So I forgot to post yesterday, mostly because of the holiday, and a lot because I am totally out of sorts because of this move to Brooklyn. Therefore, I see no more fitting movie about forgetting on my list to post today than Momento--a movie about a guy who has no short term memory.
In Momento, Guy Pierce can remember everything just about until his wife's death, which he thinks he has a clear enough recollection of. His memories since then, however, are all recorded on Polaroids, tattoos and little notes for himself. In the meantime, instead of just trying to survive in this less than ideal situation, he's out trying to find his wife's killer.
Oh, did I mention the whole movie is shot backwards, tracing each scene to the scene before it?
And you thought the Polaroids were confusing.
The beauty of it is that you watch each seen as he experiences it--completely without prior context. He arises in a hotel room. Is it his room? Someone elses? Should he be there? You don't know until the next scene. One of the best moments in the movie is when he finds himself running, but he's not sure if he's being chased or doing the chasing, until his pursuer fires a gun at him. "Is he running after me or am I running after him? [Boom.] He's running after me."
The supporting cast has two stars from the Matrix--Carrie Ann Moss and Joe Pantolino. Both do a great job and you're not sure how much either is manipulating poor Guy and his condition at any point in the movie.
You probably need to watch this movie twice... with a friend you can have a good argument with, because you'll probably see the movie differently. Its thought provoking and definitely requires a careful viewing.