Memento. 2000. USA. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan. With Guy Pearce, Joe Pantoliano, Carrie-Anne Moss. 35mm. 113 min.
Christopher Nolan splashed onto the international cinema scene in 2000 with Memento, his second feature. (Following, his first film, was in New Directors/New Films 1998.) To this noir tale about a husband (Guy Pearce, blond and angular) seeking to avenge his murdered wife, Nolan added an audacious twist: the scenes of the film play out in reverse chronological order, putting the end of the film at the start of the viewing experience. Pearce’s Leonard Shelby, an insurance claims investigator (in a nod to Double Indemnity), has a condition that prevents the creation of new memories, so he, like the audience, is trying to navigate complicated terrain without a map. Tattoos covering his body provide vague hints, and supporting players Joe Pantoliano and Carrie-Anne Moss contribute colorful performances.