Here We Go Again! And Again!

Memento adheres to some of the narrative film rules, however, it blatantly disses a couple as well. The film's chronology is a bit out of whack but I think that's what gives Memento its unique flair and captures the audience. I think its fair to say that anytime a movie begins with a flashback it holds the audience in tight, because they want to find out what is going on in real time that prompted the flashback at the beginning. Right away the viewer understood a part of his back story, that Leonard had a "memory problem" as he would often refer to it. I really don't feel he had a very strong turning point because every morning was a new turning point it The clarity of this film is wavering-- it is clear that he wants to murder his wife's second killer however through his loss of creating new memories he can never remember the people he encounters on his journey. One unbroken rule of this commercial narrative film is character identification. Any viewer can fully understand the feelings Leonard has toward avenging his wife and the problems he encounters as a result of his condition. This film is abstract however it still allows the viewer to connect to the main character, although it is very outside of the box. Another rule unbroken, but can easy be said to have been broken is the idea of unity in the characters actions and reactions. The reasons behind Leonard's actions were very clear and the effects of those actions were just as evident. He chose to create a dramatic mission and the effects of that choice added to his already unique situation. The rule that wasn't broken, but was shattered is the rule of closure. We know that he murdered a man, but was it the right man or was Teddy telling the truth at the end of the film? We don't know if Sammy Jarkis is in the mind of Leonard or if it was Leonard. There a different variations of what is acceptable for closure at a movie's end, but mine is pretty simple; if I have to ask a question about what happened next, then there is no closure! Memento definitely draws viewers in with its very real emotional elements. Most people would feel similar to Leonard if found in his position and he is acting out of love and anger, not just evil murderous intent. Overall I think Memento adhered to the five rules of narrative film in a very complex and sketchy way, but the one's it broke were solely for artistic purposes.

Kerstin D.