'Momento' Review- Christopher Nolan Plays With Time

Get ready to move backwards.

Momento is a 2000 thriller by director Christopher Nolan who based the screenplay on a short story by his brother Jonathan Nolan.

Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) wants to find James or John G., the man who killed his wife Catherine (Jorja Fox). The only problem is that he has a condition that prevents him from developing new memories after a gunshot wound. He uses tattoos, polaroid photos, and notes to try to keep track of them. He works with a man named Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) to track John G. This leads him to Catherine (Carrie-Anne Moss) who might have a lead, but who is Sammy Jankis (Stephen Tobolowsky)?

Like several of Chris Nolan’s flicks, this one is told in a non-linear format. One story told in black and white moves forward while the colorized story moves backward. You heard that right, backward. Normally, I do not like it when directors use gimmicks like that to tell their story, but Nolan has a way of making it work for him. Using his love for noir and his concept of time, he crafts an enthralling movie.

As a thriller, I was hooked on the story. Leonard is a compelling character who has strengths, weaknesses, and depth. At times, you feel empathy for him after losing his wife and developing this memory issue. However, you also see that he can be manipulative and has a darker side to him. This keeps you hooked, even with the floating timeline.

This is punctuated by the amazing acting on display. Guy Pearce does an amazing job as Leonard. He portrays the man with so much torment that you can tell he was invested in the role. Joe Pantoliano was an excellent choice for Teddy. He masters the part with a sinister grin. It was also good to see Carrie Ann-Moss play against type and she was perfect for her role.

Fun fact: if you want to watch the movie in chronological order, there is a cut of the movie that allows you to do that. It is featured on the DVD release.

Bottom line, Momento is a thriller you will not forget. It keeps you enthralled in its plot and you will not want to look away as it unfolds before you.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Strong foul language, Sexual content, Violence,

FAVORITE QUOTE: My mother calls me Teddy.

Check out the trailer below:

In 2017, the United States Library of Congress deemed the film “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

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