Memento

While "Following" marks Nolan's directorial debut, " Memento" establishes his aesthetic to a wider audience. Nolan is interested in perplexing his audience with "Memento," but it is not a riddle that values sophistication above human empathy. "Memento" captivates audiences with its deft structure, but the tale itself engages them, making the film's eventual discoveries all the more compelling. Leonard Shelby, played by Guy Pearce, is a guy who is incapable of forming new memories and develops into one of Nolan's finest characters.

While "Memento" makes use of the "late wife" cliché that Nolan is sometimes accused of exploiting, Shelby's quest for the perpetrator of his spouse's death is irritating due to his inability to put together the evidence. He's perplexed, unsure as to where he is and what his brief ambitions are, and Pearce brilliantly conveys his anguish.

Nolan was working on a smaller budget than he would use on subsequent projects, but he is exceedingly frugal, making the most of restricted space. Additionally, Nolan's visual palette is enriched by the startling black-and-white flashbacks.

For "Memento," Nolan received his first Academy Award for outstanding original screenplay, and the film's startling surprise finale serves as a satisfying finish to a difficult plot. Although some of Nolan's works need many viewings to fully appreciate, "Memento" begs more than it compels.

Year of Release: 2000

Stars: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss

IMDB: 8.4