Guy Pearce says he recently rewatched Memento, and concluded that he was “s—t” in the Christopher Nolan-directed 2000 psychological thriller. Oppenheimer Oscar-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, helping Nolan’s Memento to a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Perhaps the only person in the world who thinks Pearce was bad in Memento is 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 (via The Times). Pearce even claims that his s—t acting in the film is the reason he’s never worked with Nolan again:

“I watched Memento the 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 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.”

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 atтιтude 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 watched Memento and realized I’m bad in a good movie. F–k!”

Asked if he’s ever talked with Nolan himself about his Memento performance, 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 for Memento. Now I understand why I wasn’t. Look, I’m pleased with LA Confidential, but I look at this and go, ‘Oof! Nails on a chalkboard!’ If I reckon my performance in Neighbours is two out of ten, Memento is 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 out via 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.

But Memento is 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 in The 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 ᴀssessment that he contributed positively to Memento’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.

Whether Nolan would actually agree with Pearce’s negative reaction to his Memento performance 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 of The Odyssey, remains ongoing, and perhaps Pearce’s Memento comments will get back to Nolan, and prompt him to end their estrangement with a role in his Oppenheimer follow-up.

Source: The Times