Rohmer’s Love in the Afternoon
The issue with Memento is that its primary goal is to be cool and clever as opposed to being realistic and convincing. That’s the problem with Nolan. He’s talented, but his ego drives him to seem cool and clever. In the case of Love in the Afternoon, it was quite an admirable film, but i found the whole thing seemed a bit rushed. While watching I kept thinking to myself, slow down the pacing, slow it down.
Great !
This reminds me of the greatest non-great by directors of greatness thread
MEMENTO lacks more than greatness. It lacks goodness. It lacks everything except a batch of clever plot mechanics. But of course, that’s true of Nolan’s entire output, especially the vapid INCEPTION.
Hi Roger,
“So I am just wondering what other movies lack that extra something, but yet are still good films worth viewing. Also what is it that gives a film that greatness, what is it that makes it transcend from good to great .”
There are many possible answers to this. Here are some off the top of my head:
1. Great films, versus good ones, create a sense of perfection. There’s no wasted film; all the scenes and different aspects of filmmaking come together to serve the film; each aspect of filmmaking is at a high level. Perhaps, the characters seem like the epitome of a certain type. (Think of the way Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones feels like the greatest adventure character in film, or Darth Vader the greatest villain.)
2. Great films often do something entirely original or innovative. Maybe the film revitalizes a genre. Mulholland Drive comes to mind. You could call it a film-noir, but it’s a radically creative updating the genre.
3. Great films often have great endings. Endings often make or break films. The difference between a good film and a great film can be found in the quality of the ending.
Reservation Road is another movie that is very good but lacks greatness.
Roger Kebler
Memento is a good film worth watching. But throughout the film I keep feeling like its just lacking something. The acting is fine, the quality of the movie is fine, the plot if good, yet it still lacks that special something. So I am just wondering what other movies lack that extra something, but yet are still good films worth viewing. Also what is it that gives a film that greatness, what is it that makes it transcend from good to great film?