Ranking Nolan

5. Memento (2000)

This is where Nolan made his mark. While he certainly wasn’t a household name after this, Memento gave him immense street cred amongst film student snobs and critics. I love this movie. Memento is the type of film that some arrogant pretentious aspiring screenwriter would present, and you would roll your eyes. A movie about a guy who has no short term memory, and the story is told in reverse should not work. Nolan is the exception. Not only does it work, but he makes it look easy. I give this a little more credit than The Prestige because the characters are a bit more interesting. I’m not a big Guy Pearce fan, but this is the best performance I’ve ever seen him in. Carrie-Anne Moss (who should have more of a career) is excellent in a very understated role, aside from one intense scene. The real unsung hero though is Joe Pantoliano, someone I wish would work with Nolan again. Nolan and his brother Jonathan never get enough credit as writers, and not just the construction of their story, but for their dialogue as well. There are so many beautiful lines in this movie, such as “How am I supposed to heal if I can’t feel time?” Now that’s one hell of a line. Many of you have seen Memento, but if not, please do so.

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