The Art of Deception: A Dive into Gone Girl

Forgotten lives : Exploring Momento and Bourne Identity

 Suppose you lose your memory and cannot recall your past. Everyone is a stranger… What will you do? Will you recreate yourself or attempt to rediscover your identity? Loss of memory is a major characteristic of Memento and The Bourne Identity. I'm researching both the films in this one article.

Memento (2000)

The film Memento starts off with Leonard (played by Guy Pearce) clinging to a photo of a corpse. But far from proceeding further, the sequence is reversed. The picture vanishes in front of us again and disappears back into the camera. And we see the killer taking the shot at the murder scene. Instantly, our minds are racked with questions—what's the identity of this man and how was he murdered?

The movie continues alternating black-and-white with color scenes. The protagonist Leonard has a syndrome where he's unable to form new memories. Every 15 minutes or so, he repeats forgetting everything anew. It feels like a bad dream—chiefly because he's trying to solve a whodunit: who beat him up and killed his wife?.

Memento employs a fractured, non-linear narrative that places us in Leonard's mind. It's not an easy film to keep up with—you may have to view it twice to fully get it. But it's not mind-bending for the sake of being mind-bending. The structure of the story allows us to feel Leonard's memory loss. Director Christopher Nolan revealed that he wanted the viewer to experience what it's like to forget, so we experience the world as Leonard does.

Whereas The Bourne Identity is a quick-moving action movie, Memento is a psychological puzzle. It's a little bit like a classic detective tale, but Nolan puts a smart spin on it—memory loss fuels the plot. Leonard keeps track of clues using tattoos and notes since he can't retain anything for more than a short while. He's no Sherlock Holmes genius detective, and there's no dastardly villain to be caught, but it's still very much a mystery.

Although the plot jumps around, it ultimately all makes sense. Every scene hints at small details that tell you what's next. You're never quite sure what's going on, but that makes the movie thrilling and original.

As a spectator, you're figuring out the mystery with Leonard. You begin to think like him, and as the scenes reverse in time, your theories about what's going on continually shift. I enjoyed trying to put it all together, and overall, it's a fantastic and ingenious movie.

The Bourne Identity (2002)

As is true for many action movie franchises, the Bourne series began to degrade with the second and third films. However, The Bourne Identity remains a wise action film that stays interested in the plot as well as the main protagonist. Memory has an enormous impact here. Jason Bourne, played by Matt Damon, is the moniker of an individual who emerges with no remembrance of whom he is. He's hauled from the Mediterranean Sea, battered and puzzled—like an eraser.".

While he recuperates, Bourne learns that he has some sort of link to the CIA, and they immediately send agents to pursue him. He learns that he had a violent past, but he can't recall anything about it. Now, he's trying to discover who he actually is.

Whereas Memento is a more elegant, more languid mystery, The Bourne Identity is an action movie. Yet, both movies ask us: "Who is this man?" and "Where did he come from?"

I don't believe that kind of memory loss exists among real doctors—especially because the film doesn't explain how he's still able to recall all his fighting abilities. But it makes for good storytelling. Bourne employs those abilities to stay alive and fend off the individuals pursuing him. There are unrealistic moments within the plot, and the CIA conspiracy aspect isn't terribly captivating. Nevertheless, the action scenes do not feel forced, and no over-the-top gadgets are visible. Although Memento is unequivocally better, The Bourne Identity remains enjoyable to view and was really new when originally released. There are few, easily ignored unreal parts.

Conclusion

Both Memento and The Bourne Identity are fashion-forward, well-crafted films that continue to stand the test of time. Memento is a fantastic cult classic that you absolutely should check out, while The Bourne Identity is a fun, good action flick. Regardless of whether you're a fan of thrillers, action, or just smart storytelling, both films are excellent picks. Both use memory loss in different manners—and demonstrate how it has the ability to drastically alter the life of an individual.