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Today, Christopher Nolan is one of the most influential directors in the business, with whom actors, big and small, are keen to work. Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and other seasoned A-list actors are among the stellar cast of his 2023 acclaimed biopicOppenheimer. Known for much more than his blockbusterThe Dark Knighttrilogy, the 53-year-old British-American filmmaker has been lauded for sci-fi masterpieces likeInceptionas well as thrillers such asMemento. The latter gave him the international recognition he was aspiring for.
Released in 2000,Mementois a neo-noir mystery psychological thriller starring Guy Pearce as a man suffering from anterograde amnesia. Even though it was acclaimed by critics, Nolan accepted that he was not always shattering box office records. He recently recalled trying to market the film in the early aughts but“nobody wanted”it and this setback put him in an“appalling position”, causing him to reconsider and recalibrate his approach.
Also, Brad Pitt chose not to pursue the lead role of Leonard Shelby, but the film nevertheless stands out as a remarkable piece of storytelling.
Also read:Robert Downey Jr. Says Reading Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ Script Felt Like “Doing sudoku while drowning”
Christopher Nolan Recalls How ‘Nobody Wanted’ HisMemento
When it comes to answering the question of which ofChristopher Nolan’s films is the best,Memento—the independent production with a substantial budget—remains anyone’s choice. As it happens, it remains a distinctive selling point to this day.Working from a short story by his brother Jonathan Nolan, theOppenheimerdirector perfected his nonlinear filmmaking withMemento, the acclaimed neo-noir thriller. It is a marvelous magic trick that draws you in with every viewing.
Even though Nolan seems to be over the attention, he was excited to be back at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. His breakthrough work was recognized at the festival withMemento(2000), which starred Guy Pearce. But it was not every time that he would have broken box office records.
Nolan recalled that during his early attempts to market the film (perVariety):
“Nobody wanted the film. It was an appalling position to be.”
His $40.1 million film did not take off in North America until it was screened at Sundance. Nolan stated, realizing that popularity does not ensure positive reviews and attendance from critics and viewers.
“If you get your film [to Sundance], you will get an audience. They won’t always see eye to eye with you.”
A chance to feature in Nolan’s breakthrough filmMementowas also extended to superstar Brad Pitt, but the latter declined to play Leonard Shelby. Though the actor was initially intrigued by the script, he ultimately turned down the project.
Also read:“I don’t think he’s a big comic book dork”: Christopher Nolan Vetoed Against Zack Snyder’s Wild Man of Steel Plans That Killed the DCEU
What Made Brad Pitt Turn Down Christopher Nolan’sMemento?
A copy of the script made its way toBrad Pittwhile Christopher Nolan was working on his 2000 thriller flickMemento, and the former appeared to enjoy what he was reading. Nevertheless, the filmmaker has never seemed to be bothered by theFight Clubstar’s decision not to pursue the lead role of Leonard Shelby.
At the 2014 Slamdance Festival, Nolan stated (viaYahoo! Movies):
“He met with me about it when he did not have any reason to know who I was or anything about it.”
Also read:“We’re casting a bunch of unknowns”: Christopher Nolan Told the Weirdest Thing to Stranger Things Actor for Oppenheimer Despite Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Matt Damon
Noting that although Pitt was pleased with the script, Guy Pearce, a lesser-known Australian actor, demonstrated more interest and “got the ball rolling”.The brilliant screenplay by Nolan was the real asset of the film. When paired with Pearce’s stirring performance, this combination was sufficient to garner the film’s two Academy Award nominations.
Memento’snonlinear structure and themes of memory, perception, grief, and self-deception won praise from critics. It was a commercial success, earning over $40 million over its $9 million budget, in addition to becoming a cult favorite. Numerous honors were bestowed upon it, such as the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award from the Sundance Film Festival.
StreamMementoon Peacock Premium.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3309
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
