condition, he maintains a system of notes, photographs, and tattoos to record information about himself and others, including his wife's killer. He is aided in his investigation by "Teddy" ([[Joe Pantoliano]]) and Natalie ([[Carrie-Anne Moss]]), neither of whom he can trust. | ||
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| + | The film's events unfold in two separate, alternating narratives—one in [[color film (motion picture)|color]], and the other in [[black and white film|black and white]]. Leonard's investigation is depicted in five-minute color sequences that are in [[reverse chronology|reverse chronological]] order. As each scene begins, Leonard has just lost his recent memories, leaving him unaware of where he is or what he was doing. The scene ends just after its events fade from his memory. The black and white sections are told in chronological order, showing Leonard conversing with an anonymous phone caller in a motel room. By the film's end, the two narratives converge into a single color sequence. | ||
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| + | ''Memento'' premiered on [[September 5]], [[2000]] at the [[Venice Film Festival]] to critical acclaim, and received a similar response when it was released in theaters on [[March 16]], [[2001]]. Critics especially praised its unique, [[Nonlinear (arts)|nonlinear]] [[narrative structure]] and [[theme (arts)|themes]] of [[memory]], [[perception]], [[grief]], and [[revenge]]. The film was successful at the [[box office]] and received numerous accolades, including [[Academy Award]] nominations for [[Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay|Original Screenplay]] and [[Academy Award for Film Editing|Editing]]. | ||
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| == See also == | == See also == | ||
| - | *[[Memento mori]] | + | *[[Memento]] |
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Memento is a neo-noir–psychological thriller film written and directed by Christopher Nolan, adapted from his brother Jonathan's short story "Memento Mori." It stars Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby, a former insurance fraud investigator searching for the man he believes raped and killed his wife during a burglary. Leonard suffers from anterograde amnesia, which he contracted from severe head trauma during the attack on his wife. This renders his brain unable to store new memories. To cope with his condition, he maintains a system of notes, photographs, and tattoos to record information about himself and others, including his wife's killer. He is aided in his investigation by "Teddy" (Joe Pantoliano) and Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss), neither of whom he can trust.
The film's events unfold in two separate, alternating narratives—one in color, and the other in black and white. Leonard's investigation is depicted in five-minute color sequences that are in reverse chronological order. As each scene begins, Leonard has just lost his recent memories, leaving him unaware of where he is or what he was doing. The scene ends just after its events fade from his memory. The black and white sections are told in chronological order, showing Leonard conversing with an anonymous phone caller in a motel room. By the film's end, the two narratives converge into a single color sequence.
Memento premiered on September 5, 2000 at the Venice Film Festival to critical acclaim, and received a similar response when it was released in theaters on March 16, 2001. Critics especially praised its unique, nonlinear narrative structure and themes of memory, perception, grief, and revenge. The film was successful at the box office and received numerous accolades, including Academy Award nominations for Original Screenplay and Editing.
See also
