NOLAN’S MEMENTO
An Inside Look At The Making Of The Movie
In the film Memento (2000), directed by Christopher Nolan, a man with memory issues uses messages on his body to track down a murderer. There is a 24-minute documentary on Memento‘s making, and it is divided into five sections. It begins with an “Anatomy of A Scene,” where Nolan introduces the concept and ends with “Sound and Music,” where Nolan explains how sound is engineered to work backward and forward. Throughout Memento, time goes back and forth, and the frames run in reverse for many sequences. Black and white sequences indicate the past and fill in the plot’s blanks areas, which is about a protagonist who discovers a mystery about a man who assaulted his wife.
Nolan’s protagonist, Leonard, played by Guy Pearce, lives in a minimalistic and open world, pulling its aesthetic from film noir classics like Double Indemnity (1944). The complex storytelling interacts with large spaces in small, intimate ways. Nolan and Wally Pfister, the cinematographer, utilize different ways to shoot Leonard. He enters buildings from behind, using close-ups to create a “natural look,” which the audience follows carefully.
This documentary discusses the casting of the Memento actors, including an interview with Joe Pantoliano–Midnight Run, Bound, The Matrix–who plays the antagonist, Teddy. Pantoliano’s resume is a long list of notable villains, and he almost lost the role of Teddy to an unknown. Nonetheless, Nolan hired him, along with Carrie-Anne Moss, and Guy Pearce. Moss brought a modern “cool-ness” to the film, and Pearce had the right “look.” The cast members all add charisma to the project. Memento’s monologues are in the black and white sequences, and dialogue sequences stem from Orson Welles’ style of animated delivery. This film is a mash of genres and styles, creating a dynamic and fun movie to watch. It opens up Memento and makes it easier to understand Nolan’s vision. PROVOKR loves it and hopes you do, too.
