Memento
Guy Pearce say he late rewatchedMemento , and conclude that he was “ s — thyroxine ” in the Christopher Nolan - place 2000 psychological thriller . OppenheimerOscar - succeeder Nolan began making his reputation as a master nous - bender with his 2nd film , a mix of linear and non - linear storytelling mean to place the spectator inside the head of the movie ’s protagonist , who suffer from brusque - term memory red . Pearce plays the amnesiac Leonard Shelby , a persona that win him strong review from critic and audiences likewise , helpingNolan’sMementoto a 93 % novel military rank on Rotten Tomatoes .
Perhaps the only individual in the world who thinks Pearce was uncollectible inMementois Pearce himself , as he surprisingly revealed in a recent interview , describing his last rewatch of the 25 - year - old flick , and the disconfirming reaction he had to his own work(viaThe Times ) . Pearce even claims that his reciprocal ohm — liothyronine acting in the film is the reason he ’s never bring with Nolan again :
“ I watchedMementothe other daylight and I ’m still depressed . I ’m s – thyroxine in that picture show . I ’d never thought that before , but I did this Q&A ofMementoearlier this month and decided to in reality watch the photographic film again . But while it was playing , I realized Ihatewhat I did . And so all this stuff about an White House at Warners being why I ’ve not worked with Chris again ? It came doss down . I know why I did n’t work with Chris again — it ’s because I ’m no skillful inMemento . ”
Pearce then went into more detail about why he believe he was not very good as Shelby , and why his performance defies one legendary star ’s acting wisdom :
“ I was trying to do a flippant attitude but it was all amiss . John Gielgud once said , ‘ you may be skillful in a good movie , good in a bad movie , defective in a bad movie , but never be defective in a full movie . ’ Yet I watchedMementoand realized I ’m risky in a good movie . F – k ! ”
expect if he ’s ever babble with Nolan himself about hisMementoperformance , Pearce responded in the negative , explain why he ’s afraid to broach the subject with the director , while let on his thoughts about a couple of his other acting job :
Image via Summit Entertainment
“ No , because I reckon he ’d agree with me . It ’s funny ; hoi polloi say I should ’ve been nominated forMemento . Now I understand why I was n’t . attend , I ’m please withLA Confidential , but I search at this and go , ‘ Oof ! Nails on a blackboard ! ’ If I count on my performance inNeighboursis two out of ten , Mementois a five … ”
What Pearce’s Revelation Means For Memento’s Legacy
The Movie Helped Boost Pearce’s Career, And Nolan’s
Memento ’s timeline play outvia two different , cooccurring narratives , one flowing forward , and the other going back . This bit of Nolan - esque storytelling shenanigan ingrain the Academy enough to gather the film a Best adjust Screenplay nomination , alongside its nomination for Best Editing .
Nolan revive hisMementodual timeline trick for his Oscar - winnerOppenheimer .
ButMementois more than just an early case of Nolan playing around with non - linear story in a clever way . It ’s also a gripping motion-picture show , and much of its effect is down to Pearce , whose performance help keep the film emotionally centered while the narrative spin out dizzyingly in two different directions at once .
Custom Image by Dhruv Sharma.
Notwithstanding Pearce ’s own grim legal opinion of his performance , Memento ’s bequest as an early Nolan victory rest intact , and Pearce himself continues to do well , lately scoring his first career Oscar nominating speech for his supporting workplace inThe Brutalist . Whatever Pearce thinks of his work as Leonard Shelby , the function remain one of his signature creations , and the film help boost both his reputation and Nolan ’s .
Our Take On Pearce’s Low Opinion Of His Memento Work
He Holds Himself To A High Standard
Pearce may solicit to differ with the assessment that he bring positively toMemento ’s overall effect , stating that the film is good in spite of him . For the role player to be that critical of his early work is not so surprising , give how many lead claim to cringe when they find out their own study . If anything , Pearce ’s ego - literary criticism expose how high his standard are , and how much he thinks he ’s grown in the 25 years since the movie .
Guy Pearce ’s Best Movies According ToRotten Tomatoes
Critics ' Score
Audience Score
L.A. Confidential(1997 )
99 %
94 %
The Hurt Locker(2008 )
96 %
84 %
The Adventures of Priscilla , Queen of the Desert(1994 )
88 %
Animal Kingdom(2010 )
Memento(2000 )
The King ’s Speech(2010 )
92 %
The Brutalist(2024 )
93 %
80 %
The Proposition(2005 )
86 %
85 %
Results(2015 )
36 %
The Convert(2023 )
82 %
53 %
root : The Times
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Cast
Christopher Nolan ’s Memento is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Leonard , a former policy police detective who suffers from a disease that prevents his brain from storing short - terminus memories . The one matter he can call up is execution of his married woman , for which he wish to exact revenge . Starring Guy Pearce and Carrie - Anne Moss , the film was free in 2000 to far-flung acclaim , launching the theatre director ’s successful Hollywood career .
