Starring Australian Guy Pearce and the Duo from the Matrix Joe Pantoliano and Carrie Anne Moss Memento was one of the surprise sleeper hits of the last year. It had a quiet opening week but word of mouth spread about this odd tale and the money simply seemed to roll in from that point. The film has it strong points and the points which average it out. Critically acclaimed sure but my main question remains, Is it the style or the film itself?

The storytelling is the winning element of this film, told end to beginning and fractured so the next 5 minutes actually represents a new twist on the previously viewed section of the film, how it came to be, the preceding events you may say. Which gives the film a very intriguing feel. Every five minutes you think you have Leonard worked out, you think that you know who is being manipulated and you think you know what happened. But as the story goes further back the tale spirals and twists in so many ways and at so many points that at times the viewer is left bewildered and can't be blamed for thinking "Is this one betrayal too many?". It is tied up nicely in the end or be it the beginning so that they make sense but in essence the film presents the feel and mindset of Lenny's character. 

It is twisted, backwards and at time black and worrying but it makes for interesting viewing. I am not too sure about multiple viewings unless they are in order to pick out where you can work it out, honestly I can say that the impact will be lessened the second time around knowing the whole point of the film. 

Pearce is at his excruciatingly emaciated umm best you may say in a grittier role for the "nice guy" stereotype that he is. he gives a fine performance and does not really overact any points which is commendable. Joey Pants seems to play a character who isn't the horrible annoying guy he is normally billed with and does rather well. Finally Carrie Anne Moss is both deceptive and intriguing in her portrayal of the characters flaws.

As you can tell I have avoided blabbing on about the actual story of the film which is in essence, Lenny's wife is raped and murdered and during this he loses his short term memory and is dead set on revenge. Using Tattoo's to remind himself of the clues he has uncovered he hunts down the man who killed his wife. There are plenty of twists and alterations on this tale throughout the film which add a lot of depth. But my one issue is what if the film was played in true chronographical order? Would it have the same impact? The answer is no without the ability to show the mind of Lenny the film would be slow, contrived and pointless. So telling the story in this manner really does raise it's stock. The DVD was pretty standard, no special features just the film in wide screen and scene selections with some nifty menus, nothing really to write home about but the film is what counts really. Intriguing but in many ways over-rated.

Rating 8.5/10

Ben stiller puts forward a spoof of the male modelling industry which really at too many points is trying to be Austin powers. This is a mistake on the account of Stiller as the film had legs without that kind of idea behind it. 

Derek Zoolander is the worlds premiere Male Model and 3 times "Male Model of The Year" in a row. Until pipped at the post by the young and spirited wild child sort Hans (Owen Wilson) and his life goes downhill from there. A conglomerate of Fashion moguls hire the designer Mugatu (a fairly over the top Will Ferrel who will be shot for having a Dr Evil style Poodle) to turn Zoolander the dimwit into Zoolander the unwilling killer. All in order to take down the Prime Minister of Malaysia...

Ok it's a silly comedy having digs at Male Models what do you expect. This one has a few actually funny jokes for instance a scene involving the "Derek Zoolander school for kinds who can't read good" which is pure stupidity but nonetheless amusing. We also have a Walk off judged by David Bowie which is a highlight of the film and more cameos than you can point a stick at.

There are plenty of pouted lips and inhaled cheeks in this film and Stiller's voice at times was a bit annoying but it is all in good fun. There is no real malcontent in this film which makes it light to view and you will get a few laughs sure maybe the sex scene was a bit too stupid but that is ok. Owen and Ben do a good job as the stupid models and Christine Taylor does fairly well as the reporter who could. All in all a light afternoons viewing which we all need sometimes.

Rating 7/10