Over all I would say that this film does not follow the five rules of commercial narrative films. I believe that this film does and does not follow the five elements of a narrative film. I say it depends because I feel that this is one of those movies that some people would have trouble following. With that being said depending on how well a person can follow movies determines if it fits the five rules of commercial narrative films. The clarity of the film's events in the viewers mind determines if they can follow this film or not. If the viewer does not understand how the movie progresses they would not believe that the film follows the five rules. The black and white scenes are the past were as the colored scenes are the present. The viewer also needs to understand that the film is moving backwards from the opening scene when Lenny shoots teddy.
Another one of the rules is that you can identify character. I fond it hard to know for sure if the characters were good or bad. The main character Lenard the view feels bad for because he does not have a shot term memory but at the end of the film you find out that he is just as bad as the other characters. Lenny sets up Teddy which you find out is a cop. Teddy uses Lenny to kill criminals. Natale uses Lenny to keep the drug dealers off her back. I believe that their is no real good character so to speak. they all use Lenny's condition to their advantage including Lenny. The viewer constantly has to change their view of the characters. First you think Teddy's his friend then you don't. Next you think Natale is helping him but she is really out for revenge for her drug dealing boyfriend that Lenny killed. Finally you think Lenny is out to avenge his wife but he has already done this and forgot it but he still keeps killing when he finds out.
I also don't think that this film has closure for the viewers. Sure we know that Teddy's dead but we don't have any real closure with the other characters. Does Lenny start a new search for his wife's killer who is already dead. You also don't know what happens to Natale. I believe this movie ends with more questions for the viewer then during the film. As I have said over all I believe that this film does not follow the rules.
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Great discussion of 3 of the rules, I agree totally that closure, character, and clarity are all debatable with this film....what about unity? Was there a clear connection between cause and effect? I think so, even though we see effect first then cause, there is still a real and defined connection. Also, what about unobtrusive craft? Is the viewer caught up in the story or does the unconventional structure expose itself in an obvious manner to the viewer?
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