Memento (2000)

Director:

Christopher Nolan

Writers:

Jonathan Nolan (short story "Memento Mori")
Christopher Nolan (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 October 2000 (France)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Some memories are best forgotten

Plot:

A man, suffering from short-term memory loss, uses notes and tattoos to hunt for the man he thinks killed his wife.

Plot Keywords:

Memory | Short Term Memory | Murder | Polaroid | Short Term Memory Loss

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 42 wins & 32 nominations

Cast

Guy Pearce	...	Leonard
Carrie-Anne Moss	...	Natalie
Joe Pantoliano	...	Teddy Gammell
Mark Boone Junior	...	Burt
Russ Fega	...	Waiter
Jorja Fox	...	Leonard's Wife
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Sammy
Harriet Sansom Harris	...	Mrs. Jankis
Thomas Lennon	...	Doctor
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Dodd
Kimberly Campbell	...	Blonde
Marianne Muellerleile	...	Tattooist
Larry Holden	...	Jimmy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Buzz Visconti	...	Motel Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Christopher Nolan

Writing credits
Jonathan Nolan		(short story "Memento Mori")
Christopher Nolan		(screenplay)

Produced by
Christopher Ball	....	co-executive producer (as Chris J. Ball)
Elaine Dysinger	....	co-producer
Aaron Ryder	....	executive producer
Emma Thomas	....	associate producer
Jennifer Todd	....	producer
Suzanne Todd	....	producer
William Tyrer	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
David Julyan

Cinematography by
Wally Pfister		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Dody Dorn

Casting by
John Papsidera

Production Design by
Patti Podesta

Set Decoration by
Danielle Berman

Costume Design by
Cindy Evans

Makeup Department
Scott H. Eddo	....	key makeup artist (as Scott Eddo)
Larry Waggoner	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Jenifer Chatfield	....	post-production supervisor
Page Rosenberg-Marvin	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Musteric	....	second second assistant director (as Michael J. Musteric)
Robert Ohlandt	....	second assistant director: second unit (as Robert J. Ohlandt)
Christopher Pappas	....	first assistant director
Michelle Pappas	....	second assistant director (as Michelle 'Muggs' Pappas)
Marlon Smith	....	first assistant director: second unit
Chris Edmonds	....	first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Fanée Aaron	....	draftsperson (as Fanee Aaron)
Patrick Bolton	....	swing gang
Mark Lambert Bristol	....	storyboard artist (as Mark Bristol)
Randy Budka	....	set painter
Andrew Max Cahn	....	draftsperson
Erik Carlson	....	assistant art director (as P. Erik Carlson)
Lamont Carson	....	propmaker
Walsh Carvalho	....	swing gang (as Walsh Creek Carvalho)
Tessa Chasteen	....	assistant property master (as Tessa 'Lucky' Chasteen)
Derek Christensen	....	stand-by carpenter
Julia D'Agostino	....	art department assistant
Dan Dorfer	....	head painter foreman
Sean Fallon	....	property master
J.J. Fleisher	....	swing gang
Lilly Frank	....	stand-by painter
Katie Gonzalez	....	propmaker (as Katie Sanner)
William F. Graves II	....	propmaker
Jay Hadley	....	art department assistant
Jeff Leahy	....	set painter
Gabriel Lopez	....	propmaker
David Mocsary	....	leadman
Marilyn Morgan	....	on-set dresser
Liz Ruckdeschel	....	art department assistant
Paul A. Still	....	construction coordinator
Dan Wilson	....	propmaker

Sound Department
Charlie Ajar Jr.	....	sound recordist
Michael C. Casper	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Michael Casper)
Norval D. Crutcher III	....	adr supervisor (as Norval Crutcher III)
Norval D. Crutcher III	....	dialogue editor (as Norval Crutcher III)
William Fiege	....	sound mixer (as William M. Fiege)
Diana Flores	....	adr recordist
Gary S. Gerlich	....	supervising sound editor
Jeff Gomillion	....	adr mixer
Alan Holly	....	adr mixer
William Hooper	....	sound effects editor
Richard LeGrand Jr.	....	supervising sound editor
Dean Minnerly	....	foley artist
Robert Muchnicki	....	foley artist (as Rob Muchnicki)
Patrick O'Sullivan	....	sound effects editor
Albert Romero	....	foley mixer
Walter Spencer	....	dialogue editor
Jonathan Wales	....	sound re-recording mixer
Samuel Webb	....	assistant sound editor
Ace Williams	....	boom operator
Marilyn Graf	....	foley editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Andrew Sebok	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Christopher Dusendschon	....	digital imaging: THDX (uncredited)
Steven Emmert	....	optical compositor: THDX (uncredited)

Stunts
Brian Avery	....	stunts
Christopher Doyle	....	stunts (as Chris Doyle)
Corey Michael Eubanks	....	stunts (as Corey Eubanks)
Steve Hulin	....	stunts
Julius LeFlore	....	stunt coordinator (as Julius Leflore)
Monte Rex Perlin	....	stunts (as Monte Perlin)

Camera and Electrical Department
David Bodin	....	best boy grip
Kevin Chickanis	....	key grip: second unit (as Kevin Chickauis)
Eric M. Davis	....	lamp operator
Kenny Davis	....	dolly grip
Cory Geryak	....	gaffer
Bob Hall	....	camera operator
D.J. Harder	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as David J. Harder)
Toulouse Holliday	....	best boy grip: second unit (as Shane Toulouse Holliday)
Richard James Hughes	....	second assistant camera: second unit (as Rich Hughes)
Dan Lynch	....	grip
Jim McComas	....	best boy electric
Greg McEachen	....	lamp operator (as Gregory E. McEachen)
Daniel C. McFadden	....	second assistant camera
Jason Newton	....	key grip
Daniel C. Rothenberg	....	still photographer (as Danny Rothenberg)
Landon Ruddel	....	gaffer (as Landen Ruddell)
Joaquin Sedillo	....	director of photography: second unit
Philip Shanahan	....	first assistant camera (as Phil Shanahan)
Don Spiro	....	lamp operator
R. Michael Stringer	....	grip
Rachel Wells	....	lamp operator

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Terrence Harris	....	casting associate (as Terence Harris)
Wendy O'Brien	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anne Laoparadonchai	....	set costumer
Laura Marolakos	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Jamie Burris	....	post-production assistant
Don Capoferri	....	color timer
Mike Grant	....	first assistant editor
Mato	....	color timer (as Mato Der Avanessian)
Cybele O'Brien	....	apprentice editor
Michael Matsumoto	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)
Chris Miller	....	post-production services (uncredited)

Music Department
David Klotz	....	music supervisor
Mikael Sandgren	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Robert Blatchford	....	driver
Bruce Callahan	....	driver
John Cardos	....	driver (as John Bud Cardos)
Gary DeVoe	....	driver (as Gary Devoe)
Dan Duffy	....	driver
Joe Feeney	....	transportation captain (as Joseph R. Feeney)
Denise Fligg	....	driver
P. Gerald Knight	....	transportation coordinator
Charles Newland	....	driver
Shaun Ryan	....	driver
Steve Shoemaker	....	driver (as Steve 'Shoe' Shoemaker)
Keven Simmons	....	driver (as Keven Hale Simmons)
Travis Stake	....	driver
Dan O. Wiseman	....	driver
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)

Other crew
Brent Amelingmeier	....	executive: Newmarket
Terrence Beasor	....	adr voice
Elizabeth A. Bergman	....	post-production accountant (as Elizabeth Bergman)
Jose Carrillo	....	chef helper
Rene Cogan	....	executive: Newmarket
John B. Crye	....	executive: Newmarket (as John Crye)
Vicki Davis	....	adr voice
John DeMita	....	adr voice (as John Demita)
Judi M. Durand	....	adr voice (as Judi Durand)
Russ Fega	....	location manager
Bennett Fidlow	....	additional legal services (as Bennett J. Fidlow)
Efrain Figueroa	....	adr voice
Greg Finley	....	adr voice
Jeff Fischer	....	adr voice
Antonio García	....	chef
Steve Gehrke	....	script supervisor (as Steven R. Gehrke)
David 'Cajun' Guilbeau	....	craft service (as Cajun Guilbeau)
Linda Hawkins	....	executive: Newmarket
Erika Hemmerle	....	assistant: Jennifer Todd
Rafael Hernandez	....	chef helper
Doris Hess	....	adr voice
Frank S. Johnson	....	assistant: Suzanne Todd (as Frank Johnson)
Monica Kenyon	....	key set production assistant (as Monica M. Kenyon)
Christina Kim	....	assistant production coordinator
Kenneth Kim	....	executive: Newmarket
Chad Lane	....	stand-in
Amanda Lawrence	....	publicist
Scott Leclau	....	executive: Newmarket
Larry T. Lewis	....	production coordinator
Ed McGrady	....	production assistant
Denise Mora	....	first assistant accountant
Bob Neill	....	adr voice
Jonathan Nolan	....	production assistant (as Jonah Nolan)
Scott Pierce	....	stand-in
Debra Pollack	....	executive: Newmarket
William M. Povletich	....	production accountant (as William Povletich)
Michelle Purple	....	assistant: Suzanne Todd (as Michelle Glass)
Jasan Sherman	....	assistant location manager (as Howie Sherman)
Audrey Tallard	....	production assistant
Marianne E. Titiriga	....	assistant: Jennifer Todd (as Marianne Titiriga)
Rhonda Wheelan	....	craft service
Cindy Wilkinson Kirven	....	executive: Newmarket
Anthony Woods	....	first aid
Jenny Worman	....	stand-in
Charlie Yook	....	production assistant
Ruth Zalduondo	....	adr voice
John B. Crye	....	story editor (uncredited)
Bridgette Kelley	....	additional script supervisor (uncredited)
Frederic Perrin	....	caterer (uncredited)

Thanks
Howard Abramson	....	special thanks
Dan Aloni	....	special thanks
Chris Andrews	....	special thanks
Keya Khayatian	....	special thanks
Nancy Kirhoffer	....	special thanks
Gleb Klioner	....	special thanks
Stephanie Reuler	....	special thanks
Vanessa Ryder	....	special thanks
Michael Schenkman	....	special thanks
Michael Schlitt	....	special thanks
Todd Schulkin	....	special thanks
Diane Upson	....	special thanks
Patrick Wachsberger	....	special thanks
Cal Worthington	....	special thanks
Henry Wrenn-Meleck	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Newmarket Capital Group
• Team Todd
• I Remember Productions
• Summit Entertainment

Distributors

• Newmarket Films (2001) (USA) (theatrical) (as Newmarket)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (Canada)
• Pathé Distribution (UK)
• Istituto Luce (Italy)
• CDE Home Video (Italy) (DVD)
• CDE Home Video (Italy) (VHS)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (France)
• New World Films Internacional S.A. (Spain)
• Helkon Filmverleih GmbH (Germany)
• ECT (Norway)
• LW Editora (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Líder Films (Argentina)
• Paris Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paris Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Independent Films (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Parco Co. Ltd. (2001) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (2001) (Finland) (video)
• Odeon (Greece) (all media)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (rental)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (retail)
• Yorin (2003) (Netherlands) (TV) (broadcast premiere)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance provided by
• Big Brother of Los Angeles  special thanks
• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Cuisine Express  catering (as Cuisine Express)
• Digital Difference  digital audio editing (uncredited)
• Eastman Kodak  special thanks
• Film Finance  completion bond provided by
• Leonetti Company  grip and electric equipment (as The Leonetti Company)
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting
• Ronco Inventions  special thanks
• Sonic Kitchen  special thanks (as Sonic Kitchens)
• Soundfirm  additional adr services (as Soundfirm)
• Stroock & Stroock & Lavan  production legal services
• Summit Entertainment  sales
• Survival Insurance  special thanks
• The American Lung Association  special thanks (as American Lung Association)
• Title House  titles and opticals (as Title House)
• Universal Studios Sound Facilities  post-production sound services provided by (as Universal Studios Sound)

Also Known As:

Memento (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Memento, recuerdos de un crimen (Argentina) (Uruguay) [es]
Мементо (Russia) [ru]
Akil defteri (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Amnésia (Brazil) [pt]
Amnesia (Mexico) [es]
Mémento (Canada: French title) [fr]
Memento (Czech Republic) [cs]
Memento (Slovakia) [sk]
Memento (Spain) [es]
Memento (Poland) [pl]
Memento (Greece) [el]
Memento (France) [fr]

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and some drug content.

Runtime:

113 min | Turkey:107 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #37211) | Iceland:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 (re-rating) | Ireland:18 (original rating) | Japan:PG-12 | Mexico:B | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG (censored version) | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Newmarket Capital Group

Trivia:

The novel Leonard's wife is shown reading is 'Claudius the God', by Robert Graves.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Leonard is writing on the back of Teddy's Polaroid, he sets the picture down on his jacket; however, in the close-ups of Leonard writing, he appears to have the picture directly on the bed.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Leonard Shelby: [voiceover] So where are you? You're in some motel room. You just - you just wake up and you're in - in a motel room. There's the key. It feels like maybe it's just the first time you've been there, but perhaps you've been there for a week, three months. It's - it's kind of hard to say. I don't - I don't know. It's just an anonymous room.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Proinhibition (2004)

Soundtrack:

Stone

Not to be missed if you are looking for something clever and original. ***1/2 (out of four)

MEMENTO / (2001) ***1/2 (out of four)

By Blake French:

How is this for a scenario? A man breaks into your house in the middle of the night. He kills your wife and leaves you with brain injuries. Furious, you pledge your life to track down and kill whoever is responsible. There is just one problem: after the head injury, you are no longer capable of creating new memories; everything before the accident is crystal clear, but now you cannot remember anything past several minutes.

Now chew on this: what happens to guilt if you cannot remember what you did? How can a person have emotions if he does not know where they came from? How can we learn from our experiences if we cannot remember them. What is the purpose of revenge if someone cannot recollect or prosper from it?

"Memento" wins this year's prize for inducing the most audience participation. Not only is the film thought-provoking and unusually absorbing, but it also places us in the main character's shoes. How can we be in the same mental status with the main character when he cannot remember anything? Writer/director Christopher Nolan has that answer: he tells the story backwards. We begin at the end and work our way towards the beginning. However, each individual scene plays running forward, often overlapping, providing us with clear, constructive transitions. The main character, Leonard, is confused in prospects of time and experience, and so are we.

Other characters include Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss, from "The Matrix"), who also lost someone close and can help Leonard, and Teddy (Joe Pantoliano, also from "The Matrix"), whose identity often shifts mysteriously. Then there is the series of flashbacks of Leonard's experiences while working as an insurance agent. The situation involves an individual named Sammy, who has a memory disorder similar to Leonard's. His diabetic spouse is not sure whether her husband is faking his condition or not. To prove it to herself she arranges a test I dare not reveal. Leonard is more intricately involved in this story than he even believes.

"Memento" is smart and imaginative. It doesn't pass up little details of the characters. Leonard is constantly jotting himself notes and taking Polaroid pictures so his life can make some sense. He even gets permanent tattoos all over his body so he does not lose or forget some of the most important information.

In a movie like this, it would be almost impossible to make without leaving some information out; even some of the film's actors were confused and requested a script told in sequence order. But these filmmakers have constructed a movie with a plot hole big enough to drive a semi through: If Leonard cannot remember anything after the accident, then how can he remember that he has a memory condition? There are no tattoos or notes to remind him, and whenever he meets someone he explains his condition thoroughly. This is necessary information he reveals, but there are better ways to do so. We could be there when his doctor explains the condition to him, or see his friends talking about it. The sky is the limit in a movie like this. It was not essential to leave such a massive, obvious hole in the plot.

"Memento" is still a unique mystery thriller. It is a tantalizing experience we do not often come across at the movies. For audiences who like to sit back and relax, this film is a waste of time. It requires us to follow along, participate, fit puzzle pieces together-"Memento" doesn't provide any easy or obvious answers. All but the most intelligent and thoughtful kids will not be able to follow this film; it is intended for adult audiences. "Memento" is one of the year's most challenging movies, not to be missed if you are looking for something clever and original.