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Memento
I finally saw Memento (thanks ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
trinityvixen!). I actually didn't find it that confusing. The events taking place in the film are fairly simple; there are only a few characters. This is really the only way to do a film with this complicated a structure—anything more twisty and we'd be completely lost. Also—you all let me down for not telling me Callum Keith Rennie was in this film. Playing a psycho. Again.
I think the one conceit of the film is that Leonard is aware of his condition and aware of his methods of dealing with it, when the very nature of his mental damage should make that impossible. It's a concession I'm willing to make, or there'd be no story. It raises a lot of questions about identity and self when one has no memory but doesn't examine them too hard, which is fine. What I liked is that in the beginning of the film it's clear Leonard thinks he is managing this condition well and capable of almost normal function, when the fact is that his perspective is so limited he is completely out of control. That's what the film is about, really: perspective. It works for us, the audience, because we are slowly allowed to pull away from Leonard's perspective and see the bigger picture, which he never does. It's also interesting to think about the information he loses when he condenses his experiences into a bullet point (she will help you, don't believe his lies). It eliminates his ability to reevaluate or doubt himself. Every conclusion he draws is gospel as soon as he writes it down, which is such an unnatural way to live. We are constantly reevaluating our assessments. (I'm babbling, I know.)
Most of what I watch is genre TV and most of what I read is fanfic. That means I'm used to ignoring plot holes, overlooking utter lack of dramatic tension, seeing past poorly executed structure to the characters and emotion underneath. Watching "Memento" was like getting a shot of pure plot. It was so nice to see something so brilliantly constructed. It's so rare that anything I read is that well put together. I wouldn't want to watch something like this all the time—I live for the character stuff—but it was a nice change.
trinityvixen!). I actually didn't find it that confusing. The events taking place in the film are fairly simple; there are only a few characters. This is really the only way to do a film with this complicated a structure—anything more twisty and we'd be completely lost. Also—you all let me down for not telling me Callum Keith Rennie was in this film. Playing a psycho. Again.I think the one conceit of the film is that Leonard is aware of his condition and aware of his methods of dealing with it, when the very nature of his mental damage should make that impossible. It's a concession I'm willing to make, or there'd be no story. It raises a lot of questions about identity and self when one has no memory but doesn't examine them too hard, which is fine. What I liked is that in the beginning of the film it's clear Leonard thinks he is managing this condition well and capable of almost normal function, when the fact is that his perspective is so limited he is completely out of control. That's what the film is about, really: perspective. It works for us, the audience, because we are slowly allowed to pull away from Leonard's perspective and see the bigger picture, which he never does. It's also interesting to think about the information he loses when he condenses his experiences into a bullet point (she will help you, don't believe his lies). It eliminates his ability to reevaluate or doubt himself. Every conclusion he draws is gospel as soon as he writes it down, which is such an unnatural way to live. We are constantly reevaluating our assessments. (I'm babbling, I know.)
Most of what I watch is genre TV and most of what I read is fanfic. That means I'm used to ignoring plot holes, overlooking utter lack of dramatic tension, seeing past poorly executed structure to the characters and emotion underneath. Watching "Memento" was like getting a shot of pure plot. It was so nice to see something so brilliantly constructed. It's so rare that anything I read is that well put together. I wouldn't want to watch something like this all the time—I live for the character stuff—but it was a nice change.