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 | Murder | Short Term Memory | 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)

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:

"Paranoid Android" by Radiohead was originally going to be used in the closing credits, but Christopher Nolan decided that the royalties needed to use this song (owned by Capitol Records) would be too great for this low-budget film.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In a couple places, such as after Jimmy is killed, the Polaroid camera does not make the correct motor noise.

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 Fazendo as regras (2008)

Soundtrack:

Stone

Innovative narrative structure makes for a powerful viewing experience

FACT ONE: "Just because there are things I don't remember doesn't make my actions meaningless."

FACT TWO: "Your notes could be unreliable."

FACT THREE: "Memories can be distorted."

FACT FOUR: "But, even if you get your revenge, you won't remember it. You won't even know it's happened."

FACT FIVE: "I want time to pass, but it won't. How can I heal if I can't feel time?"

FACT SIX: "We all need mirrors to remind ourselves who we are."

When life becomes incomprehensible human beings tend to simplify things, revise memories, select facts that may or may not be representative of "the truth." We strive to make events as intelligible as possible but that act often has unintended consequences. Now, if you can capture this existential human reality on film in such a way as to allow the viewer to experience this struggle for understanding, for the placement of private aspirations into the context of the moment even as the primary character makes this same struggle, then you have connected our hearts and minds seamlessly with the film's lifeworld. That is a rarity indeed.

Such is Memento, a brilliantly conceived and executed work of art that has its audience literally at their wits end (just like the film's main character) trying to understand it all. The great debate of whether Teddy's version of the truth at the end is really "the truth" is symptomatic of director Christopher Nolan's purposeful craftsmanship. The very fact that we are as uncertain throughout most of the film as to the context of Leonard Shelby's actions as Leonard himself signifies that Nolan has succeeded in not just telling us Leonard's story put allowing us to know what it is like to *be* Leonard. This allows the film to work at a much deeper, almost subconscious, level scarcely achieved on film.

Guy Pierce, Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano all deliver terrific performances with some of the most original material I've seen in years. This film grabs your brain and won't let go. It twists and turns and – just when you think you've got things figured out – Nolan whips the rug out from under your feet. You are left totally involved and struggling with creating some sense of closure out of the infinite loop of the film's structure.

You can debate endlessly whether Teddy's final summary of events is the truth. You can argue both sides of whether Leonard killed his wife or invented Sammy Jankis out of thin air. In the end these are open questions. In the end there are no definitive answers. In fact, in the end ANY answer is plausible, just choose the one that sits best in your mind. Make that the truth. Because THAT is what this film is all about. It's about a man who can remember who he is but not what he has done and, to that extend, it is the prefect postmodern critique. We are often forced to act without sufficient information. The accelerating rush of our lives sends us headlong into our present without full consideration of where we've been. And on that level Memento provides a bold, compelling narrative that connects Leonard with every person. It is the mirror image of our divided selves.

No matter how much his audience might disagree with the film's conclusion, Nolan understands that - in the end - truth doesn't matter. It is what we choose to do with what we think is the truth that's important. And that can mean anything at all.