1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

  2. Watching NBA Action
    Come join Clutch as we're watching NBA Play-In Tournament action live ...

    LIVE: NBA Playoffs!
    Dismiss Notice
Welcome LIVE NBA ACTION

Memento - help me figure this out

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by haven, Jul 20, 2001.

Tags:
  1. haven

    haven Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 1999
    Messages:
    7,945
    Likes Received:
    14
    I saw this movie again last night. What do you guys think really happened?

    Possiblilities:

    1. The cop was just using him for the cash; John G is a figment of Leonard's imagination.

    2. Leonard killed John G a long time ago, and entered a mutually beneficial relationship with the cop - one gets fulfillment and the other gets rich.

    3. Leonard killed his wife - cop is using him.

    I don't believe this is possible because Leonard would have been unable to create any memories regarding his wife's death if this were true. If he had killed her, he wouldn't even remember she was dead. Also, he would have been unable to alter the Sammy Jenkis memory.

    4. Anything else? I had more ideas last night, but they're leaving me [​IMG].

    I found the movie extremely depressing but well-done. I think the director was less concerned with plot than making certain points about memory and meaning... and all the conclusions he came to were sad. First nihilist solipsist movie I've ever seen [​IMG]!


    I know that there was already a thread about this, and I wanted to resurrect it, but the search utility is down, and my impatience won the war.

    ------------------
    Clutchcity.net... source for all your Rockets, Astros, political, music, humor, and Gordita news.

    [This message has been edited by haven (edited July 20, 2001).]
     
    #1 haven, Jul 20, 2001
  2. bobrek

    bobrek Politics belong in the D & D

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 1999
    Messages:
    36,288
    Likes Received:
    26,639
    haven

    Did you catch the last scene right before the credits ran? There was a picture of Leonard in bed with his wife and he was tattooed on the left side of his chest with "I did it". In addition, his original tatoo extending across his upper chest was evident.

    I will wait til it comes on DVD (09/04), and watch it again.

    go to www.otnemem.com

    ------------------
     
    #2 bobrek, Jul 20, 2001
  3. PhiSlammaJamma

    PhiSlammaJamma Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 1999
    Messages:
    28,752
    Likes Received:
    7,038
    Oddly enuff, I've forgotten what I used to think about this movie [​IMG]



    ------------------
    humble, but hungry.
     
    #3 PhiSlammaJamma, Jul 20, 2001
  4. PhiSlammaJamma

    PhiSlammaJamma Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 1999
    Messages:
    28,752
    Likes Received:
    7,038
    Bobrek, but wasn't he being manipulated at that point? He probably got rid of that tatoo because he knew it was wrong....my memory is very vague on this whole movie.

    ------------------
    humble, but hungry.
     
    #4 PhiSlammaJamma, Jul 20, 2001
  5. haven

    haven Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 1999
    Messages:
    7,945
    Likes Received:
    14
    bobrek: One reviewer claimed that was a "victory" tattoo which referred to the death fo John G. They thought it was supposed to symbolize his satisfaction and peace after killing the murderer.

    ------------------
    Clutchcity.net... source for all your Rockets, Astros, political, music, humor, and Gordita news.
     
    #5 haven, Jul 20, 2001
  6. bobrek

    bobrek Politics belong in the D & D

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 1999
    Messages:
    36,288
    Likes Received:
    26,639
    But how did he have the "I did it" tatoo after killing the murderer YET still be pictured with his wife?

    ------------------
     
    #6 bobrek, Jul 20, 2001
  7. haven

    haven Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 1999
    Messages:
    7,945
    Likes Received:
    14
    bobrek: I think the reviewer meant that it was a fantasy; sort of a: "well, I've avenged her, now I can live with my memories of her without so much pain" sort of thing. I'm not saying that's correct, so much as I'm not sure how the other interpretation woudl work either. Why would a tattoo disappear?

    ------------------
    Clutchcity.net... source for all your Rockets, Astros, political, music, humor, and Gordita news.
     
    #7 haven, Jul 20, 2001
  8. jamcracker

    jamcracker Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2000
    Messages:
    936
    Likes Received:
    0
    *SPOILER* *SPOILER*

    For heaven sakes, haven, warn people about spoilers. Sheesh.

    Many many possibilities. I like the idea that Leonard is Sammy Jankis. Leonard killed his wife with insulin and invents the John G. story, then escapes from a mental hospital and goes on his killing spree. (The police report detailing his wife's attack invalidates this theory, though).

    Maybe the image of Leonard and his wife with the "I did it" tattoo is just a delusion - a crazy image runnng through Leonard's head. Only explanation that satisfies me.

    Here's a great Salon article: http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/2001/06/28/memento_analysis/index.html

    [edit: oooh - I like haven's "well, I've avenged her, now I can live with my memories of her without so much pain" theory - good work]

    [This message has been edited by jamcracker (edited July 20, 2001).]
     
    #8 jamcracker, Jul 20, 2001
  9. tozai

    tozai Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2001
    Messages:
    2,263
    Likes Received:
    0
    if you go to slate.msn.com
    theres a long article regarding this movie somewhere in the archives

    ------------------
     
    #9 tozai, Jul 20, 2001
  10. haven

    haven Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 1999
    Messages:
    7,945
    Likes Received:
    14
    jammie:

    Thought the title of the thread gave away the fact that spoilers were contained...

    ...nevertheless, point taken. I'll try to include such in the future [​IMG].

    Good article, btw.

    ------------------
    Clutchcity.net... source for all your Rockets, Astros, political, music, humor, and Gordita news.
     
    #10 haven, Jul 20, 2001
  11. Dr of Dunk

    Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 1999
    Messages:
    45,162
    Likes Received:
    31,126
    Hell, man, I opened the thread up thinking you were looking for pricing on old baseball cards or other mementos... lol.

    ------------------
    "I'll tell you this, the older I get, the less I trust people. It's true. It's damn true." -- gr8-1 going through some growing pains.
     
    #11 Dr of Dunk, Jul 20, 2001
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page

Toggle Width
Style
ClutchFans Original

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Rockets Content

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now