Review – Memento

Here’s something interesting: apparently running the central plot of an art movie backwards absolves the film-makers of the apparent obligation to build in no end of distracting subplots and pretentious nonsense. Aside from the reverse order of the story, this is a fairly straightforward tale of a man (Guy Pearce) seeking revenge for the rape and murder of his wife. Trouble is, our hero suffered brain damage during the attack on his wife and thus has no short-term memory. So the odd chronology seems to simulate the protagonist’s inability to recall what he’s done in the past when trying to decide what to do next. It’s a clever enough concept, and for the most part well executed. But the gag does tend to get a little old after awhile. Mildly amusing