Memento & Following

by Christopher J. Nolan

Book Overview

The screenplay for the cult film that took audiences by storm

Memento is a remarkably layered, psychological-puzzle film that explores the narrative possibilities of noir, turning its detective into a surrogate for the spectator while forcing the audience to embark on the same kind of sleuthing its main character is involved in. Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) is a former insurance investigator who since his wife's rape and apparent...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0571210473
• ISBN13: 9780571210473
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux-3pl
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

What a gimmick!

In a conversation with a friend of mine a while back, he told me he didn't understand why people liked "Memento" so much, he said all the film had was a "gimmick."To which I replied, "it may be a gimmick, but YOU try writing a script with a gimmick like that."The "gimmick" is the non-linear progression of the story that Christopher Nolan uses in both of the scripts in this book, "Memento" and "Following." It's an experimental style of storytelling, to be certain, but it's a successful experiment. Both scripts, "Memento" in particular, show events not in the order they happen, but in the order of importance, and it's a brilliant way to tell the story. Nolan's a magnificent screenwriter -- can't wait for his next one.

I Loved Every Word. The Best Screenplay I Have Ever Read!

I have been saying this for a few months: "Memento" is my favorite movie. As soon as I found out that you could buy the screenplay for the movie, I knew that I had to have it. Normally, I wouldn't care to see the screenplay for many movies, but this was a very big exception. I loved the movie so much that I wanted to see how it looked on paper.A little warning: The script is NOT word for word to the movie. Some parts are different in many ways. The order of events are a little different and a lot of good lines that were in the movie were not included in the screenplay. Is this a bad thing? OF COURSE NOT! In fact, it was a great surprise. This was what the movie was going to eventually lead up to looking like. It was a rough layout of what could happen in what order. Of course, things change when you're filming the movie. Certain scenes are changed or cut out, lines are either trimmed or dramatically changed, and so on. The story in no way is changed and the resolution is still very much the same as the movie. The point is that it's fascinating to see how the script developed into the finished product, which is a masterpiece of a film that should go down as one of the greatest films in history. I loved reading the screenplay, and it makes me admire how the film turned out in the end even more. Another movie that is included in this wonderful book, a movie you might have never even heard of, is "Following." This script was a little more similar to the movie in most parts than "Memento" was. I also enjoyed reading that part of the book. I have seen the movie before hand, so I kind of knew what I was in for. Again, this screenplay is filled with sharp and witty dialogue and life-shattering consequences that won't appear visible until the shocking conclusion.Another cool feature of this book is that it includes an interview with Christopher Nolan and one of the stars from "Following." It also includes some photos from both movies and how the idea for "Memento" came about.Christopher Nolan has a talent when it comes to forcing characters to face severe consequences and ugly truths, as well as coming up with great dialogue that can only be created by a pro. He can also manipulate time and make it confusing for us as well as for his characters. If you have seen the movie or movies, get this book as soon as you can. I recommend that you see them first, then read the book. All in all, this was a terrific read and I look forward into reading it again and again.

JUST AS ENJOYABLE

I picked up this book after seeing Memento and while waiting for it to be released on DVD. All I can say is that I enjoyed it just as much as watching the movie. Don't skip over Following to get to it though. It is just as engaging as Memento and you can catch a preview of it on the Memento DVD. Also, don't let the fact that these are screenplays deter you from making this purchase. If you are a true Christopher Nolan fan, this is the book for you.

"Memento" Memento

I haven't read the "Following" half of this two-screenplays-in-one book yet--that'll have to wait until I manage to find the movie itself--but it's well worth the price just for the "Memento" half, assuming you're a fan of said movie. The slight differences between this screenplay and the finished movie provide one with both a clearer understanding of Nolan's intentions, and an appreciation of what fortuitous circumstances had to come together to result in such a perfect end-product: this brilliant screenplay (which I can sit and read and imagine being performed by utterly unsuitable actors, dream who'd have been the most ill-chosen director), ideal actors and director, fantastically fitting sets and cinematography, music, and so on.