The Game

Directed by David Fincher and written by John Brancato and Michael Ferris (w/ additional work by Andrew Kevin Walker and Larry Gross), The Game is the story of a wealthy investment banker who is invited to play a game that blurs reality and fiction as it becomes dangerous and thrilling. The film is about a man being forced to confront his own fears as well as his own life through a deadly game. Starring Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, James Rebhorn, Deborah Kara Unger, Carroll Baker, and Armin Mueller-Stahl. The Game is an exhilarating and sprawling film from David Fincher.

The film follows the life of a wealthy but cold investment banker who is given a mysterious birthday present from his estranged younger brother which is an invitation to play a game where reality and fiction blur. It’s a film where a man is forced to confront aspects of his own life as well as memories about his father’s death where he has no idea if the game he is playing is real or just some sick joke. The film’s screenplay by John Brancato and Michael Ferris doesn’t just establish the life of its protagonist Nicholas Van Horton (Michael Douglas) who is wealthy but very lonely as he lives in a mansion with a longtime family maid as he is more content with making money and being powerful. When he is invited to lunch by his younger brother Conrad (Sean Penn) who would give him this mysterious invitation. Nicholas doesn’t think about what his brother gave him until he takes a chance where he’s interviewed and examined and then the game starts in a mysterious way.

In the course of the film, Nicholas would wonder what is going on as aspects of his life begin to fall apart from a TV reporter that he watches who suddenly talks to him to other odd things. Along the way, he meets a waitress named Christine (Deborah Kara Unger) who has no idea what is going on as she becomes part of the game for some strange reason. Even as his house has been vandalized and other things start to make no sense as Conrad would claim that the company who handles the game has gone out of control. There is a structure to the script as much of the second act is about the game while the third is Nicholas trying to find out more about this company and expose them to see if he’s still playing or something else has happened.

David Fincher’s direction is definitely stylish in terms of the moods and compositions he creates as it play into a man taking part into the world of the unknown. Shot largely on location in San Francisco, the film plays into this world that mixes the corporate business side with a wild side as Nicholas is not familiar with the latter. Fincher’s meticulous compositions in the usage of the medium shots and close-up play into that sense of cold and unforgiving world that Nicholas lives in as Fincher presents Nicholas in a somewhat detached way. Once the game begins, the direction becomes more intimate and eerie as well as having some bits of dark humor. The lines of reality and fantasy would blur where Fincher doesn’t try to make anything distinctive only for the fact that a game is being played. At the same time, it is about the sense of the unknown where San Francisco is a character in the film where Fincher uses some wide shots to establish some of its landmarks.

The direction also has Fincher use some flashbacks shown in 8mm film as it play into the guilt and loss that Nicholas is carrying which adds to his loner persona. Yet, he realizes that he will have to depend on those who are willing to help him such as Christine. Still, there is that blur of who is playing what and are any of them in on the game or have no clue that they’re in a game. The film’s climax definitely ups the ante in terms of its intensity where Nicholas tries to decipher what is real and what is fantasy as well as face some of his own fears that had been looming into his life. Overall, Fincher creates a thrilling yet provocative film about a man playing a game of death where he is forced to confront his own fears and flaws about himself.

Cinematographer Harris Savides does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography from the usage of filters and lights for some of the interior scenes as well as the scenes set at night while creating a cold look for some of the exteriors set at night. Editor James Haygood does excellent work with the editing as it has some nice rhythmic cutting to play into the suspense and action as well as some of the darkly comic moments in the film. Production designer James Beecroft, with art directors James J. Murakami and Steve Saklad and set decorator Jackie Carr, does fantastic work with the look of the interior at Nicholas‘ home as well as the look of the office where the people of the game work and the hotel rooms in San Francisco‘s finest hotels. Costume designer Michael Kaplan does nice work with the costumes from the expensive suits that Nicholas wears early in the film to the more casual look he would sport later on as well as the clothes of the other characters.

Visual effects supervisor Kevin Haug does terrific work with some of the minimal visual effects as it mostly relates to the film‘s climax it play into that blur of reality and fantasy. Sound designer Ren Klyce does amazing work with the sound work as it has many layers into the locations that Nicholas encounters as well as in the phone conversations he has. The film’s music by Howard Shore is superb for its haunting yet bombastic score as its orchestral flourishes swell into the drama and suspense while music supervisor Dawn Soler creates a fun soundtrack that features elements of jazz, classical, and contemporary music.

The casting by Don Phillips is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Spike Jonze as a EMT, Linda Manz as Christine’s roommate, Yuji Okumoto as the Nikko hotel manager, Tommy Flanagan as a solicitor/taxi driver, Mark Boone Junior as a shady private detective following Nicholas, and Charles Martinet as Nicholas and Conrad’s father in the flashback scenes. Anna Katarina is wonderful as Nicholas’ ex-wife Elizabeth who only appears briefly late in the film as someone who has moved on but is starting to see that Nicholas is having some revelations about himself. Carroll Baker is terrific as Nicholas’ maid Ilsa as a woman who has been taking of Nicholas’ home yet knows a lot about Nicholas’ father once he starts to ask her about him. Peter Donat is superb as Nicholas’ attorney Samuel Sutherland as someone who watches over and handles some of Nicholas’ business as he becomes evasive later in the film. Armin Mueller-Stahl is excellent as Anson Baer as a businessman that Nicholas tries to buy out only to be just as eccentric and mysterious as he is fun to watch.

James Rebhorn is fantastic as Jim Feingold as a man who is an analyst for the company that creates the game as he is this eccentric yet fun guy that brings so much joy into his performance. Deborah Kara Unger is amazing as Christine as a waitress whom Nicholas meets during his game as she becomes this unlikely player that becomes part of the game as she tries to figure out what is going on. Sean Penn is brilliant as Conrad as Nicholas’ estranged younger brother who would introduce his brother to the game saying it will change his life only to find himself owing money to the company that created the game. Finally, there’s Michael Douglas in an incredible performance as Nicholas Van Orton as a wealthy investment banker who is quite cold and distant where he is given the thrill of a lifetime where Douglas gives a performance that is exhilarating as a man who encounters fear and danger as it is one of his great performances.

The Game is a phenomenal film from David Fincher that features a sensational performance from Michael Douglas. Along with a great supporting cast, eerie visuals, a chilling music score, and a crafty screenplay that blur the lines between reality and fiction. It’s a film that isn’t just a smart and engaging thriller but also a study of fear and control. In the end, The Game is a spectacular film from David Fincher.

David Fincher Films: Alien 3 - Se7en - Fight Club - Panic Room - Zodiac - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - The Social Network - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film) - Gone Girl

Related: 15 Essential Music Videos by David Fincher - The Auteurs #61: David Fincher

© thevoid99 2016

Se7en

Directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker, Se7en is the story of a soon-to-be-retired detective who teams up with a young detective to investigate a series of mysterious killings based on the seven deadly sins. The film is a suspense-thriller that explores the seven deadly sins as two men try to catch its killer. Starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, John C. McGinley, R. Lee Ermey, Richard Roundtree, and Kevin Spacey. Se7en is an eerie and haunting film from David Fincher.

The film follows two detectives taking part in a week-long case involving a series of mysterious murders based on the seven deadly sins as it becomes more deadly and complex. That is the simple premise of the film as it explores not just the idea of sin but what two different detectives are dealing with as one is about to retire while the other has just arrived from another city. Andrew Kevin Walker’s screenplay has this amazing structure as it is told in the span of a week where Detective Lieutenant William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) spends his last days devoted to this case with the help of his new yet short-tempered partner Detective David Mills (Brad Pitt) who has transferred himself from another city with his wife Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow). In the course of the week, the two delve into mysterious murders as it gets more intricate with each sin that follows where it also becomes more gruesome.

One of the aspects of the script that is engaging is the partnership between Somerset and Mills as it starts off with two men in very different places as the former is uncertain in working with someone that is young and kind of cynical while the latter isn’t sure about working with some old man who probably hasn’t done a lot of action and knows too much. Still, their relationship does gradually develop as Somerset gets to know Mills and meet Tracy where she would bring a warm side to Somerset as she would tell him a secret that her husband doesn’t know yet. During the search of the killer, the two detectives try to figure out what is going on as it leads to that last day where both men are on the same page but there is still that surprise that would lead to the basis of the mystery and the man who committed them.

David Fincher’s direction is definitely dark as it makes no bones that this isn’t some conventional thriller as much of the film takes place during rainy days. While much of the film is shot in Los Angeles with the exception of its climax that is shot near Lancaster, California, the film is set into something that looks and feels like any other American city where it’s kind of seedy and chaotic as these murders only just make things worse. Fincher’s usage of hand-held cameras for some of the chases and action-based scenes are quite engaging yet it is his approach to how he build up the suspense and sense of danger that is entrancing from the usage of the wide and medium shots to capture the crime scenes to the extreme close-ups of every attention to detail of the bodies and such in the crime scenes.

Fincher would also use some intricate tracking shots with the hand-held cameras and steadicam to capture some of the action such as a sequence in a massage parlor where some of the most gruesome acts of murder have occurred. By the time the film reaches its third act as its killer is unveiled, something interesting happens as it relates to the killer and the theme of the seven deadly sins. The climax is interesting as it is all about control as well as what some will do as Fincher presents it with a lot of style from the usage of helicopter-based shots to what is happening in the ground. Even as it lead to moments that are very shocking with some moral implications as it says a lot about the dark aspects of humanity. Overall, Fincher creates a intoxicating yet unsettling film about two detectives taking on a murder case based on the seven deadly sins.

Cinematographer Darius Khondji does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography with its usage of low-key lights and moods to play into the film‘s eerie tone for many of the interiors and exteriors along with the sunny but chilling climax as it include some additional work from Harris Savides who also shoots the film‘s opening title sequence. Editor Richard Francis-Bruce does excellent work with the editing with some jump-cuts for some of the high-octane action moments along with some unique rhythms to play into the suspense. Production designer Arthur Max, with set decorator Clay A. Griffith and art director Gary Wissner, does fantastic work with the look of the apartment homes that the detectives live in as well as the police precinct offices and the mysterious apartment of the killer. Costume designer Michael Kaplan does nice work with the costumes as it is mostly casual from the clothes the detectives wear as well as the mysterious look of the killer.

Makeup supervisor Jean Ann Black, along with special effects makeup artist Rob Bottin and supervising hair stylist/makeup artist Michael White, does amazing work with the look of the victims in the decayed state they‘re in as it play into the macabre tone of the film. Visual effects supervisor Greg Kimble does terrific work with some of the film‘s minimal visual effects as it involves bits of set dressing as well as in the film‘s opening title sequence. Sound designer Ren Klyce and sound editor Patrick Dodd do superb work with the film‘s sound as it has a lot of layers into the way some of the moments of action sound such as a chase scene as well as in the way police sirens and sparse moments are presented. The film’s music by Howard Shore is great as its orchestral-based score is filled with bombastic string arrangements to play into the suspense and drama as well as moments that are low-key through its somber pieces. The film’s music soundtrack is a mixture of music from Johann Sebastian Bach, Thelonious Monk, Haircut 100, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Marvin Gaye, Gloria Lynne, the Statler Brothers, Gravity Kills, Nine Inch Nails, and David Bowie.

The casting by Kerry Barden, Billy Hopkins, and Suzanne Smith is wonderful as it feature some notable small roles from Michael Massee as a massage parlor manager, Leland Orser as a traumatized man at the massage parlor, Reg E. Cathey as the coroner, Mark Boone Junior as a greasy FBI agent friend of Somerset, Hawthorne James as a friend of Somerset who watches over the police library, Richard Schiff as John Doe’s attorney, Julie Araskog as the wife of one of the victims, and John C. McGinley in a terrific small role as a SWAT team leader. Richard Roundtree is superb as District Attorney Martin Talbot as a no-nonsense man who is trying to make sure the case doesn’t get out of control for the public. R. Lee Ermey is excellent as the police captain who is an old friend of Somerset as he tries to ensure things go well while making sure Somerset and Mills do their jobs. Gwyneth Paltrow is fantastic as Tracy as Mills’ wife who is trying to adjust to her new home as well as confide in Somerset of a secret and asking for his advice as she is the one person that humanizes both Mills and Somerset.

Kevin Spacey is incredible in his mysterious role as John Doe as a man who isn’t seen much in the film until the third act where he has this odd presence about him that is intriguing to watch as it is one of Spacey’s defining performances. Brad Pitt is amazing as Detective David Mills as this young detective who is new to town as he’s not keen on having Somerset as his partner as he is kind of cocky as well as be a prick yet Pitt makes him so engaging as well as have him be grounded once he realizes the seriousness of the case. Finally, there’s Morgan Freeman in a brilliant performance as Detective Lt. William Somerset as a man that has seen a lot as he’s about to retire until the complexity of the murder case as he tries to find many things while becoming frustrated with its brutality as he and Pitt have a great rapport as two men who are opposites yet find common ground in the way things have become.

Se7en is a phenomenal film from David Fincher that features sensational performances from Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, and Kevin Spacey. Along with a superb supporting cast, gorgeous yet eerie visuals, and a haunting music score and soundtrack. It’s a film that isn’t just a smart and intricate suspense-thriller but one that is filled with many layers that explore the dark aspects of humanity. In the end, Se7en is an astounding film from David Fincher.

David Fincher Films: Alien 3 - The Game - Fight Club - Panic Room - Zodiac - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - The Social Network - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film) - Gone Girl

Related: 15 Essential Videos by David Fincher - The Auteurs #61: David Fincher

© thevoid99 2016

Vampires (1998 film)

Based on the novel Vampire$ by John Steakley, Vampires is the story of a group of vampire hunters who are trying to protect a sacred cross from the very first vampire ever created. Directed and scored by John Carpenter and screenplay by Don Jakoby, the film is a mixture of horror and the western where it revolves around a group of Catholic-sanctioned vampire hunters who are trying to protect the world as they battle a very powerful vampire. Starring James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Maximilian Schell, and Thomas Ian Griffith. Vampires is a funny yet adventurous film from John Carpenter.

Under the order of the Vatican, a group of vampire hunters try to hunt vampires in the American Southwest as they look for a master vampire who is trying to find a sacred cross to finish up a ritual. At the same time, they try to protect a hooker who was bitten by the master as she has a psychic connection with the master just before she is to turn. It’s a film with a simple plot where there’s not a lot that goes on as it has this strange mix of horror, terror, and the western as it’s lead character Jack Crow (James Woods) is a man who hates vampires as he has no problems killing them for the Catholic church or for anyone. The script doesn’t go for anything that is serious while it does have some exposition about the cross and what the vampire Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith) wants. Yet, it does manage to help tell the story and play into the many motivations of Crow and his team where they also have to use Katrina (Sheryl Lee) to see what Valek is up to.

John Carpenter’s direction definitely pays tribute to the world of the western as it is shot on location in New Mexico where it doesn’t just play to a world where there are still rules of what to do. It also showcases that even though Crow and his gang will do things that not everyone will be pleased by, they get the job done and party afterwards as they know that people wouldn’t have to worry about vampires. Carpenter’s approach to the compositions are simple while he does create some unique wide shots and framing to play up the feel of the western. Even as he creates sequences that are gratuitous with lots of violence as he harkens back to something where it is wild and not to be taken seriously. Even in the way he approaches his music score as its mixture of rock and country play into that sense of unruliness that is the West. Even as its climax does play like a showdown between Crow and Valek for the sake of the world. Overall, Carpenter creates an exciting and off-the-wall film about vampire hunters.

Cinematographer Gary B. Kibbe does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography as it has this element of the West with its naturalistic look of the skylines as well as scenes in the desert while using some stylish lights for scenes set at night. Editor Edward. A. Warschilka does fantastic work with the editing with its approach to rhythmic cutting for some of the action scenes along with some stylish montages for a few moments that play into Crow‘s sense of duty as a vampire slayer. Production designer Thomas A. Walsh, with set decorator David Schlesinger and art director Kim Hix, does terrific work with the look of the hotel/motel rooms Crow and his friends stay at as well as some of the design of the churches that Valek goes to kill.

Costume designer Robin Michel Bush does nice work with the costumes as it is mostly casual with the exception of the all-black clothes that Valek wears. Special effects makeup designers Howard Berger, Robert Kurtzman, and Greg Nicotero do amazing work with the look of the vampires in their scary state as well as what happens to them when they‘re killed. The special effects work of Gene Grigg, Darrell Pritchett, and Corey Pritchett do superb work with the special effects for scenes where the vampires get burned by the sun. Sound editor John Dunn does wonderful work with the sound as it plays into some of the sound effects and sound textures for many of the film’s action scenes.

The casting by Reuben Cannon and Eddie Dunlop do brilliant work with the casting as it includes some notable small roles from Henry Kingi, David Rowden, Clarke Coleman, Thomas Rosales Jr., Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, and Mark Boone Junior as members of Crow’s crew as well as Gregory Sierra as Father Giovanni as another member of Crow’s screw who is their spiritual advisor. Tim Guinee is terrific as Father Guiteau as a young priest who joins Crow in finding Valek as he would also provide some information about the relic that Valek wants. Maximilian Schell is excellent as Cardinal Alba as the liaison for the Vatican who is also Crow’s superior as he warns Crow about going too far.

Thomas Ian Griffith is superb as Valek as one of the very first vampires ever created as he is searching for a cross as he also knows who Crow is and how determined as it’s a role filled with some charm despite the lack of dialogue he’s given. Sheryl Lee is fantastic as Katrina as a hooker who is bitten by Valek as she is one person that knows where Valek is through a psychic connection as she also copes with losing her humanity. Daniel Baldwin is brilliant as Anthony Montoya as Crow’s partner-in-crime who is tasked in watching over Katrina as he falls for her despite the fact that she’s becoming a vampire. Finally, there’s James Woods in an incredible performance as Jack Crow as a vampire slayer who doesn’t take shit from anyone though he knows he has a moral code to follow as he copes with trying to find and kill Valek where Woods brings in a lot of charm and wit that makes his performance so fun to watch.

Vampires is a stellar film from John Carpenter that features a great performance from James Woods. While it is flawed in some ways due to its lightweight script and lots of exposition, it does make up for it thanks in part to its cast as well as some cool action sequences. In the end, Vampires is a wonderful from John Carpenter.

John Carpenter Films: Dark Star - Assault on Precinct 13 - Halloween - Someone’s Watching Me! - Elvis - The Fog - Escape from New York - The Thing - Christine - Starman - Big Trouble in Little China - Prince of Darkness - They Live - Memoirs of an Invisible Man - Body Bags - In the Mouth of Madness - Village of the Damned - Escape from L.A. - Ghosts of Mars - The Ward

The Auteurs #60: John Carpenter Pt. 1 - Pt. 2

© thevoid99 2015

Memento

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 7/14/10.

Before reviving the Batman franchise back from the dead and becoming one of top directors working in cinema.  Christopher Nolan was just an unknown who had only made a few short films in the late 80s and early 90s.  The British-born director made his first feature film called Following that was released in 1998 to cult success in the festival circuit.  Two years later, Nolan would make another film that was more ambitious but also would mark the arrival of a new visionary who would help change the idea of what films could do that would be called Memento.

Based on the short story Memento Mori by Christopher Nolan's younger brother Jonathan, Memento tells the story of a man who had suffered a head injury as he is unable to create new memories.  During this incident, the man tries to uncover a murder with help of old memories and individuals helping him out.  Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, the film is a non-linear journey into a man's mind as it blends film noir, psychological drama, and all other sorts of genre into what some called one of the most original films of its time.  Starring Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Mark Boone Junior, Stephen Tobolowsky, Callum Keith Rennie, and Joe Pantoliano.  Memento is a haunting, mind-bending film from Christopher Nolan.

Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) has just killed a man as he takes a photograph only to remember what he had just done.  Yet, with a condition that makes him unable to create new memories.  He is forced to take down notes, even on photos to investigate the murder of his wife (Jorja Fox).  Helping him in the investigation is a guy named Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) whom Leonard believes isn't trustworthy.  Staying at a motel where he briefly chats with the manager Burt (Mark Boone Junior), he also gains contact and help from a bartender named Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) who helps him in finding information and such.

During the investigation, Leonard recalls old memories about a man named Sammy Jankis (Stephen Tobolowsky) who suffered from the same condition Leonard is dealing with.  During the investigation, he encounters a drug dealer named Dodd (Callum Keith Rennie) to get some information as it leads him to some confusing leads from Natalie and Teddy.  Even as he tries to uncover memories about Natalie's boyfriend Jimmy (Larry Holden) while trying to figure out the puzzle he's created as he believed is being mislead.  When it finally comes down to what happens, it leads to some shocking revelations about his own memories and what he wants to believe.

The film's premise is simple since it's about a man trying to find the man who killed his wife.  Yet, it's more complicated by a protagonist who has no short-term memory nor has the ability to create new ones.  In the process, he is confused and having to jot down notes and take photographs to uncover the leads of his investigation.  Along the way, he encounters people who can lead him to find out the truth but what happens turns out to be more complicated since he isn't sure what to believe or who is telling the truth.  At the same time, there's a subplot based on his memories about a man dealing with the same condition that Leonard Shelby encountered when he was just an insurance investigator.

The premise and journey is told in a non-linear structure where the black-and-white segments is Leonard recalling the memory about Sammy Jankis while leading up to the climatic moment where everything turns to color again.  The scenes in color are sequenced in a backwards style of storytelling.  What Christopher Nolan and his younger brother Jonathan did was follow what Jean-Luc Godard stated about story structure.  There's a beginning, a middle, and an end.  It's just that any of those three story doesn't have to follow in the same sequence.  It could be told in the middle, ending, and then the beginning or some other way.

Nolan's screenplay is a mixture of genres ranging from psychological drama to film noir where some of the dialogue is presented in a noir-like fashion.  At the same time, there's a bit of humor.  While the journey following Leonard's investigation at times, can be hard to follow.  The journey is a ride that is truly entrancing where the audience can figure out if he's being mislead or someone is steering in the right direction.  The two main supporting characters in Natalie and Teddy are individuals who might not be who they seem once the film goes into the beginning or middle but they're not also trying to manipulate Leonard for their own gain.  Still, they're shady but at least try to do some good.

Nolan's script is filled with memorable yet eerie characters while his script is definitely a mind-bender that plays with traditional structure.  Yet, it is his direction that really gives the film a chilling feel.  He lets the audience follow him while getting a chance to revisit scenes as they've begun while going back and forth to his phone conversation to the investigation.  There's a sense of repetition that goes on so that Nolan can give the audience an idea of what it feels like to be Leonard Shelby.  Even as the camera follows Shelby or creating sequences that allows the audience to figure out what is happening as they're on a backwards journey.  Nolan has created what is truly a mesmerizing yet haunting film that is truly ingenious.

Nolan's longtime cinematographer Wally Pfister does excellent work with the visual look of the film with some colorful yet eerie photography for many of the film's reverse-chronological sequences.  The black-and-white photography for some of the other scenes are entrancing in its tone as Pfister‘s work is superb.  Editor Dody Dorn does fantastic work with the film's editing in creating tight sequences that move seamlessly while using repetition to emphasize the state of mind of its protagonist.  Dorn's editing is truly amazing as it's the film's technical highlight.

Production designer Patti Podesta, along with set decorator Danielle Berman, does a very good job with the look of the motel rooms and homes that Leonard encounters as the film mostly takes place on location.  Costume designer Cindy Evans does nice work with the costumes as it's mostly casual clothing while Guy Pearce wears the same suit for nearly the entirety of the film.  Sound editors Gary S. Gerlich and Richard LeGrand Jr. do phenomenal work with the film's eerie sound mix to convey the film's noir-like tone.  Even as they capture the atmosphere of the location that the film is at.  The music score of David Julyan is wonderful for its subtle yet ethereal feel with just the use of synthesizers to explore the mind of Leonard Shelby.  The music is another highlight in the film's technical field which includes David Bowie's Something In the Air for the film's closing credits.

The casting by John Papsidera is wonderful for its array of actors who stand out in small but memorable roles.  Notable appearances includes famed comedy actor Thomas Lennon as Sammy's doctor, Kimberly Campbell as a hooker, Larry Holden as Natalie's boyfriend Jimmy, and Jorja Fox as Leonard's wife.  Other small but notable roles come from Mark Boone Junior as a hotel manager who often converses with Leonard and Callum Keith Rennie as a shady drug dealer named Dodd.  Harriet Sansom Harris is excellent as the wife of Sammy while famed character actor Stephen Tobolowsky is great as Sammy, a man who has the same brain disorder that Leonard has in a flashback sequence.

Joe Pantoliano is great as the smarmy yet sympathetic Teddy.  A man who helps Leonard in the investigation while trying to lead him to the right direction.  While there's a sleaziness to Pantoliano's character, there is also a nice subtlety and humor to the character as it's one of the actor's finest performances.  Carrie-Anne Moss is also great as Natalie, a bartender who helps Leonard in his investigation while taking advantage of his brain disorder.  Though she can play a character who is manipulative, she at least is a character that does have a good side as she does give Leonard some hope.

Finally, there's Guy Pearce in one of his finest performances of his career. In the role of Leonard Shelby, Pearce delves into a man who is confused as he writes down notes whether it's on a photograph or tattooing them in his body.  Pearce's quiet yet chilling performance is definitely one for the ages as Pearce really dwells into the complex mind of Leonard Shelby.

When the film premiered in 2000 through various film festivals late in the year including Venice, Deauville, and Toronto.  Buzz grew over the film while becoming a festival hit as it finally made its American premiere at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival.  After finally getting a distributor with Newmarket, the film became a smash hit as it gave Christopher Nolan lots of attention as well as offers from various studios.

Memento is an extraordinary yet hypnotic film from Christopher Nolan and company.  Featuring superb performances from Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano.  The film is truly a mesmerizing journey into a man's troubled mind while allowing the audience to come along for the ride.  Fans of Nolan's work will definitely rank this very high as one of his best films.  Though some might not be into Nolan's non-chronological approach or its noir setting, it is still a compelling and dazzling film that really goes against the conventionality of Hollywood.  In the end, Memento is a chilling yet provocative film from Christopher Nolan.

Christopher Nolan Films: Following - Insomnia (2002 film) - Batman Begins - The Prestige - The Dark Knight - Inception - The Dark Knight Rises - Interstellar - Dunkirk - Tenet - Oppenheimer - The Auteurs #13: Christopher Nolan

© thevoid99 2011