To practice the skills necessary to complete a decent research investigation essay we are going to study Christopher Nolan's superb first feature film; Memento.
You will complete the Primary and Secondary research necessary to piece together a first draft of an essay based on one of the following theoretical perspectives...
The links above will take you to a plan of action for before and after you have watched the movie.
Why Memento?
Many of you will be well aware of Christopher Nolan's work, mostly through the re-imagining of the Batman character in the critically and commercially acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy as well as the mind-bending dreamscape that was Inception. However whilst these movies were all praised for their intelligence and refusal to dumb-down for a multiplex audience, there's no denying that incredible cinematography and epic scale set-pieces were an appeal of the films.
It is therefore perhaps quite heartening to know that Nolan's background is in low budget, smart thrillers driven by the same kinds of flawed characters we see hurtling through the streets of Gotham.
Memento is as smart as it is stylish and slick. The alternative narrative structure is the stand out element which arguably insists on a second viewing - but it's not just got one trick up its sleeve. The tone of the movie and the performances give the film a strange otherworldly feel to it. The kind of movie that had it been made today you couldn't help but think that it would star Ryan Gosling.
That said Guy Pearce puts in an excellently edgy and uncomfortable (yet somehow likeable) performance as the damaged Lenny (sorry, Leonard). Carrie-Ann Moss is just as seductive and intense as Trinity but without the PVC Catwoman suit! And Joe Pantoliano is excellent as always.
A film this good doesn't require justification for studying, so if you've never seen it before, even if you have - just be grateful that you do get to study it!
