following

Memento
$14.94
We have been sent a DVD that is for Region 1.... therefore we cannot play it in Australia. Amazon should be aware of this and make sure that the correct DVDs are sent to the relevant regions.

The Machinist
$14.98
This is a story of a man whose life is deteriorating. Even his body is showing the effects of deterioration. Christian Bale lost a lot of weight for this role and the director took good advantage of this, using lighting to highlight every bone in his ribcage. Nicely done, although probably not good for Bale's health!

The color scheme in this movie lends a hand in illustrating how bleak this man's world has become. All the scenery around him is in bland gray tones. The only things in vivid color are the things he needs to pay attention to -- like the red car that keeps popping up out of nowhere, the red route 66 sign, the blue car that hits him.
But instead of paying attention to these signs, he instead chooses to see them as a threat...becoming paranoid with each encounter, thus driving away the people who care for him and driving himself crazy in the process.

The lighting in this movie also lent a hand in illustrating mood. I perceived the lighting to be too harsh -- especially at the machinery and at the airport -- and likened this to the sensation of being asleep and suddenly having the lights turned on. The blinding light shocks you awake...just like every time he tries to sleep, something keeps him staying awake.
And for good reason.

This is a strange movie that I don't see appealing to a wide audience. I know there were some parts that still confuse me, but overall, I still liked it. I enjoyed Christian Bale's performance as well as the overall mood of the film. There's a good lesson in here that shows what happens when you take the wrong path...and what happens when you stay there.

Memento / Following
$23.95
MEMENTO is one of my favorite films. Seeing Chris Nolan's earlier and equally intricate storyline in FOLLOWING is highly enjoyable. That film is definitely worth seeing on its own merits.

Insomnia (Widescreen Edition)
$14.96
I hadn't seen this movie before I bought it, but being a big fan of Christopher Nolan, I was excited to see it. It definitely lived up to my expectations and if you like Nolan, I definitely recommend buying it.