MOMENTO!! I just got home from class, and all I've been thinking about is this movie. Im completely confused, and I dont care. Im planning on watching it again hopefully over the weekend. This movie had me constantly thinking, and guessing. There were so many elements regarding this movie that I have never seen done before. The only movie I have ever seen, prior to this class, which did not use a linear narration was Pulp Fiction. I ended up turning it off, and told myself I would never watch a movie like that ever again.
The reverse chronology, as well as the foward chronology worked together comming to the killing of Jimmy. The film starting at the end, and ending in the begining really showed cyclical narration at its best. It kept going back and forth, changing from color scenese to black and white scenes. At first, it threw me off completely. I soon realized that the black and white sequences were working chronologically forward, and the color scenes were working in reverse. The point of view of Lennys character was trully expressed in multi dimensions. We got to see all of Lenny. The man who loved his wife, the man who seeks revenge, the man whose been manipulated, the man who cant remember what he did three minutes ago, the man who seemed to have gone crazy. The point of view was all through Lenny as the main character, but theres soo much more to this because he was manipulated from almost every other character in the story. Its almost as if the point of view is changed because Lenny being manipulated, it changes the actual POV. I think this film was not meant to have any sense of closure, simply because that was the purpose.
I absolutely love these blogs. I wish i had them for all my classes. Its soooooooooooooooo helpful.
I also have another paper due next week for my 20th century genocide class, and im so lost and confused, so having that to deal with makes me very appreciative to have this tool that i can refreshen my memory, seeing what other people have written, as well as all the wonderful info you leave for us on the blogs.
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I'm glad you like the use of the blogs. I really do think they can add a great deal to classes because they give us a different space to discuss and extend discussion AND they keep of record of discussion, so we can go back and review.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that you are describing many "Lennys"---I think that is the case. His "condition" has left his identity in shards. There is no way for him to connect the Lenny of ten minutes ago with the Lenny of now, except for his tattoos, notes, photos and "memories." But none of those are completely reliable---we even see how the meaning of photos can be changed--deliberately! And the same with written evidence if we are to believe Teddy.
I think when we talk about this in class we can sort out the various arguments about closure, but in them meantime, take a look at the Jonathan Nolan's short story and think about how closure is handled in that story...