Guy Pearce is his own biggest critic. If anyone needs proof, they can look no further than his recent comments about his appearance in Christopher Nolan’s early movie, Memento. Released in 2000, this debut feature film from the director, who would later create some of the greatest Batman movies and mind-bending blockbusters, saw Pearce take on the lead role of a man hunting his wife’s killer while struggling with his inability to recall recent memories. Despite the film’s outstanding reception, Pearce expressed that he was “sh*t” in the film.
To start with the facts, Memento scored an impressive 94% from both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, transforming a limited budget of $5-9 million into a remarkable $40 million box office success. It’s difficult to consider Memento a failure, especially considering that many reviews highlight Pearce’s “unforgettable” performance in “one of cinema’s most ornate puzzle boxes.” However, Pearce remains incredibly critical of his own work in this film.
In a revealing interview with The Times, he said, “I’m having an existential crisis. I watched ‘Memento’ the other day, and I’m still depressed. I’m sh*t in that movie. I’d never thought that before, but I attended a Q&A of ‘Memento’ earlier this month and decided to actually watch the film again. But while it was playing, I realized I hate what 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 in ‘Memento.’”
While everyone is entitled to their opinion, that doesn’t mean those opinions have to be right. Pearce clearly believes his performance in Memento has not aged well, but he seems to be in the minority. Not only did critics praise the film upon its release in 2000, but Pearce also received several nominations for Best Actor, winning one at the San Diego Film Critics Society Awards.
Memento is a film that demands attention; it cannot simply be allowed to play in the background. The twisting, backward narrative is one that requires close engagement, much like other films from Christopher Nolan. This intricate storytelling relies significantly on the strength of Pearce’s performance. Perhaps the lesson here is that actors should avoid watching their own movies — many choose not to for exactly this reason.
Interestingly, Christopher Nolan had considered directing his first comedy before creating Memento. Currently, Pearce is starring in The Brutalist alongside Adrien Brody and has accumulated numerous nominations for his performance. Along with a recently announced Oscar nomination, he has also been nominated for a BAFTA, Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and Chicago Film Critics Association Award for his supporting role in the film. Hopefully, he will feel more satisfied with his performance in this project when it comes time to reflect on it two decades from now.
