Memento

Throughout the entire film, Memento is made to be confusing. The fact that the past is shown later in the film, results in the audience never knowing the reasons behind an action made by characters. As the movie progresses you begin to piece together the events. However, just when you think you finally understand exactly what has happened, the ending shows you a different theory, or possibility. The ending brings to mind the question about whether or not Leonard truely has a condition where he can not create new memories. At the very last scene the character Teddy, "reveals the truth". He explains that Leonard has already killed his wifes assaulter. If this is the truth, then perhaps Leonard is just a killer on the loose. There are many scenes in the film that prove both sides of the story. But I think the film slightly edged onto one side.

Some of the hints that suggest perhaps he doesnt have the "illness" and is indeed a sociopath, are his constant small memories. For example, he seems to always find the pictures in his pockets. How is someone that has no new memories; able to remember to check his pockets. There is also that final scene, where he writes down Teddy's license plate, which ultimately leads to Teddy's death. It is safe to assume Leonard planned on discovering that the license plate belongs to a "John G." If he had another another reason to kill Teddy, then he should have at that moment. But instead he set up a mystery for himself.

However, there are scenes that suggest otherwise. Many times the film showed what Leonard was thinking. Often times he would think "out loud". The first thing he did many times, was question his location, and what was happening. If his memory was fine, and it was a mental issue, he would not need to question his location. Also when he was at Dodd's appartment, he knew very well that Dodd was armed, and could potentially kill him. If this was a mental issue, he would not convince himself that he was actually in his own house, to the point where he went and took a shower. Also Leonard claims he remembers everything before the incident. Why didnt he remember his wife was diabetic? This could imply that perhaps Teddy's story is atually false.

As to why Leonard did not kill Teddy at the spot, or why he wrote down the license plate number if Teddy was innocent, is an important question which could determine the truth. However, Leonard did want to kill Teddy at the spot. He went up to him and pointed the gun right at him, before Teddy convinced him not too. After he decided not too, he realized that Teddy was infact a "John G." and decided to investigate it further by writing down his license plate. I do not neccessarily think that Leonard knew it would lead to Teddy's killing. But I think a huge part of the movie, was that although Leonard followed his notes without question, the notes could be as flawed as memory. Leonard would virtually follow his notes without question. Perhaps his original intention was to get more details on Teddy. But because of his lack of memory, when he saw his notes, he actually thought they were hard evidence. Right before he kills Teddy, he was convinced that he pieced the mystery together. Finally when he wrote down "He is the one, kill him", he did not question it. He did not know the reason, or who Teddy was, but he obeyed his note either way. He put more trust into his notes, then himself.

I think there was also one final evidence of Teddy's story being false. The beggining of the film, showed Leonard taking a picture of Teddy's death. If he previously killed his wifes assaulter, it is safe to assume he would take a picture. Obviously through out the whole film, he did not have another picture to remind himself. Now although he could have disposed of a picture, I think it is very unlikely that he made a tatoo dissapear. He tatooed all of Teddy's details onto himself. If he ever hunted down another "John G." then he would have tatooed details of the other "john G." just as he did with Teddy. Obviously, that was not the case, as he clearly only had one license plate tatooed onto himself. I think this is the most important evidence, that Teddy was infact the first "John G." that he killed. (Ignoring potential targets, that he was tricked into killing by Teddy.)

The final question as to why Leonard remembered to check his pockets for pictures. I believe this is one of the questions that isnt really supposed to be asked. There wouldnt be much of a movie, if he was not able to remember absolutely anything.