YMMV / Memento

• Alternative Character Interpretation:
  • A meta example, as the movie provides one of its own. Natalie, for the first viewing of the movie comes off as a manipulative, evil bitch, but on the second viewing all of her actions become immensely more justified when you realize that she knew from the beginning the protagonist had murdered her boyfriend. At the same, she also seems to grow closer to Leonard when she learns more about his past. She even sleeps with him, although it's ambiguous whether she's doing so out of spite or to replace her boyfriend.
  • Another is whether Lenny really killed his wife or it's just another of Teddy's lies is left up to the audience, as there's evidence for each. There's also whether or not Teddy being killed will stop his killing spree. And probably the most poignant one. Is Lenny a victim, being manipulated by Teddy to be a hired gun, who frees himself from Teddy's influence at the end of the movie? Or is Lenny just a serial killer with anterograde amnesia who just wants a purpose in life, even if it means deluding himself? The second has more weight than it initially appears, if one wonders what kind of life Lenny will/can have if he gets away with it.
  • What about Teddy? Is he just a scheming crook who manipulated a hapless amnesiac into becoming his own personal thug? Or is he, in fact, the only real friend that Lenny has—a devoted pal who's been keeping Lenny out of jail, holding him back from becoming a full-blown serial killer, and giving him purpose and protection—all because he just wants the poor guy to be happy?
• And You Thought It Would Fail: The film had a hard time finding a distributor. Although most executives loved the film and praised Christopher Nolan's talent, they felt it was too confusing and would not attract a large audience.
• Award Snub:
  • It was one of the most critically acclaimed films of 2001 and is frequently ranked as one of the best films of the 2000s, yet it didn't even receive a Best Picture Academy Award nomination.
  • Christopher Nolan received a Director's Guild Award nomination but was snubbed by the Oscars.
  • The film did receive two Oscar nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing. However, considering that Memento has appeared on lists of the greatest screenplays and best edited films of all time, one could argue it should have won both nominations.
  • Guy Pearce did not get nominated for any major awards despite being praised for his realistic depiction of someone living with anterograde amnesia.
• Hilarious in Hindsight:
  • At one point, Lenny drives past a comic book store. Christopher Nolan would later direct The Dark Knight Trilogy.
  • "Something in the Air" by David Bowie plays over the end credits. Bowie would later appear in Nolan's The Prestige.
• Ho Yay: During the extended Wham Line, when Teddy shows Leonard the picture of himself, he says that he (paraphrased) "just wanted to see that smile again", which is vague, but at the very least adds yet another possibility to the list of possible motives for his actions.
• Jerkass Woobie: Natalie. Yeah, she manipulates Leonard into killing Dodd and repeatedly insults him and his wife, but then you find out Leonard killed her boyfriend — and she knew from the moment she met him, while he has no idea. Also, it's implied that Natalie does develop some genuine empathy for him later on when she gets to know Leonard and understand the truth of his condition. Her actions aren't justified, per se, but they are very, very understandable once you know all the facts.
• Memetic Mutation: "Don't Believe His Lies" is an exploitable where Teddy's face on the corresponding Polaroid is replaced with the face of someone you believe is a Consummate Liar, such as Peter Molyneux or Knight Lautrec.
• Moral Event Horizon:
  • Subverted with Natalie. At first, she seems like a complete Manipulative Bitch, but as it turned out, she had good reason for doing what she did.
  • Leonard arguably crosses this when he decides to consciously forget the truth about what happened and makes it seem as if Teddy was the one who killed his wife, just so he would still feel a sense of purpose. This in itself becomes rather blurry depending on just how you interpret Teddy's character and whether or not what he said was actually true.
• Play-Along Meme: The main character is incapable of creating new memories, leading to fans pretending they can't remember the movie or what it's about.
• Retroactive Recognition: Lenny's wife is Sara Sidle.
• Spiritual Adaptation: Cracked claimed in its article that the film is an adaptation of the 1994 film called Clean Slate.
• Tear Jerker:
  • Lenny's musing on the real tragedy of his situation, which even manages to win Natalie's sympathy and forgiveness:
    Lenny: How can I heal if I can't feel time?
  • Sammy's story, especially if you know or are someone with a condition that impairs one's judgement so badly.

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