Analyzing Memento movie

“We all need a mirror to show us who we are ''

In the movie, the back of the hands of Leonard are tattooed the words,” Remember Sammy Jakis.” Leonard says that he keeps telling the people about Sammy so that they can help him to understand the condition that he is in. He says that the story of Sammy greatly helps him to understand his own condition. Leonard further says in the last lines on the movie that, “We all need a mirror to remind ourselves who we are. '' in this aspect, I think that Memento turns out to be one of the mirrors that can really help us know who we are. This is because the film majorly explores the situation of personal identity problem which most of us suffer from.

The mirror of the society is evident in Leonard’s photographs that suggest that there is a desire for evidence that is objective. The problem of memory loss by Leonard can be interpreted as a sign of modernity and the loss or fading away of traditions in the society. The condition of Leonard is a clear show and warning to us that there is needed to be careful and never to trust what others write for us. In a larger perspective, there should be caution in following people’s advice blindly.

The truth in the film

This fact cannot be under looked as movies do have meanings and apply to the events in our normal lives. In struggling to know who he really is, and in getting various versions of memories, Leonard’s life depicts the situations that we face in our normal lives, situations of not being able to clearly identify our personality and forge a clear course for ourselves.

All through the movie, there is deception and lies from a lot of people. The movie therefore bears some truth of the matter as it presents to us what life is like and what kind of people surround us in normal life.

Analyzing Memento movie

The movie ‘Memento’ creates challenges and puzzles in every aspect. This challenge is exhibited from the movie’s characters, stories to the DVD box set of the movie itself. Watching the movie once only is not enough to unravel the puzzle as it requires revisits in order to understand. The film is not easy to understand and there have been varying conclusions that have been made by different viewers depending on how they have interpreted the movie and on what they have chosen to believe.

The quote “They’re just an interpretation [Memories], they’re not a record, and they’re irrelevant if you have the facts.” as uttered by Leonard in the movie creates a lot of doubts and possibilities. A question must be thrown to any flashback that is referred to in the movie. There is a wonder as to whether the events really happened in the manner in which Leonard is remembering them. One wonders whether it is a reality or Leonard’s own thoughts and perceptions. In many scenes, Leonard recollects various events, each with two different versions and is torn between believing either of them as the real memory. A contention is opened up on whether memories are just interpretation following Leonard’s quote. There is a fall out between the true events between the original and the altered one. This leads to difference in the conclusion that is made depending on the version that is believed.

 “You know, I’ve had more rewarding friendships than this one. Although I do get to keep telling the same jokes.” – Quote by Teddy.

In the movie, all the characters take advantage to lie to Leonard, except one character. The motives of these characters are therefore questioned. For instance, Teddy tricks Leonard constantly for the purposes of his own gains. He lies that he had never met Leonard and that he is a cop and worse still plans to rob Jimmy of the money gotten from drugs by setting up Leonard for the kill. Natalie also used Leonard. After her realization of what Leonard did, she take that advantage to make Leonard take care of the drug partner of Jimmy, Dodd. Jimmy turns out to be the only character in the movie that does not have any motive to lie and does not lie to Leonard. At his death point, Jimmy mumbles something concerning Sammy Jakis to Leonard who then believes that it was not Jimmy that killed his wife. Leonard further remembers his previous meeting with Jimmy and realizes that Teddy is the one who had set him up. At that point, Leonard tends to believe that his wife was killed by Teddy.

 “I was the only guy who disagreed with the cops – and I had brain damage.” – Leonard

Leonard appears to be telling the truth but he actually isn’t. This deception and confusion is further added by the narrator who is not reliable. One wonders why the audience should believe him yet the police never believed him. Further questions emerge at this stage with no answers being given. Many people throughout the movie are taking advantage of Leonard’s condition, including Leonard himself. This ultimately defines the interesting twist at the end of the film. The film eventually ends in surprise because the stories seem to be just beginning at this end. “She’s gone. And the present is trivia, which I scribble down as fucking notes.” – Leonard

The narrative in the movie Memento is a strong one. Despite the fact that there are some explained circumstances in the movie, there is maintenance of a balance that is perfect and enigmatic throughout the movie without contravention. From the analysis of the movie, there can be a lot of theories seeking to unveil the puzzle in the movie but certainly, none can succeed in solving the movies puzzle. The movie’s structure has an ending that is open and creates a platform for all the viewers to have their own interpretation and opinion concerning the movie. This has ensured that the movie is talked about and analyzed ever since it was released.