AlphaStriker
Member
Just re-watched Memento for the third time and WOW, I think I got everything now. After watching it for the first time a while back, I knew this was one of the best movies Ive seen. Its currently on Netflix so if you havent seen it and are looking to watch a great movie that makes you think, I highly recommend it as would many others.
*******************************Spoilers******************************
On my recent re-watch I wanted to piece together the characters and understand their motives. I feel like after watching the movie, I needed to re-watch it backwards just to see who these characters really are. Just the amazing way in showing the scenes in reverse order not only lets the audience see Leonards perspective, but drastically changes your perception of the characters as the movie progresses. So grab a pen and Polaroid, and lets have a character discussion!
Natalie:
Before I thought Natalie was just someone who took advantage of Leonard, and used him to fend off Dodd. But then as the movie reveals, Leonard shows up at her bar in her boyfriends suit! Obviously she knows something bad has happened and knows somehow Leonard is involved. Thats why it makes it easy for her to take advantage of Leonard, but she also has sympathy for him knowing he lost his wife. Natalie ultimately shows kindness and helps Leonard find the finale piece to his puzzle by running the license plates. So what are your thoughts on Natalie? As the movie is played out, the last scenes are of her lambasting Leonard calling him a freak, using him to get Dodd off her back and spitting in his drink. The audiences initial impression of Natalie might be unfavorable, but as you piece together the timeline, you can see she truly empathized with Leonards situation.
Teddy:
Teddy, as he is often referred as in the movie, was also someone I wasnt quite sure of during my initial viewings, or I may have just overlooked key plot points. Just in case you didnt catch it, Teddy is actually a police officer that was assigned to Leonards murder case. He explains that he was the only one who believed Leonard and that there was a second man that tried to murder Leonards wife. Teddy befriends Leonard and looks out for him, but he also uses him to commit Teddys shady drug dealings. With Leonards condition, Teddy brings Leonard along whenever he has a drug dealer to dispose of with the unfortunate name of John G. Leonard is under the impression that he is seeking vengeance for the murder of his wife, then the process rinses and repeats. Ironically Teddys real name is John Gambell which makes him a perfect target for Leonard.
Ultimately do you sympathize with Teddy? I mean he is a scumbag for having Leonard kill a bunch of drug dealers, but to his point isnt it for Leonards benefit? He knows who Leonard has become. Teddy sees it as a way to give Leonard purpose in life, to see him happy and have that smile as he did when they got the true John G. From Teddys point, they get rid of a few criminals from the streets, and make a few bucks while theyre at it. He cares for Leonard as he anxiously tries to get him to get out of town and away from the cops. Leonard has no memory, Teddy could very well let him get caught and rot in prison, and Leonard would have no way of indicting Teddy. Teddy looks out for Leonard, hears his story about Sammy Jenkins over and over again, and ultimately gets a bullet in the head for his friendship.
Leonard:
Leonard:
Again how the movie is played out, it makes you sympathize with Leonard then at the end, turns your perception upside down. Throughout the movie, Leonard is depicted as man who is obsessed in finding his wifes killer. Unfortunately, Leonard also has a memory condition where he often cant remember what happened 10 minutes ago. The only thing he can remember is his wife, how beautiful she was and how much he loved her. The tragedy is Leonard wont remember what happened 10 minutes ago, but he will always remember knowing that he lost his wife and desperately tries to forget her. Theres a great scene with Leonard and Natalie lying in bed, and Leonard mournfully explains how hell always know his wife in never coming back, waking up every day and feeling the coldness on her side of the bed. He mentions, how can he ever overcome the loss of his wife with no perception of time?
But as Teddy points out, that was what Leonard used to be, not what he has become. The plot reveals that Leonards wife actually did survive the attempted murder, but couldnt cope with Leonards memory condition. The story of Sammy Jenkins that Leonard tells of is actually the tale of his own life. Leonards wife was the one with Diabetes and died from excess insulin. Because of her death, Leonard had to be moved to a psychiatric ward. Theres a quick flash when Leonard tells of Sammy being in the psychiatric ward that shows Leonard sitting in place of Sammy.
Fast-forward to the events of the movie, Leonard now lives his life going from John G to John G, finding purpose in murdering his wifes killer. As Leonard mentions, Sammy couldnt function with his condition because he had no purpose in life. Not Leonard however as he continually attempts to solve an unsolvable puzzle. Does that justify his actions? Leonard is not a killer, thats what makes him so good at it, but by having Teddys license plate tattooed to his leg and knowing what that would entail, does that not make him a killer? Is it by having tattooed all the facts, Teddy is his final John G signifying he no longer want to live this life of a murderer anymore? Perhaps, or maybe as he says its just simply his need for purpose, his need for happiness, his need to know that his actions have meaning.
Such a great movie, I love how by showing the scenes in reverse order it makes the viewer put the pieces together and thereby letting them make their own conclusions. Im sooo ready for Dunkirk and more Nolan goodness!!
