Movie Review: Memory

It is important for any moviegoer going into the new movie “Memory” to know that this is a film with no real screenplay, connected scenes, signs of acting, or any real story. Memory is just a series of disconnected vignettes about a woman Sylvia, played by Jessica Chastain, who is a recovering alcoholic, and a man Saul played by Peter Sarsgaard who is suffering from early onstage dementia. Saul and Sylvia are not married, they are acquaintances, who meet in one of the strangest scenes I have ever seen where Saul follows Sylvia around the city of New York and winds up on her doorstep the next morning. Over time, they become involved and as things progress, the extent of Saul’s dementia becomes more pronounced.

There are numerous side stories, including Sylvia’s memories of a bad childhood, where she was sexually abused by her father and her mother refuses to believe any of her stories. Sylvia has a daughter from a previous relationship and her purpose seems to make this movie have a runtime closer to 2 hours. Saul has a controlling brother who tries to prevent him from trying to live a normal life, due to this dementia. This entire movie seems more like a documentary that follows the lives of about 7 different people – to their houses, picnics, dinner at restaurants, arguments, and several nude scenes where in one instance, Saul is found lying nude and unconscious on the bathroom floor and is discovered by Sylvia.

There is no story resolution here, no message, and in the end, a very abrupt ending with Sylvia vacuuming the floor and then hugging Saul. What is the point of all this? To once again be different just for the sake of being different? I am more than tired of movies like this, that cut corners in an attempt to try and discover a new type of movie, that is not a movie at all. Then add the high number of minutes where this entire film is extremely slow and boring.

The Rotten Tomatoes ratings for this movie is a high 86% but with a low 71% fan rating on IMDB. My rating is 60% and a solid pass on this one, hoping that movies like this one are all a passing fad.