Christopher Nolan's Signature Film | Memento

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With 'Tenet' on the horizon, for this video essay we look at Christopher Nolan's breakout film 'Memento', which turns 20 this year. We explore the film's themes, as well as it's cinematic lineage.
#tenet #christophernolan #memento
Written, edited and narrated by Leigh Singer - www.leighsinger.com
Graphics by James Pierson
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[@TheDiscardedImage]

Are you convinced? Is 'Memento' Nolan's signature film or do you disagree?

[@andrelaguna5494]

Yes, I agree. A self-contained film that came to life from a short story, equally self-contained. When Nolan expanded the scale of his next films, he let some of their elements to slip by: too many characters, too long, too many details. Memento is perfect because it is a brilliant idea executed in a small scale narrative.

[@michaeldepinto3562]

Yes

[@nihil8712]

a!

[@lionofjudah6753]

I had never thought of "I've done it" as having multi-layered meaning before! Even the supposed moment of clarity conceals more than it reveals. Just brilliant.

[@L3i6HSin63R]

thanks, that's good to hear!

[@lionofjudah6753]

Great analysis of how the form IS the message. Truly Nolan's best work.

[@panrebrand8233]

I was going to make my own vid-essay on Memento today after reviewing it yesterday, but after this material I feel weaponless.

[@L3i6HSin63R]

do it! great films stand up to constant re-evaluation and recontextualisation. but thank you for the huge compliment all the same.

[@OTOss8]

I had the good fortune of working in a movie theatre while we had this film and I can say, without hesitation, this is the film I slipped in to watch the most once my shift was done. If I've seen it once, I've seen it at least 50 times. It never, ever got old. Small edit: We had Snatch around the same time (I'm sure someone can check the dates) and I watched that sucker nearly as much as this one.

[@santiagomarshall1447]

66k! This content deserves millions of subscribers.

[@Alan_Wigz]

Go and tell as many people as you can...

[@L3i6HSin63R]

@@Alan_Wigz yep.

[@NayimU]

Fully agree, its still on my top ten list.

[@gleb4674]

I absolutely agree that "Memento" may very well be Nolan's greatest piece of work, which captures his true talent and obsession for cinema. P. S. What are your thoughts on "Interstellar" and "Dunkirk"?

[@L3i6HSin63R]

huge ambition and superlative filmmaking but sometimes undone by overcomplication (more Dunkirk) and bizarre narrative choices (more Interstellar). but, given the super-conservative, IP-driven trend of modern Hollywood, we need more filmmakers like Nolan swinging for the fences, even if they don't always hit it out of the park - though clearly many think he does succeed pretty much every time.

[@bryapro]

Great analysis, thanks for sharing!

[@loveforeignaccents]

I am super excited, as I love, love, love this movie!!

[@bimmovieproductions6352]

very interesting, I don't know if this is entirely related to the topic at hand, but I think 8 1/2 mixed reality and dream in a very interesting way that made us the audience really think about what was real and not, and how it affected the story. The film is also full of flash backs which all give a lot of thematic significance.

[@L3i6HSin63R]

you're absolutely right and it's funny that you mention Fellini... watch this space!

[@Armakk]

Nice work, Leigh. Best look at this film I've seen yet.

[@L3i6HSin63R]

you're too kind, Armakk, thank you!

[@golu_badbola]

Time is the narrator in Nolan's movies. Its just that Nolan uses this plot device to its full potential.

[@L3i6HSin63R]

woah! that concept is going to mess with my mind for a good while...

[@sidious501]

This was the Memento breakdown video I was looking for

[@L3i6HSin63R]

thanks, that's great to hear!

[@josevelasco216]

Your film and director analysis are really good. Specially those about what´s fun for some directors, like Wes Anderson or the Coen Brothers. I think we really need a video on Yorgos Lanthimos´humor!

[@L3i6HSin63R]

love the Coens and Lanthimos, consider them added to my (ever-growing) wish list. and thank you!

[@movedmindpoRUSZonyUMYS]

Brilliant!

[@howard130]

Amazing video🔥

[@L3i6HSin63R]

thanks Howard!

[@jorgereyna1796]

well done

[@filmdetective]

Marvelous

[@mononokehte]

Love it

[@voteforno.6155]

Good stuff

[@tupaicindjeke275]

I hope we get another Nolan movie after TENET

[@lactroc11]

great

[@neelabhpandey8956]

What are the names of those french movies in the video ? Plz tell me if someone knows

[@L3i6HSin63R]

the two Alain Resnais movies are Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959) and Last Year at Marienbad (1961). in many ways very different to Memento, but definitely connections there in terms of time and structure. not easy watches, but would highly recommend them.

[@Dayvit78]

@@L3i6HSin63R In this video he compares them side by side. It's clear Nolan saw those films before making Memento. Now I'm going to have to check them out too.

[@L3i6HSin63R]

@@Dayvit78 yes, I know - I made the video! but do check out the Resnais films, they're pretty groundbreaking and influential.

[@Dayvit78]

@@L3i6HSin63R :) I don't know how I hadn't heard of him before. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@ianmay9372]

imma go ahead and stick this one in my top 10, and bump shutter island off the list. What a film, Nolan highest point. i do hope tenet is gonna be good, and not fall to the hype

[@aserr5660]

Is it true they're working on a sequel?

[@TheMutantMindframe]

what's the movie at 5:37

[@L3i6HSin63R]

that's Peppermint Candy (1999) an early film from the great South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong, whose Poetry and Burning are, for me, two of the best of the 2010s. do check them out if you haven't seen them, both just superb.

[@dealerovski82]

I never liked Memento, should I rewatch it?

[@crispouk3070]

One million percent. I don’t watch a lot of films. But this is a masterpiece. Absolute astounding film

[@dealerovski82]

@@crispouk3070 But you have seen all Nolans work right?

[@crispouk3070]

Daniel Filippus yes. He is my favourite director. This is by far (in my opinion) his most creative piece, even if it was his first. The actual effect it had on me while watching it, the eerie feeling of going mad. It’s spooky how great of an effect he creates. I’m still in awe over this film, just can’t fathom how you would even start to design this as a writer. And execute it so perfectly. Hope you enjoy it more this time dude

[@oneum88]

Thank you for speaking so slowly

[@temperuncentered1753]

This movie some of the best films ever made in history.truly brilliant.tarantino and scorsece do not even come close to this

[@kiranramanujam5264]

Height of analysis ...

[@jcjcviews]

Just making notes to myself: Black and white imprints the idea of newspaper print as the truth, "it was in black and white," they say. And thus we have night and day. Sordid and the Revealed. As for color, we have light; we move into the revealed based on having a brighter, lighter sense of being, evoking another question: Are films in color necessary to make things appear "more real." One thinks of propaganda. Mememto. It's a brilliant puzzle for exercising the brain. Now, the final question: is it entertaining? Hahaha.

[@highwind1991]

while it's true that Memento premiered at the Venice film festival in the year 2000, it wasn't actually released theatrically until early 2001

[@keshavbhanu5788]

Prestige was nolans best

[@Blankford777]

Umm...what?

[@daron9229]

Is this ASMR? Parents sleeping in an adjacent room? Why are you whispering?

[@TheWritersNest]

ASMR video essays. I think you're onto something my man.

[@kiskalacs]

The narrator’s half whispering half timid voice is really offputting. It gives me the wrong types of shivers, it’s like an anti-ASMR video essay. Really good writing, interesting points but I couldn’t bear listening for another 7 mins. Shame.

[@L3i6HSin63R]

*timid whisper* thanks for part-watching, David!

[@Trakinasnove]

This was a great video that explains why people like Memento, but I still hate this movie, I think it's bad, boring and told in a dumb way. But hey, great video none the less!

[@L3i6HSin63R]

err, thanks Marcelo!