MEMENTO Breakdown | Ending Explained, Easter Eggs, Hidden Details & Things You Missed

Memento Breakdown | Ending Explained, Easter Eggs, Hidden Details & Things You Missed. In the video, we breakdown Memento and talk about things you probably missed the first time around. Memento is one of Christopher Nolan's strongest movies and it's definitely a film that gets better and better the more that you watch it. Filled with easter eggs, hidden details, amazing foreshadowing and a lot of things you might have missed, I thought I'd take a trip through the film to discuss everything about it. Let's get into it!
#Memento #EndingExplained #Breakdown #MovieDetails #ThingsYouMissed #EasterEggs #endingexplained #eastereggs #thingsyoumissed #hiddendetails #MementoDetails #InsaneDetails #ChristopherNolan #AmazingMovies #MementoForeshadowing
If you enjoyed this video then please subscribe to the channel / @heavyspoilers
If You Want To Help Support The Channel So I Can Make More Videos Like This Please Donate Here:
/ @heavyspoilers
Check out our #shorts channel here HEAVY SPOILERS CLIPS - / @heavyspoilersclips8820
Check out our website at heavyspoilers....
Get some awesome Heavy Spoilers show clothes, phonecases and accessories at - shopzeroedition...
Check out our BEST new videos below
Glass Onion Breakdown - • GLASS ONION: Ending Ex...
Alice In Borderland S2 Ending Explained - • ALICE IN BORDERLAND Se...
Everything Everywhere All At Once Breakdown - • Everything Everywhere ...
Logan Breakdown - • LOGAN Breakdown | Endi...
Avatar 2 Ending Explained - • AVATAR The Way Of Wate...
Spider-Man Across The Spider-verse Trailer Breakdown - • SPIDER-MAN Across The ...
Check out our best Shorts videos
Troll Ending Explained - • TROLL Netflix Ending E...
Mantis Clues Explained - • Why we knew about this...
The Menu Ending Explained - • THE MENU (2022) Ending...
/* ---- SOCIAL MEDIA ---- */
Follow Us On Social Media At:
Website - heavyspoilers....
TikTok - www.tiktok.com...
Twitter - / heavyspoilers
Instagram - / heavyspoilers
Facebook - / deffinitionmc
Follow our team at -
Host Paul - / heavyspoilers
Host Jared - / jaredbuckendahl
Editor Steesh - / steeshhaggie
Editor Matt - / superheronexus
/* ---- VIDEO INFORMATION ---- */
Ok so I think that Memento is one of my favourite Christopher Nolan films and it's arguably the movie that put him on the map. This film really carved out his signature style due to it's non chronological storytelling and it's a movie that to this day still can leave you scratching your head. Throughout this video we're gonna be giving a big breakdown of what happens in it, the hidden details and also the easter eggs that make this one of the best movies the director has ever put out.
Huge thank you for watching the video all the way through and if you want something else to watch then one of our other breakdowns will be linked on screen now. With that out the way thanks fo...
Well it is memento so we have to go backwards and this is shown from the opening shot of the film. Here we see Leonards hand holding a polaroid picture which is fully developed. However as he shakes it it starts to blur and fade away because it's actually moving in reverse. This is very symbolic as it's also how Leonards memory works. In the movie we discover he has a condition that renders him unable to create short term memories. So to him the moment is crystal clear when it first happens and then it starts to fade like the polaroid we see here. Now this is actually the murder to Teddy who we see throughout the movie is actually a policeman that's using Leonard for his own personal gain. Memento is very much a revenge story on a number of levels and we see several characters that embody this.
Leonard believes that his wife was killed by a man called John G and Teddy has weaponised this to make him his own personal assassin. Teddy has been framing people and then leaving breadcrumbs so that Leonard will track down this person and murder them. These tend to be high stakes dealers and thus Leonard makes off with the profits whilst Leonard thinks that he's caught his wifes killer for a couple of minutes.
Music By - PSiMiTAR
► KZbin Subscribe - www.youtube.co...
► Instrumentals - • [NO COPYRIGHT MUSIC] S...
► Twitter - / steeshhaggie
► Instagram - / steeshhaggie

[@heavyspoilers]

Get some awesome Heavy Spoilers show clothes, phonecases and accessories at - shopzeroedition.com/collections/heavy-spoilers-merch

[@PapiBocaChula]

my favorite indy movie

[@mykieclarke9797]

I think the 'discount inn' is code for an asylum. The guy who works there is the nurse. All rooms symbolises rooms in the asylum with other patients.

[@sadie9728]

I think it was spelled out pretty clearly that Sammy was Lenny all along. No ambiguity.

[@relativelyincorrect]

Teddy did find his keys. He was parked by Lenny at the motel. That is when he tried to trick him into thinking Teddys car was his.

[@coby7914]

Have you reviewed 21 Grams? It's also shown backwards.

[@anthonybottigliero8336]

Natalie does seem like a villain, but think about her perspective: her husband left, and two hours later one of his killers is wearing his clothes and driving his car, and acting like he did nothing wrong. Of course she weaponized him! This is a story about revenge, and she's the one who gets it.

[@betterlatethannever2156]

I just finished watching the movie for the 1st time and I didn't even realize that that was him. That's genius!

[@cthejust2344]

Yes, and she even genuinely tried to help leonard at the end by giving info on Teddy. That wasn’t technically helping but at that time she was just tracing down a license plate and genuinely thought she was looking for the real murderer. Natalie was the only “good” guy in the story.

[@fleurphoebe]

@@cthejust2344 guy pearce is the only villain tbh, none of the others did any thing wrong

[@bababooey2744]

​@fleurphoebe I mean he can't really remember anything (also he he just seems straight wacko) i feel like you can't blame it all on him for the predicament

[@fleurphoebe]

@@bababooey2744 BUT we know he realised at least twice, that the evil dude had been killed. and that his life's purpose was done, but he chose to deny that and not remind himself, so as to cause havoc on tons of others anywayyyy. get it yet ? ffs

[@rockyblue92]

14:03 For a split second you can see in this scene Leonard has a tattoo saying "I'VE DONE IT", that doesn't appear in any other scene we see him with his shirt off.

[@taylorrose2278]

Wow

[@None-lx8kj]

It's also not backwards.

[@urbanoutlaw858]

@@None-lx8kj Its fictitious. Hes imagining and savoring the fact he did get John G. Just as he closes his eyes and imagines his wife when Natalie tells him to in the diner. Also fun fact is Lenny invented John G up just like he invented Sammy Jankis. There was no 2nd attacker.

[@La_Horca]

@urbanoutlaw858 Then how do you explain that he had an accident that made his brain develop a short time memory loss?

[@urbanoutlaw858]

​@@La_Horca The police on scene the night of his wife's attack determined there was no 2nd attacker, and that the lone attacker Lenny shot had a blunt weapon with Lenny's blood on it (from the police report). The attack that night caused a physical injury, and/or mental trauma which from that point forward caused Lenny's condition (which is psychological as determined by the tests involving Sammy Jankis, AKA Lenny). Also you can't trust Lenny's storytelling or flashbacks completely as he is simply put, a psychopath.

[@rachelm.3173]

I saw Memento in 2021 for the first time. It's definitely in a league of its own.

[@rachelm.3173]

@@coby7914 I'll check it out. Thanks!

[@Fake_The_Jab]

50 first dates clears

[@paolothorpe1461]

@@Fake_The_Jab Forgetful Lucy😭🔥

[@CordayDatzTuff]

@@Fake_The_Jabfinding dory clears...jk

[@Jacob-2796]

Thanks for sharing this important detail

[@sankeerthreddy295]

"How can I heal, When I can't feel time" is one of the best lines ever written.

[@urbanoutlaw858]

ties into the 5 stages of grief. Lenny is always in denial.

[@rhondasisco-cleveland2665]

Time helps heal, sometimes. Some wounds are so timeless I’m not sure it helps, and it takes force of will. If your struggling, I hope you can find your way.

[@paolothorpe1461]

@@rhondasisco-cleveland2665 Yo you got insta?

[@wattsnottaken1]

“My wife wasn’t diabetic, do you think I don’t know my own wife?

[@altprsn6929]

“Can’t remember to forget you”. What a devastating line!

[@TheXFireball]

Just watched this movie a couple of nights ago. Love that how the audience view of the protagonist can change depending on the order you watched the movie.

[@GSP-76]

I saw Memento in the theater way back when it first came out...I was totally blown away at how well it was made...classic Nolan movie telling.

[@Wallyworld30]

Same here I was 23 years old when I saw it and I thought it was the most brilliant movie ever made. 23 years later it's still in my top ten. Crazy I saw this movie at literally the halfway point in my life up until now.

[@GSP-76]

@@Wallyworld30 When I saw it in the theater, there were literally like 10-15 people there...every person was blown away with how amazing it was.

[@k.c.3022]

For the last 15 years I assumed Natalie was knowingly committing revenge on Teddy. However, following my latest watch and reading some online comments, I suddenly realized that there is no visible evidence that Natalie has any idea that Teddy and John Gammel/“that cop” whose license plate she had checked are the same person. She’s seen “that cop” in the bar before but doesn’t know him as Teddy, and Lenny never reveals the Teddy photo in her presence. So this is another ambiguity from Nolan: We’re primed to assume Natalie is aiding Leonard in killing Teddy for her own revenge, yet we don’t actually know that she knows John Gammel of the license plate and Teddy are the same person. She might be genuinely trying to help Leonard after all and only by coincidence is getting Teddy killed!

[@williamwheatley1852]

Natalie knows Leonard is the killer upon their first meeting, Leonard is wearing his clothes and she says 'your pocket' sarcastically showing she knows, shethen precedes to get everyone to spit in the cup and give it to Leonard, thus confirming the memory loss. Natalie is fair to assume that Leonard must have had help, plus she wants to know why as much as who, by befriending Leonard she can get more information, like Leonard telling her about his wife and his motives, this must have confirmed that someone has coerced Leonard into the killing, the logically option is Teddy, the only logical option is Teddy at that point, she never needs to meet Teddy to know it was him.

[@k.c.3022]

@@williamwheatley1852 yes correct on all of that. My point was that when she met Teddy in the bar he introduced himself as a cop and not Teddy (this happened off camera, she just recounts it). Then when she runs the license plate number, she recognizes his face and sees the name John Gammel. So that was the point I was getting at: It seems like she doesn’t actually know that Teddy and John Gammel the cop are the same person. Which blew my mind! She might’ve actually been helping Leonard out of pity after all. She knew someone named Teddy was helping Leonard and that this person was actually who caused Leonard to kill Jimmy. But it’s not clear she knows John Gammel is Teddy

[@watamatafoyu]

​​@@k.c.3022The prime suspect in Jimmy's murder was Teddy/John by the time she saw the plate tied to John's face... because she knew Teddy was a dirty cop. Now she knows John's a dirty cop. There were just too many connections at that point. She wanted Dodd off her back, she wanted revenge for Jimmy's killer, she was OK manipulating the Memory Man to get it, and she probably would have liked to have gotten Jimmy's money back since her primary breadwinner was gone. However, she probably also felt a lot of sympathy for Leonard, because they both lost their lovers, and let's be honest... they were both young and hot and single so you know things are gonna happen

[@k.c.3022]

@@watamatafoyu She didn’t realize until after she ran the license plate that “that cop who came into the bar looking for a guy with memory issues” was actually the person who Leonard was looking for as his next kill. But I don’t think she actually knew that “some guy called Teddy” who Jimmy went to meet was the same person as “that cop at the bar” who she personally met. Teddy introduced himself to her as a cop looking for Leonard, not as Teddy. And he introduced himself to Jimmy as fellow drug dealer named Teddy, not as a cop. At no point do we see on camera Natalie realizing that they’re the same person. Maybe off camera she saw Jimmy talking to him and then made the connection. And that’s what I always assumed is what happened, until I realized this past viewing that we actually don’t know for certain! It’s a logical assumption to make but not 100% definitive!

[@watamatafoyu]

@@k.c.3022 When Leonard met Natalie, she says a cop came in that evening looking for him. What cop was looking for Leonard other than Teddy?! Either she suspected he was the same guy Jimmy was working with, or she's incredibly stupid, or it's a plot hole.

[@KnullnVoid]

I'm loving these Nolan breakdowns you've been doing. First watched Memento about a decade ago, when I was getting into cinematography and filmmaking, and I remember my teenage brain being completely blown by the end of the movie. Nolan has arguably one of the best filmographies of the 21st century, and I'm really looking forward to Oppenheimer.

[@5.kc.5]

Random but did you enjoy NOPE?

[@KnullnVoid]

@@5.kc.5 Thought Nope was pretty phenomenal, honestly. Really dug the overarching theme and felt it was a fresh spin on the sci-fi/alien invasion genre while still maintaining that unnerving, cerebral horror that Peele has been doing so well. It’s kinda hard to gauge Jordan Peele’s filmography against other modern directors, since he’s only on his third film, but all three are pretty ingenious IMO

[@eddysandland58]

​@@KnullnVoid, Same As Mate! Also he's (to Me anyway!) Similar to Ari Aster's style ie Hereditary and Midsommar! I know Aster's done others before them! But I get the same Vibe/Tension etc as Peele! So Yeah Both Great Writers and Directors! Cheers 🍻

[@MikeDaMan10]

I love the older movie breakdowns

[@Kavilion]

Especially great, complex movies like this. I get to watch it again!

[@ABuffaloDub]

Same

[@infamuznyc]

Yes agreed

[@hugh_jasso]

Older movies were better written

[@ignatiusjackson235]

Can we stop calling me "older, eh? I'd prefer the term "classic" instead.

[@flykyleboyman23]

I saw both interstellar and memento for the first time this year. Both such good movies that deserved a break down like this

[@6dmiller]

By pure random chance I wandered into an independent theater and saw Memento when it opened, which was a pleasant surprise. I always thought that the multitude of conflicting details were not meant to be resolvable, with the point being that the audience would have the same maddening experience as Leondard: never being able to figure everything out.

[@mlsaulnier]

good observation

[@BunderChowed]

I watch this movie every couple of years and every time I notice something new or get a different perspective. Brilliant!!

[@heavyspoilers]

Yeah it’s so good, incredibly well put together

[@urbanoutlaw858]

@@heavyspoilers The most interesting part I found after several rewatches is figuring out that John G is a figmentation just like Sammy Jankis. Plot twist!

[@Kenswifty]

@@urbanoutlaw858 how did you figure that out?

[@urbanoutlaw858]

@@Kenswifty Ive watched the chronological version. You can figure out the type of person Lenny is when he tells Teddy how he gets his suit and the Jaguar (he just makes up a fabricated lie on the spot and seems to even believe what hes saying). Lenny then goes over the police report at Natalies and you can tell he is lying and making it up that there must have been a second attacker (the police determined there was only a single attacker after their investigation). I'm more likely to believe the police are a much more credible source than a man who makes up his own reality. I highly recommend watching the chronological version of the film. If you are determined to know the answers to any questions you have and have the patience, rewatch the film, write out facts, watch interviews, read drafts of key scenes in the script, etc. The movie is a puzzle and follows character themes throughout.

[@Kenswifty]

@@urbanoutlaw858 i have watched it several times, but i thought the first, real john G has been killed already by the help of teddy. And after that, because lenny just cant remember he has already revenged, teddy is using him and making up new john G's every time. That's what I thought and i do think now that movie doesnt really tell you that much to determine whether this real john G actually existed or not. Yes yoy cant really trust a man who's been lying to himself for such a long time, but some of the facts provided by him are still facts and after all, maybe he isnt lying about this john G, a burglar who happened to broke into their house.

[@bobbyhillthuglife]

Memento is still the best Christopher Nolan film imo, it is so tight and without any the self-indulgence that he succumbs to at times in his later movies. As much as I love the fact that he's one of the only guys left doing large practical effects, there's something about the small budget of Memento that creates an attention to detail that can sometimes get lost in the larger-scale productions.

[@MonkeeKnucklez2]

Same. I just love this movie

[@jjcoola998]

The film also exudes a “grimey” feeling that’s hard to describe but adds so much

[@evantobias1023]

I can't tell you how much your breakdowns of film have strengthen my life in a positive way and the respect I have for the people like myself who live movies so much and view them a certain way to understand what geniuss like the Nolan brothers are !!! Thank you

[@heavyspoilers]

ah thank you so much, that really means a lot, really appreciate the comment and hope you have a great 2023

[@jwall2415]

This movie truly is incredible! Despite being heralded as such being phenomenal it's still underrated! Watching this breakdown has me wanting to rewatch it all over again!

[@caranook]

I watched this in a rerun in the cinema as a teenager, about ten years ago, and I didn’t really understand it then. The other day I was on a flight and I wanted to watch a movie, saw this on Netflix, and was like ‘hey, how about I try this again’. Bloody masterpiece. It’s such an unbelievably clever film in every sense of the word, it leaves you thinking and is super open to interpretation. This video broke it down super well, nice work!

[@thephilosopher7173]

This is actually the first movie I personally sat down and independently studied. Was recommended it about a decade ago and finally watched it during the Pandemic. Definitely a mind bender!

[@tommullinerart]

Memento has been my favourite film since it came out. It's just a shame how many people still haven't seen it. It's certainly one of those films that you have to properly watch and be in the right mood to take in. So i understand why it's not for everyone.

[@perry92964]

never judge a book by its cover, i have recommended this movie to dozens of people and none have watched it cause they said it didnt look interesting

[@Will_022]

First two times I saw it I was high 😭 insane experience

[@GippyHappy]

To me, Memento is a perfect film, and my favorite of all time. It's the only movie to ever pull off the "ambiguous ending" in a way I actually liked.

[@Maurimutterinpuolikas]

Just watched this movie few nights ago, I absolutely loved it. It's just so good, scenes like the Natalie and Dodd one or the ending even the intro scene are so good for me this movie sits right there with Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, Pulp Fiction, The good The bad and The ugly and LOTR: Return of the king as my favourites. Masterpiece

[@uub_plz2651]

Rewatching this movie showed me that Nolan had been thinking about Tenet for DECADES

[@sk8mafia214]

He did say when he did Memento that’s how Tenet idea came to mind, specifically the reverse opening scene with the gun.

[@drivingintothedesertuntilt3202]

pity tenet is such a shit movie

[@mikebraithwaite6537]

@@sk8mafia214bruh said “pacifically”

[@sk8mafia214]

@@mikebraithwaite6537 lol I didn’t even realize I put pacifically instead specifically…damn

[@sidology1.0]

Wow..

[@TiagoCavalcanti-ji6hu]

I didn't know who Nolan was when I first watched this movie. I remember being mesmerized by its brilliance. It became one of my favorite movies ever. Nolan is one my fav movie makers as well. Thanxx for making this one !!!!

[@lucas41mavs]

This is one of my all-time favorite movies. I absolutely love when you break down movies outside of the superhero genre.

[@Wallyworld30]

I saw this movie when I was 23 years old in the Cinema. As of this year it's been 23 years since I saw it. This movie marked the halfway point of my lived experience. Perfect movie to fall on that timeline!

[@davidd.3555]

Couple issues I had; Teddy doesn’t lie to Lenny about his name for fear of retaliation of Lenny picking him as a John G, otherwise he would’ve never told him his name at the end(beginning) of the movie. That would defeat the purpose. He gave him an alias bc he doesn’t want anyone else knowing he’s talking to him. He wants to keep his relationship with Lenny secret to better hide his ulterior motives. Sammy is real, Teddy despite his manipulation of Lenny for personal gain, is the most reliable person in the movie. Teddy explained it, Sammy was a conman that tried to commit insurance fraud, using the loss memory as his mechanism but he was caught by Lenny and denied his claim. He never had a wife. Lenny simply blended the two stories bc he doesn’t want to face the truth that he killed his wife.

[@paul_particularlyunhappynut]

THANK YOU I was wondering if Sammy was partially based off a real person. I knew lenny made the insulin part up to lie to himself about (accidentally) killing his wife, but I was wondering where Sammy jenkins came from to begin with and if he was even real at all. Or, if Teddy was just fucking with him As you said, it makes the most narrative sense that teddy isn't just completely lying out his ass at the end

[@MonkeeKnucklez2]

Yeah, and I don’t think the real Sammy was ever in an asylum. That was just tipping the hand that his memory of Sammy was actually a memory of himself. Leonard must have been in the asylum for quite a while in order to remember it at all. (Note: it appears the comment I was replying to that said Sammy was in the asylum with Leonard was deleted, so this comment from me now makes no sense, lol)

[@joshualilleker4005]

@@MonkeeKnucklez2 how did he kill his wife then in your opinion?

[@MonkeeKnucklez2]

@@joshualilleker4005 As David D was saying, I also believe Teddy is telling the truth at the end of the movie. Leonard’s wife (not Sammy, who he said was not married) was diabetic and died from the repeated insulin injections because she was “testing” Leonard, never believing his memory was actually gone. Leonard has flashbacks of his real memories of giving his wife injections when he is telling him this. He said that Leonard successfully proved the real Sammy was faking it, which is why I don’t think the real Sammy was ever in the asylum and those flashes were just more examples of how Leonard was twisting his own memories through conditioning. Leonard was purposely conditioning himself to remember his own story as Sammy’s story to escape the guilt of what he had done. (The writing here is a bit flawed because he wouldn’t even remember his wife dying at all if he truly had no short term memory. I believe Nolan is fudging the logic of his own premise a bit to make his story more engaging). (Note: I now see the original post I replied to saying Sammy was in the asylum with Leonard is gone now, so my original comment now has no proper context)

[@genepagnozzi413]

Bro this comment section got me so befuddled im just gonna have to re watch the movie

[@cameronmendez6483]

I’ve always thought Leonard and Sammy are one in the same, but it doesn’t really make sense when you see the insurance scenes. There’s no way an insurance broker doesn’t have great insurance lol

[@gleaso108]

His final monologue before pulling over to get his tattoo at “Emma’s” is so beautiful and sad. (For me at least). What a wonderful video, thank you!

[@Dom_510]

This is a great movie and the way the story unfolds blew my mind the first time I saw it. Keep up the great work, I love these breakdowns of older movies.

[@heavyspoilers]

Thank you

[@vikingodin1986]

One of my all time films ....love these breakdowns

[@hexagonshorts2186]

The sheer brilliancy of this film is unmatched. I feel it even surpasses Inception at some points

[@williamlusk52]

LOVED THIS MOVIE. Made me a kinda cinephile and a forever lover of Nolan's films. Lots that comes back, as I haven't watched Memento in some time, but the story is so heart breaking, Leonard just trying to keep his delusion going... Thanks for one last go round, Paul!

[@finned958]

Precursor to Tenet. I can see the inspiration on confusing movies that make no sense, but we remain fascinated with it.

[@ebethbarr1807]

YESSS Memento is my favorite movie. Thanks for all these Chris Nolan movie videos I’m enjoying them so much 😁😁

[@heavyspoilers]

Ey thank you, really enjoyed making them

[@DOC_951]

Just watched this a week ago… so good. I can’t believe it isn’t more popular.

[@LemurMaster]

Love to see you breaking down older films like this. So excellent!

[@heavyspoilers]

Thank you

[@joshea7861]

Watched this for the first time in many years, and the license plate being synonymous with both capital i and 1 stood out for me. I'm so glad you brought this up because it just seemed like 24 year old movie directing, rather than a bread crumb to be found.

[@michaelcovel1633]

I saw this when it came out at a local movie theater in Boise, the Flicks. They would really promote the few movies they would play each month and their description of this movie made me want to see it. A friend and I went and after it was over we tried to figure out what the hell we just watched. Still my favorite movie to this day as I feel there really are several different explanations.

[@selder_7]

Just finished watching it, then rewatched the first 5 mins and it already started clicking. Watched the Prestige last night, I could watch this and that again next week and have them be new experiences, so well made

[@cheekster777]

Great movie! 👍🏻 Thank you. 🙏🏻

[@souleater1366]

Just saw this movie a few minutes ago was amazed! Really starting to like Nolan’s movies and loved Interstellar. Now I can’t wait for Oppenheimer!

[@IsimemenEbhomien]

It won an Oscar after release.

[@Yakuza92158]

all the flashy movies by Nolan, not saying those are bad, but memento will always be my favourite.. this is pure raw cinema with exceptional screenplay and direction

[@ckotcher1]

This was the first time I saw Guy Pearce. He’s such an underrated actor. He was amazing in “LA Confidental”

[@watermusic4381]

I've only ever rewatched a movie straight away 3 times and this was one of them.

[@jefferyflood]

It's kindve weird that I just finally watched this movie and now your doing a breakdown on it

[@G_Machine_Joe]

I've only seen it once, back in '08, and I'm still scratching my head. I gotta rent it again soon, and then watch it backwards.

[@Can_non69]

I actually understand less now. 😢

[@socratese5]

😂👍🏽 as Nolan intended

[@JordanGurney]

Momento is not just one of my fav Nolan movies, it's gotta be in my all-time top 10.

[@Malchior7]

14:06 “I’ve done it”? On the same place he points at in the picture 16:03

[@IanMSantos]

I LOOOOOOVE this movie, and your breakdown is GREAT. Thank you, and Happy New Year! 🙌🏽

[@wattsnottaken1]

This is Chris Nolan’s best movie IMO. This movie is so unique there’s nothing like it. His Second best movies IMO are Insomnia and Batman Begins.

[@charlycolis9811]

Thank you so much for your incredible analysis of this groundbreaking movie!!! Its been a while since I was watching it... and I never really got the pieces together. In my opinion this movie belongs to a very very rare type of film that genuinely messes with your brain and feelings - it stands out together with 'No country for old men' and Mulholland Drive'.. truely mesmerizing!!!!

[@The_ASMR_Listener]

I watched the movie in 2024, and being someone who grew up watching theorist videos, and conspiracies this Movie was a nightmare because the ending message of the movie is that the truth is up interpretations based on your personal memory of the movie meaning there's no right answer on what happened(or happening). i feel dumb but I assume that's what Lenny felt discovering the "truth" by Teddy

[@cristos]

WoW, I LEARNED ALOT From This VIDEO. I SEEw This MOVIE A BUNCH of Times AND NEVER GOT THIS MUCH DETAILS ! ! !

[@hudsonhorizons8859]

Hey Paul are you excited for Oppenheimer??

[@douglastaylor43]

I had this on DVD and I was always confused at the ending. This explains a lot

[@adtvandietv]

This film is open to an array of interpretations especially with regard to the actual reality of the main character. Whichever one it is. Said it on a different channel, but I just have to mention it that this film reminds me so much of David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive".

[@Deuterium52]

I’m inclined to believe Teddy when it comes to Sammy. He says to Leonard how Sammy was a conman and didn’t even have a wife, however Leonard projected his own story onto Sammy’s in order to give himself hope that he still maintains control. In Leonard’s account, Sammy was practically hopeless but Leonard “uses repetition” to keep on track of his quest for vengeance. In general I pretty much take Teddy’s word for it at the end of the movie, acting as the big twist. Like the fact that they found the real John G one year earlier and once Teddy saw that this didn’t satisfy Leonard he decided to use the situation for his own personal gain.

[@frankbivona5924]

lenny is 100% sammy. i freakin loved this movie! glad to see the classics never die!

[@retorik7246]

Nolan's movies, in one form or another, revolve around time, making it a crucial element of the storytelling. The burning clock symbolizes the disruption of time from its expected forward progression. While it holds no meaning for Leonard, for us, it is crucial to understanding the story being told.

[@izzynobre]

6:46 but wait - Lenny thought Teddy killed his wife…? I thought he never did but intentionally left clues for himself to arrive at that conclusion, so he would kill Teddy and end the cycle.

[@heathshark]

I think the film suggests Sammy is a real person who, ironically, attempted to fake the very condition Leonard later acquired (for real). One of the film’s main themes is the fallibility of human memory. It can’t be trusted and it’s prone to bias, especially when distorting the memory serves an emotional purpose. The similarities in Sammy’s claimed injury (albeit faked) and Leonard’s actual injury is what makes it so easy for those details to be conflated by Leonard. This confusion is subconsciously fueled even more by Leonard’s emotional drive to displace his negative actions and feelings (guilt over killing his own wife) to someone else. It’s another example of Leonard’s willingness to deceive himself, even without knowing he’s doing it.

[@neilbertmillar9960]

But he shouldnt be able to remember killing his wife because it happened after the accident

[@JaredGivens1]

​@@neilbertmillar9960Not necessarily because his condition is purely psychological and not physical. It's essentially a delusion. So basically he's told what happened to his wife, creates his own version of what happened that involves Sammy to avoid dealing with the truth and conditions himself into reciting that story to himself everytime he hears the name Sammy Jankis so that he can create some sort of purpose for himself in the name of this never ending goose chase to find "John G." That's the point behind the tattoo "Remember Sammy Jankis," especially being in such an accessible place for him to see it. Imagine that when he first got it he likely had a note that told him what happened to Sammy (which was really his story) and everytime he saw the tattoo he would read that note and reflect on Sammy's story. Imagine this happening multiple times a day over the course of months or even years, to the point that he selectively replaced the memory of what happened to Sammy with what happened to him without breaking the delusion because he's convinced its a memory that all took place before his injury; before the point he convinced himself he could no longer form memories. This is why the loophole actually makes sense and isn't a plothole. It's Leonard, intentionally or not, abusing his own psychological condition to provide himself the sense of purpose that he so desperately longs for that he immediately sets up Teddy to be his next victim when Teddy attempts to break that delusion for him.

[@neilbertmillar9960]

@@JaredGivens1 so he really does not have the 10 minute amnesia??

[@JaredGivens1]

@@neilbertmillar9960 well, kind of. He isn't lying or acting to anyone, he legitimately doesn't form new memories but its not because of a lack of a physical ability and more of psychological illness triggered by trauma that's metastasized into a delusion. Basically, he doesn't form new memories because he's completely convinced he can't and will never be able to. Which is why anything that challenges his delusions have to be eradicated(like Teddy, who he fully takes advantage of his own condition in order to convince himself deserves to be murdered so that he never has to be called out for his delusions), erased (like the police files he blacked information that didnt fit his reality out of or the pictures he burned so he wouldn't have to remember what happened) or altered (like turning his story into Sammy Jankis' so he can rationalize his condition to himself and provide a sense of meaning to the delusion he chooses to live in.) Lennys biggest fear is that if he were to accept the reality of what happened and let go of his delusion then he has to live with himself knowing that he's the one responsible for the death of his wife and he can't do that.

[@neilbertmillar9960]

@@JaredGivens1 I'm not sure, the movie is pretty ambigious, I dont think it has a perfect answer as to what's Lenny's condition really is.... I think the director wants it for us to decide ourselves whats really happening.

[@SusieG]

WOWWWWW. This was super helpful thank you!! 🙏

[@VideosandMemories-qi4mq]

This film solidified my belief that Guy Pearce is an amazing actor. It's also unfortunate that Nolan gets so much praise for his other fils that didn't come close to how good Memento is. I also thought this movie got robbed at the Oscars, no best picture and lost editing. I think it did win adapted screenplay, but it was only nominated for 2 categories...

[@freshnotfresh7571]

Watching this movie felt like drinking a strong cup of black coffee....

[@feefingirl]

I saw this in 2001 when it was fairly new, and loved it. Don’t remember which ending I saw because it was a VHS tape from Blockbuster lol. The mood that Chris Nolan creates is a wonderful dreamy sort of noir. This movie led me to watching Mulholland Drive by David Lynch, which became my favorite movie by my favorite movie maker. Very similar mood in both movies. I think Nolan must be a fan of Lynch. Do you?

[@SuperTrustFall]

Anyone see the semi-newer Liam Neilson movie 'Memory'? He's an assassin with early onset Alzheimer's affecting his Memory while he's being hunted down as he is killing members of a child sex trafficking ring. He also writes information on his forearm as a reminder....And guess who plays a big role in the film? GUY PEIRCE HIMSELF. Can't be a coincidence...right? 🧐

[@Rob-yv9og]

Even the cliffsnotes are convoluted

[@AthenaisC]

This film was epic. I get something new out of it every time I watch it.

[@Purlypurlington]

Yea, after Leonard, Natalie is the most sinister character for sure. Love the vid quite eye opening

[@chadcognac5626]

Really love the dive into older films and really love how much coverage Nolan gets. Best picture/director is happening with Oppenheimer. You heard it here first! Ha.

[@rafanj824]

I watched the movie but now i doubt i watched it. So much details i couldn't pick, so incredible.

[@hudsonhorizons8859]

Lenny = Sammy

[@pabloclark5032]

I coulda used this breakdown a few months ago I had a college reflection paper on this movie 😂😂

[@thefearofg0ds758]

11:37 I never thought of this. But I could definitely see Memento existing in Nolan's Dark Knight universe and Leonard's character being a sort of Punisher esce anti-hero. I don't think that's the case though it would still be an awesome connection. I also remember hearing a rumor Guy Pierce was playing Two-Face shortly after Batman Begins released(and sequel speculation was rampant on message boards)and ever since then I can't stop imagining him in the role. He would have nailed it.

[@reinajalana]

Just watched this, and one interesting observation I'm surprised I haven't heard or seen mentioned is how much Leonard's and Sammy's wives favor, the latter just being a bit older. But both have that dark-brown hair with a reverse-triangle cut, both have distinct eyes... that, hell, might even be the same or a similar color!! And both with that more pale skin. For the similarities and suspicions surrounding Leonard and Sammy and how so much of the rest of the film seems painstakingly detailed, strategized, and intentional, I'm *preeeetttty sure* that lil' tidbit wasn't mere coincidence.

[@DanielSanchez-lr3sz]

Great movie one of the best one’s because you don’t know what’s happening like the character

[@NewYouTubeHandle1]

The clock represents the unique ticking noise, which is very prominent in the flashbacks the night he was attacked. It's more audio than visuals 13:20

[@asimpleguy9667]

Nolan's movies are always legendary 🔥🔥

[@SnootchieBootchies27]

We don't learn that Leanord's wife survived. We learn that Teddy SAYS that she survived. Don't believe his lies.

[@kevindeloney7975]

Thanks for reminding me what my favorite film is.

[@wecantreadrunescape1338]

Did you mean "Beginning Explained"?

[@heavyspoilers]

Haha nice

[@james87367]

Memento is absolutely Christopher Nolans best film. Lead by a incredible performance from Guy Pearce.

[@NickCodyComedy]

I would love to see you cover The White Lotus

[@Purlypurlington]

Good article at 4:12

[@oyster9372]

One of my favorite movies ever. Great movie breakdown.

[@amosdodson4022]

I definitely own this movie. It’s like tarantino’s reservoir dogs or Ritchie’s lock stock and 2 smoking barrels. Without those movies the ones after would of never came which I feel for all directors only get stronger as they keep going.

[@Dubb1000]

Literally just watched this movie for the first time, I love it! So f*ckin' good!

[@stevenschmidt3464]

One question I always had was that: After killing "Teddy" was his mission complete or was he going to just continue looking for other John G his whole life as a serial killer? Heard both sides and never could quite grasp that part for myself.

[@christianpilosi9563]

He'll never remember killing Teddy, so while we don't really know, I think it's implied that he will just go on looking for a new John G, because to him, he's not found him yet. It's just a big never-ending circular unsolvable puzzle, and he does things to keep that going too. Just a brilliant movie.

[@gfpbaneable]

After a rewatch, I think he becomes Natalie's bitch. She knows she can manipulate him, and winds up being the perfect mule. She keeps all the money, and if anyone gets out of line she can frame them as John G. If he gets caught hauling drugs, he has no idea why. She also looks enough like Jorja Fox that he would always wake up next to his wife, at least in his mind.

[@iamhuman798]

I watched the movie for the first time today. 🔥 Friday may 10 2024. Happy early birthday Kayla.

[@larrykwartowitz]

Wow, I didn't know about the different commentary endings! I was waiting for you to mention that in some of the shots of Lenny in bed with his wife he has the I did it tattoo. Curious if you think he was just imagining the tattoo or did he have it removed?

[@Mallemartinnn]

What I’ve noticed is that the end scene where Teddy tries to convince Lenny that his wife was diabetic, Nolan used a similar technique as in Oppenheimer. You see two consecutive scenes. In Memento: Teddy tries to convince Lenny that his wife is diabetic. What we see; 2 shots; Shot 1: Lenny gives his wife an insuline shot to which she responds: “ouwh” Shot 2: Lenny pinches his wife to which she responds: “ouwh” Nolan did the same in Oppenheimer when we hear of Jean Tadlock committing suicide. In Oppenheimer: Robert J Oppenheimer hears that Jean Tadlock has committed suicide. What we see; 2 shots; Shot 1: Jean Tadlock puts a pillow next to the bathtub and drowns herself in it. Shot 2: Jean Tadlock’s head is pushed into the bathtub This, plus the clue indicating that she hadn’t signed her suicide note leaves it up for interpretation that she might have been killed. In real life the rumor went around that Pash (head of security in the movie) killed communists such as Jean Tadlock while working at the CIA after WWII. So hence the clue. In Memento it obviously leaves it up for interpretation whether his wife was actually diabetic or whether Teddy is lying. This is the brilliance of Nolan. As he once told himself, since he studied literature and not filmmaking he loves putting (confusing and contradicting) clues in his films, leaving the plot open for interpretation and discussion. That is his secret. That is his magic.

[@wijn1008]

This and fight club are among my favorite films

[@jamiedoyle1754]

I rewatched the film so it'd be fresh in my mind just to watch this video 😄😄

[@nyceflix]

I remember there was a rumor that you could do something to the DVD & watch it in chronological order. Bastards.

[@Kroggnagch]

They did a movie with this same storyline but Jason stathem played some strange super soldier character, I think it was stathem... anyways, kept loading memories into his head about someone else always killing his wife, so he’s take down crime syndicates one man at a time. Crazy thought. The more I think back on it, the more I think maybe it wasn’t Jason stathem that was in it...

[@paigelarson9279]

One of my favourite movies! I also think paycheck would be another good one to do

[@amahana6188]

How did Lenard remember he had a condition when he lost all short term memory the moment he sustained a head injury?

[@unclespeedy]

Why the hell did he put on Jimmy G's suit? That is so peculiar.

[@russelldeitch5765]

There is an Easter egg on the DVD where the movie plays forwards.