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Zone's Eye View of "Memento and Following" |
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Synopsis of movie courtesy of UpcomingMovies.com: Leonard Shelby (Pearce) is a man plagued by a rare type of short-term memory loss that prevents him from remembering things for more than a few minutes, so he keeps notes for himself in the form of snapshot photographs and tattos. As the film, which is told in reverse, starts, we find that he is in the middle of a quest to find and kill the man who raped and murdered his wife (Fox). Among the people who (maybe) help Shelby are Teddy (Pantoliano) and a bartender, Natalie (Moss)... Now for The Zone's Eye View By Laura Alber “The Perfect Puzzle” Anterograde Amnesia: Inability to remember ongoing events after the incidence of trauma or the onset of the disease that caused the incident. How refreshing after all the sequels, prequels, trilogies and remakes to view such a brilliant concept and vision from the mind of the up and coming writer/director Christopher Nolan. Guy Pierce (Leonard Shelby) portrays this difficult role flawlessly. The movie actually takes place in reverse. The first scene is the ending, but in order to understand how and why these events take place, we must go through the same confusions as “Leonard” to get the answers to the puzzle. All we know is what Guy Pierce (Leonard) knows, which is that he’s seeking revenge for the man who raped and murdered his wife. A man known only as “John G.” He remembers nothing after the “incident” with his wife, as he was hit on the head by “John G.” therefore relying on notes, Polaroid’s, tattoos on his body. All this just to get through each day. The notes are not only to remind him of his mission-“Find and kill John G.” but such things as “shave”, “don’t answer the phone”, photos of people he’s met with their names on them, and notes on the back as he discovers more about them. His condition causes him to have no short-term memory at all, not even a conversation he had 10 minutes ago. What may look like flashback after flashback throughout the film is actually a flashback of a flash forward…Make sense? Actually, it does if you see the film. It is necessary to see it this way to solve the puzzle. What’s brilliant is that you, as the audience, are going through the same process as Leonard. Guy Pierce is so convincing, you even feel the emotions he goes through. Think about that for a minute. To lose your short term memory, you would be going through a non-stop confusion, delusion, unable to trust anyone, isolation, devastation, extreme loneliness, naivety, irrational, apprehensive, troubled. All of this would make anyone go a little crazy.
Natalie (Carrie Anne Moss-Matrix) and Teddy (Joe Pantoliano-Sopranos) are seemingly trying to help Leonard find and fulfill his mission with John G. But, even with these two, Leonard has notes written about each and doesn’t know who to trust. As the story unfolds, you forget that it’s actually going in reverse. You would think that by already knowing the ending that it would be hard to add “twists”, but it most certainly does. And again, so brilliantly. Memento has such a strong philosophical aspect about it, that you can’t help but stop and consider the possibility of the effects this may have on you, if you were inflicted with the same condition. Maybe we all in some way really do create our own reality. On some level…we all do… The acting, writing, directing, cinematography, casting, sound, score, and everything that went into the making of Memento were perfect. Which is why this film gets a rare perfect 10 from this reviewer. Just a side note: Christopher Nolan chose to film in widescreen 2.35:1 aspect ratio and amply uses the frame to portray Leonard’s state of mind and a general sense of unease, which is somewhat lost on the home video pan and scan version.
By Laura Alber Synopsis: Courtesy of Next Wave Films: Out of boredom and frustration, a writer picks out strangers at random from the crowded streets of London and follows them. He shadows people to see where they go, how they spend their days. Reasoning to himself that he is gathering useful material for the fictional characters in his writing, he starts following the same people more than once, drawn to discovering more about their lives. He is confronted by a professional burglar named Cobb who demands to know why he is following him. Cobb then takes him along on a robbery, showing him the ropes and demonstrating his ability to make deductions about his victims from their possessions. Increasingly involved in Cobb's nefarious activities and obsessed with a woman whose home they've burgled, the writer becomes enmeshed in a perilous web. Starring: Jeremy Theobald Another masterpiece from the young and extremely talented director Christopher Nolan. “Following” was actually made prior to Memento and then released on video after the critical acclaim Mr. Nolan has been receiving. “Following” has been through its share of film festivals as well. It won the “Tiger Award” at the International Film Festival in Rotterdam, “Official Selection” at the Toronto Film Festival, and “Official Selection” at the San Francisco Film Festival. Following is a strange trip through the psyche of one man’s mind. It begins with an aspiring unemployed writer who follows people (he calls this “shadowing”) for the sake of research development for his book he has yet to begin. He even has rules for himself, so his “shadowing” doesn’t get him into trouble or frighten anyone he may be following at the time. This sets the stage for the events and situations he finds himself in throughout the movie. Nolan once again manages an innovative use of very little resources and money. Yet, it is still such a compelling film. The entire movie is shot in black and white, which I believe only adds to the drama and mystique of the film. Once again, we see Christopher Nolan putting on screen a troubled, lost man, and his struggles to achieve his goals. “Following” is a very powerful portrayal of just how far people will go to satisfy their obsessions. I would rate this a high 8. Another “must see” Nolan masterpiece.
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Listen to an NPR Radio piece on "Following"
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