Well, that’s certainly a subjective title, but I’m still going to make the case for it. Ahead of The Odyssey next week, Netflix has managed to snag one of director Christopher Nolan’s best films and one that’s my favorite of them all.
That is Memento, the Guy Pierce, Carrie-Anne Moss feature about a man with short-term memory loss, trying to understand a murder in a story told in fragmented, out-of-order sequences so we never know more than he does. He unravels who he is and what’s going on through his vast constellation of tattoo reminders, trying to understand who he can trust and who’s playing him. Which may include himself.
Memento is Nolan’s second-ever feature film back in 2000, before that, just the seldom-seen Following. I said that Memento is my favorite Nolan movie, but in truth, it’s one of my favorite ever. I’ve seen it at least 15 times, and you still notice new things throughout. Come to think of it, it’s been a while, and I might go back to it again now that it’s Odyssey time.
Nolan has famously never directed a “rotten” rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes, and Memento is no exception with dual 94% scores from critics and audiences, tied for his highest ever with The Dark Knight. And as we debate the prospects of The Odyssey, it’s important to note that Nolan has only directed one film that made less than $500 million at the box office since 2005 (that would be Tenet, his “worst” received).
Right now, Memento is the only Christopher Nolan movie you can watch on Netflix. His Batman movies are obviously on the WB-owned HBO Max. Interstellar and The Prestige are on Hulu. I’m having difficulty finding Dunkirk, Tenet, Interstellar, Inception and Oppenheimer streaming anywhere for free right now. I know many used to be on Peacock, but that licensing deal appears to have expired. All are rentable on places like Amazon or Apple TV, however.
But yes, with Netflix at least you get the 26-year-old Memento, which has held up remarkably well and is absolutely worth a watch or three if you have not seen it, and got into the Nolan game late. Not to brag, but because of it, he’s been one of my favorite directors since I was in junior high.
The Odyssey is likely to hit digital VOD around 45 days or so after it airs, and it will likely end up on Peacock at some point. Though obviously Nolan and his love of IMAX wants you to see it there first. I’d get tickets now, if I were you.
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Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
