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The guy in charge of the disappearing act is the same dude, Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), whose memory loss following a crime in which his wife was raped and killed has propelled him into a wild quest for vengeance that requires him to question the veracity of everyone he meets. Wary viewers should question the film's skewed reality at every opportunity. But the truth is that things just keep coming at you. No sooner have you developed some tiny empathy for Leonard's plight -- a blow to the head has rendered him unable to make new memories -- than you are caught up in his paranoid fever and unable to make an independent decision. As the flashbacks increase, there are times when you literally see a scene that starts with the way the next scene you watch ends. It's disconcerting for anyone who doesn't have the patience, but rewarding for those who like this sort of thing. Seeing a bullet fly out of a man's head and back into the chamber of the gun that fired it is a bit much for me, frankly. Ultimately, the whole exercise feels like an exercise, grumble, grumble. But as surely as I think Memento is a fiendishly smart but ethically bankrupt machination, someone else will find it fascinating, the best thriller they've seen since Pi, The Usual Suspects or some other nouveau noir. The gimmick is the whole deal: Leonard's particular kind of amnesia keeps him in the present, which is always new. He retains his memory intact up to the moment he was hit on the head, but after that, he can remember nothing but his wife's death. Every morning the world is brand new. Sometimes, if he loses his focus, he forgets what just happened. Leonard's obsession with finding his wife's killer motivates him to keep extensive but unreadable notes and to have tattooed on his body brief reminders of really important bits of information he's uncovered. He also takes instant pictures, so he will remember where he lives, who he knows and where he's been. The plot contains huge holes that are relatively unnoticeable because the story is told backwards in time. But the movie's real hole is not the story but the characters, none of whom elicits one moment of caring from the viewer. Leonard is too spooky; he's a genuine head case. And his sometimes girlfriend, the bartender Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss), isn't a sympathetic character, either. She's too self-absorbed to be trustworthy. It's hard to get a handle on Teddy (Joe Pantoliano), because his character seems to have changed every time he appears, but his brand of genial sleaze is pretty hard to admire. The only truly neutral character should be the motel manager (Mark Boone Jr.), but even he has weird motives. The one scene that feels real to me is when Natalie persuades Leonard to remember his wife (played by Jorja Fox, familiar from TV's "C.S.I.," "West Wing," and "ER"). She wants him to recall what was good about their lives together. Honest emotions surface and a poignant exchange happens here and nowhere else in this way-too-slick piece of work. If it's your cup of tea, so be it. I've got my standards.
Dreyer created a unique film language for his work here, borrowing techniques from established masters while ignoring conventional cross-cutting techniques -- such as shot/reaction shot which shows the connection between characters. He favored his own narrative style. He rejected establishing shots and shot faces in extreme close-up. Joan (Renée Falconetti) seldom appears in the same frame with her interrogators, although they share the same space much of the time. Dreyer doesn't help viewers with his unique cinematic language
but gives us The model for the set exists in a Danish museum, so we know that it not only didn't conform to an actual historical building but also couldn't hang together as a proper building. We never see the whole set, but what we do see makes us uneasy. Dreyer's actors couldn't hide behind the traditional heavy make-up of the day, and their naked, fleshy faces were shot in extreme close-up under bright lights. The entire middle section of the picture consists of faces -- the mendacious clergymen, Joan's few supporters and Joan herself. Falconetti's face reveals subtle but genuine emotions as she slowly realizes these men are going to kill her unless she recants her belief that she was sent by God to save France. This powerful film was destroyed by fire twice, then Dreyer's original cut was discovered in 1981 in the broom closet of a mental institution in Oslo, Norway. In 1988, composer Richard Einhorn composed Voices of Light, which will be performed April 27 at 8 pm in the Silva Hall by 140 musicians and singers. The Eugene Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of Conductor Laureate Marin Alsop will perform Einhorn's score for solo voices, chorus and orcherstra as the film is shown.
Coverage of an event such as WTO Seattle begins with a march, protesters in costumes singing or chanting slogans, but fairly quickly evolves into a showdown between the people on the streets and the police. Rarely is there a quiet or reflective moment on the streets, with the result that viewers don't get the opportunity to identify with the protesters as individuals. One confrontation, frequently physically or verbally violent, follows another, and they begin to look alike. There is great value in documenting what takes place in such mass demonstrations, and it takes courage to shoot such scenes when others are fleeing, being arrested or gassed. To hear from the activist filmmakers themselves, see this week's cover story.
Caveman's Valentine: First run neo-Gothic thriller stars Samuel L. Jackson as a man caught between genius and madness who comes out of his fog to find the murderer of a transient. Based on George Dawes Green novel, movie's directed by Kasi Lemmon. R. Movies 12. Doctor Zhivago: Part 2 of David Lean's 1965 Russian epic about a Russian poet caught up in the chaos of the Bolshevik Revolution, based on Boris Pasternak's Nobel Prize winning novel. Stars Omar Sharif and Julie Christie. PG-13. 6:30 pm, 4/29,119 Pacific Hall. Free. Double Take: It's Trading Places for the new century as NY investment banker (Orlando Jones) switches identities with a petty thief (Eddie Griffin). George Gallow directs. PG-13. Movies 12. Draughtman's Contract, The: Peter Greenaway's 1982 mystery is a simple story that becomes a thrilling puzzle. Music by Michael Nyman. R. 7 pm, 4/30, 138 Gilbert. Free. Driven: Sylvester Stallone in a racetrack action picture directed by Renny Harlin. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Forsaken: Vampire flick stars Kerr Smith and Brendan Fehr. Directed by J.S. Cardone. R. Cinema World. Kazablan: Israeli musical about relationships between Ashkenazi and Sepharadic Jews. NR. 7:30 PM, 4/30, 115 Pacific. Free. King of Bluegrass: Documentary on Jimmy Martin directed by George Goehl and other short movies about sound/music at the UO Cultural Forum's Short Film Festival for all ages. 8 pm, 4/27, 123 Pacific. Free. Memento: Written, directed by Christopher Nolan, based on his brother Jonathan's story. Stars Guy Pearce as a man whose memory loss following a crime in which his wife was raped and killed propels him toward vengeance. With Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano. Wary viewers should question the film's skewed reality at every opportunity. R. Bijou. See review this issue. One Night at McCool's: Crime comedy stars Matt Dillon, Paul Reiser, John Goodman and Liv Tyler. She's trouble. Directed by Harald Zwart. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Organizer, The: 1964 Italian film set in 19th century Turin where a poor professor (Marcello Mastroianni) unites striking textile workers. NR. 7 pm, 5/2, 180 PLC. Free. See Spot Run: David Arquette plays a mailman who teams up with a crime-fighting canine in this comedy. PG. Movies 12. Town & Country: Peter Chelsom directs Michael Laughlin and Buck Henry's comic script about marriage, friendship and love. Stars Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn and Garry Shandling. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Year in the Streets, A: Local Cascadia Media Collective videographers' work from protests and direct action movements in various cities during 2000. 7 pm, 4/28, 180 PLC. $2-$5 sliding scale. See review.
Blow: Ted Demme directs Johnny Depp as George Jung, now in prison, but in the 1970s the first American to import cocaine from Carlos Escobar's Colombian cartel to the U.S. Based on book by Bruce Porter, movie also stars Penelope Cruz, Ray Liotta, Rachel Griffiths and Paul Reubens. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Bridget Jones' Diary: Renée Zellwegger plays the neurotic but witty Londoner on the prowl for a man. Hugh Grant's her boss, and Colin Firth is an old friend. Sharon Maguire's directorial debut. Script by Helen Fielding, Andrew Davies and Richard Curtis. Fun movie, highly recommended. R. Cinemark. Cinema World. See review. Cast Away: Tom Hanks learns to survive when his plane crashes and he washes up on a remote tropical island. Helen Hunt is the girlfriend he left behind. Intimate direction by Robert Zemeckis, a lean script by William Broyles Jr., and an edgy performance by Hanks. Highly recommended. PG-13. Movies 12. See review. Crocodile Dundee in L.A.: Simon Wencer directs the return of the old Aussie fave played by Paul Hogan, with Linda Kozlowski as the love interest. PG. Cinemark. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Ang Lee's cinematic masterpiece, romantic fantasy set in ancient China garnered -- Academy Awards: best foreign film, art direction, cinematography and original score. Stars Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun Fat, Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen. Superlative! PG-13. Cinemark. See review. Down to Earth: Chris Rock gets sent to Heaven by mistake, but then he comes back in the body of a recently murdered Manhattan mogul. Regina King, Mark Addy, Frankie Faison and Chazz Palminteri also star. PG-13. Movies 12. Emperor's New Groove, The: Disney animation, Sting's music, and the voices of David Spade, Eartha Kitt and John Goodman enliven this tale of a young emperor who's turned into a llama and learns to be nicer to others. G. Movies 12. Enemy at the Gates: During the siege of Stalingrad during WWII, a Soviet sniper (Jude Law) is pursued by a Nazi assassin (Ed Harris). Also stars Joe Fiennes, Bob Hoskins and Rachel Weisz. Flawed, but well worth seeing for Harris' performance. R. Cinemark. See review. Freddy Got Fingered: Tom Green directs and stars in this comedy, with Rip Torn and Julia Hagerty. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Heartbreakers: Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt play mother/daughter con artists. Ray Liotta and Gene Hackman are marked men. David Mirkin directs. PG-13. Movies 12. See review. In the Mood for Love: Set in 1960s Hong Kong, Wong Kar-wai's exquisite film tells the story of two people bound by convention to restrain their feelings for each other. This bittersweet tale makes a deep, lasting emotional impact and memorably beautiful. Highest recommendations. PG. Bijou. See review. Joe Dirt, The Adventures of: Comedy directed by Dennie Gordon stars David Spader as a dunce who goes on a quest to find the parents who dumped him at the Grand Canyon when he was 8 years old. PG-13. Cinemark. Josie and the Pussycats: Rachel Leigh Cook, Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson, life-long friends from the 'burbs, put their garage band on the road to success until they run into a nefarious pair of schemers. PG-13. Cinemark. Miss Congeniality: Comedy stars FBI agent Sandra Bullock posing as a beauty contestant, Miss New Jersey. Directed by Donald Petrie, it also stars Benjamin Bratt, Michael Caine and William Shatner. PG-13. Movies 12. O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Ethan and Joel Coen's feel-good Depression-era comedy and homage to old timey music is their best ever. Stars George Clooney, John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson, with Holly Hunter, Charles Durning, John Goodman. Highest recommendation. Fabulous screenplay, cinematography and CD. PG-13. Cinema World. See review. Saving Silverman: Steve Zahn and Jack Black try to keep Jason Biggs from marrying Amanda Peet when he loves Amanda Detmer. PG-13. Movies 12. Spy Kids: Robert Rodriguez directs this youth-oriented tale about superspies (Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino) who leave the life to marry and have kids. When they're kidnapped, only their kids can save them. PG. Cinemark. Cinema World. Sugar and Spice: Cheerleader comedy shows girl power united to help one of their own, even if it means breaking the law. Directed by Francine McDougall, stars Mena Suvari. PG-13. Movies 12. Thirteen Days: Roger Donaldson's political thriller set in 1962 Cuban missile crisis as the Kennedy brothers scramble to avert Armageddon. Kevin Costner plays Kenny O'Donnell, Bruce Greenwood is JFK, and Steven Culp is Robert Kennedy. Very exciting, excellent film. PG-13. Movies 12. See review. Traffic: Steven Soderbergh's acclaimed film stars Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Don Cheadle, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Erica Christensen. Academy Awards for Soderbergh's direction, Del Toro's acting, Gaghan's screenplay and Mirrione's film editing. R. Cinemark. See review. Wedding Planner, The: San Francisco wedding planner (Jennifer Lopez) meets the man of her dreams -- a handsome pediatrician (Matthew McConaughey) who saves her from a near-fatal collision. PG-13. Movies 12. What Women Want: Mel Gibson as an accident victim who can suddenly hear the private thoughts of women -- Helen Hunt, Marisa Tomei and Lauren Holly. PG-13. Movies 12. You Can Count on Me: Kenneth Lonergan's beautifully understated
film about family ties stars Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo as adult siblings. Also,
Rory Culkin, Matthew Broderick and Jon Tenney. Wonderful performances by Linney and
Ruffalo. Very highly recommended. R. Bijou. See
review. Bijou
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Theaters
Emperor's New Groove, The: Disney animation, Sting's music, and the voices of David Spade, Eartha Kitt and John Goodman enliven this tale of a young emperor who is turned into a llama and learns to be nicer to others. G. Miss Congeniality: Comedy stars Sandra Bullock as an FBI agent posing as a beauty contestant. Directed by Donald Petrie, flick also stars Benjamin Bratt, Michael Caine and William Shatner. PG-13. Next week: Duets, The Interview, The Magnificent Seven, Quills and
What Women Want.
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