Memento question

[Sandman138]

When you watch it in the correct order, it becomes apparent that Lenny turns Teddy into the killer by planting a bunch of clues that point to him the first time they are in the shed and then forgetting about them.

 

[Toe Tags]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cinemaman
I was re-watching one of my favorite movie...



Quote:
Originally Posted by Toe Tags

I'm assuming you've only watched the film once ...

Eh, sorry. During my initial reply I had completely forgotten that he has been re-watching the film. I didn't think to change it. Damn being a human capable of such errors .

 

[maxwell's demon]

Eh, sorry. During my initial reply I had completely forgotten that he has been re-watching the film. I didn't think to change it. Damn being a human capable of such errors .

i'm sending you to the giant rabid chipmunk pit.

 

[Anita18]

Isn't this all assuming Teddy is telling the truth at the end? There's really no reason to believe a word he says. Not saying he is lying, but it could go either way.

That's the heart of the entire movie. You don't know if Teddy is in fact telling the truth, but we know by the end that Lenny manipulates himself into killing Teddy because HE believes Teddy. This film is all about ambiguity. Is Lenny a good or bad person? Is Natalie? Hell, is Teddy, if he's using Lenny to kill drug-dealers? What is actually happening as the movie progresses? (Apparently a few of the license plates change, along with various characters' handwriting styles throughout the movie - I haven't actually watched for them, but apparnently they're there.)

The official site, which was made by Jonathan Nolan, hints that Lenny's wife survived the attack and that Lenny escaped from a mental hospital. Take that as you will. He's also said in interviews that he wants that ambiguity to be there, even arguing with Chris after a Memento Q&A session, LOL.

Besides the ambiguous "truth" issue, I first saw Memento in a philosophy class, when we discussed whether or not Lenny was human. He does things and makes decisions, but he's unable to learn from them or to understand the consequences of his actions. Is that not the essence of being human - making decisions after considering the experiences in your life? Was an interesting class...

 

[Cinemaman]

I don´t think I´ll ever see it that way, cuz to get the fuill enjoyment of the movie, you have to experience it the way Lenny does, his sense of disorientation and loss of regular references. Some say it´s a plot-driven and not character-driven movie, but the plot IS the character, the fragmented and purposefully confusing nature of the plot reflects the confusion in Lenny´s mind.

Great post

 

[Lex Luthor]

Actually watching the film in correct order was not at all as enjoyable as watching Memento the way it was meant to be seen. I watched it in correct order once, mostly due to curiosity, and I can say that it will never happen again.

 

[JTStarkiller]

When you watch it in the correct order, it becomes apparent that Lenny turns Teddy into the killer by planting a bunch of clues that point to him the first time they are in the shed and then forgetting about them.

That's apparent whether you watch it in chronological order or not.

 

[samsnee]

Rewatched this on Netflix.

I know Lenny is an unreliable narrator. But let's assume the photographs are truths. So he has a tattoo that says "I did it" on his chest that was taken by Teddy after the real John G was killed a year ago. How come we don't see that tattoo at all during the movie?