Review: Memento
Blu-ray: Memento (2000)
Based on the short story by his brother Jonathan Nolan, Director Christopher Nolan kind of broke the mould and gave a whole new genre of film with Memento.
It tells the story of Leonard Shelby, who we find out as the story progresses is a man who suffers from anterograde amnesia – short-term memory loss and the inability to form new memories. The thing that made Memento so different from other films of the time was its non-linear narrative which is held together by being presented as two different sequences of scenes throughout the film. The black-and-white that is shown chronologically, and a series of colour sequences which are shown in reverse order, allowing the viewer to sort of get an idea of what Leonard is experiencing. These two sequences meet at the end of the film, producing one complete and sort of …cohesive narrative.
It’s nothing short of a labyrinthine plot and is definitely a film that you must watch with no distractions and no peeping at your phone. Like all Nolan’s film’s it’s a one of a kind, and has stood the test of time to make it a true classic.
101 Films has packed it was some amazing new features along with a Nolan commentary and best of all – The chronological cut of the film (watch the original first though).
Brilliant.
Buy at: 101 Films.
Limited Edition contents:
• SteelBook
• Rigid box packaging
• Booklet one: Remembrance of things past: time and memory in Christopher Nolan’s Memento by James Mottram
• Booklet two: Jonathan Nolan’s Memento Mori short story
• Replica Polaroid art cards, printed notes and Ferdy’s beer mat enclosed in Leonard’s folder
• Bonus second disc featuring the chronological edit (SD)
Brand new special features:
• Remember – Actor Carrie-Anne Moss on Memento
• Keepsake – Director Christopher Nolan on Memento
• Memento Mori – Writer Jonathan Nolan on Memento
• Memories – Producer Emma Thomas on Memento
• A Leap into the Unknown – Producer Aaron Ryder on Memento
• Musical Memories – Composer David Julyan on Memento
• Commentary with film critics James Mottram and Sean Hogan
Archive extras:
• Memento chronological cut
• Remembering Memento
• Anatomy of a Scene
• IFC Interview with Christopher Nolan
• Director’s commentary
Review by Tina from discs kindly supplied by 101 Films.
