Guy Pearce says he recently rewatchedMemento, and concluded that he was “s—t” in the Christopher Nolan-directed 2000 psychological thriller.OppenheimerOscar-winner Nolan began making his reputation as a master mind-bender with his second film, a mix of linear and non-linear storytelling meant to place the viewer inside the mind of the movie’s protagonist, who suffers from short-term memory loss. Pearce plays the amnesiac Leonard Shelby,a role that won him strong reviews from critics and audiences alike, helpingNolan’sMementoto a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Perhaps the only person in the world who thinks Pearce was bad inMementois Pearce himself, as he surprisingly revealed in a recent interview, describing his last rewatch of the 25-year-old movie, and the negative reaction he had to his own work(viaThe Times). Pearce even claims that his s—t acting in the film is the reason he’s never worked with Nolan again:
“I watchedMementothe other day and I’m still depressed. I’m s–t in that movie. I’d never thought that before, but I did this Q&A ofMementoearlier this month and decided to actually watch the film again. But while it was playing, I realized Ihatewhat I did. And so all this stuff about an exec at Warners being why I’ve not worked with Chris again? It came crashing down. I know why I didn’t work with Chris again — it’s because I’m no good inMemento.”
Pearce then went into more detail about why he believes he was not very good as Shelby, and why his performance defies one legendary star’s acting wisdom:
“I was trying to do a flippant attitude but it was all wrong. John Gielgud once said, ‘You can be good in a good movie, good in a bad movie, bad in a bad movie, but never be bad in a good movie.’ Yet I watchedMementoand realized I’m bad in a good movie. F–k!”
Asked if he’s ever talked with Nolan himself about hisMementoperformance, Pearce responded in the negative, explaining why he’s afraid to broach the topic with the director, while revealing his thoughts about a couple of his other acting jobs:
“No, because I reckon he’d agree with me. It’s funny; people say I should’ve been nominated forMemento. Now I understand why I wasn’t. Look, I’m pleased withLA Confidential, but I look at this and go, ‘Oof! Nails on a chalkboard!’ If I reckon my performance inNeighboursis two out of ten,Mementois a five …”
What Pearce’s Revelation Means For Memento’s Legacy
The Movie Helped Boost Pearce’s Career, And Nolan’s
Memento’s timeline plays outvia two different, simultaneous narratives, one flowing forward, and the other going backward. This bit of Nolan-esque storytelling trickery impressed the Academy enough to garner the movie a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination, alongside its nomination for Best Editing.
Nolan resurrected hisMementodual timeline trick for his Oscar-winnerOppenheimer.
ButMementois more than just an early example of Nolan playing around with non-linear narrative in a clever way. It’s also a gripping movie,and much of its effect is down to Pearce, whose performance helps keep the film emotionally centered while the narrative spins out dizzyingly in two different directions at once.
Notwithstanding Pearce’s own low opinion of his performance,Memento’s legacy as an early Nolan triumph remains intact, and Pearce himself continues to do well, recently scoring his first career Oscar nomination for his supporting work inThe Brutalist. Whatever Pearce thinks of his work as Leonard Shelby, the role remains one of his signature creations, and the film helped boost both his reputation and Nolan’s.
Our Take On Pearce’s Low Opinion Of His Memento Work
He Holds Himself To A High Standard
Pearce may beg to differ with the assessment that he contributed positively toMemento’s overall effect, stating that the movie is good in spite of him. For the actor to be that critical of his earlier work is not so surprising, given how many stars claim to cringe when they watch their own work. If anything,Pearce’s self-criticism reveals how high his standards are, and how much he thinks he’s grown in the 25 years since the movie.
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Whether Nolan would actually agree with Pearce’s negative reaction to hisMementoperformance is an open question. It would be fascinating to hear the director’s own thoughts on Pearce’s disparaging take, and find out the real reason why the two have never worked together again. Casting for Nolan’s next film,an adaptation ofThe Odyssey, remains ongoing, and perhaps Pearce’sMementocomments will get back to Nolan, and prompt him to end their estrangement with a role in hisOppenheimerfollow-up.
Memento
Cast
Christopher Nolan’s Memento is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Leonard, a former insurance investigator who suffers from a disease that prevents his brain from storing short-term memories. The one thing he can remember is murder of his wife, for which he wishes to exact revenge. Starring Guy Pearce and Carrie-Anne Moss, the movie was released in 2000 to widespread acclaim, launching the director’s successful Hollywood career.
