Movies About Memory

From Christopher Nolan, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Ken Watanabe
Rated PG-13

Inception is a science-fiction action-adventure film directed by Christopher Nolan, who also wrote the screenplay. The film follows the life of Dom Cobb, a thief who specializes in stealing secrets from people's dreams. He is hired by a Japanese businessman, Saito, to plant an idea in the mind of Robert Fischer Jr., heir to a corporate empire. Along with a team of experts, Cobb attempts to pull off the job of "inception", planting an idea deep in the subconscious of Fischer. The team must navigate the complex layers of the dream world and battle their own personal demons in order to succeed. The film explores the power of the mind and its capacity for creativity, as well as the moral implications of interfering with another person's thoughts.

From Christopher Nolan, starring Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior
Rated R

Memento is a neo-noir psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan. The film follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a former insurance fraud investigator who suffers from anterograde amnesia due to a traumatic head injury. Unable to form new memories, Leonard is stuck in a continuous loop of searching for the man who killed his wife, a search that leads him to a complex web of lies and deceit. With the help of a series of written notes and Polaroid photos, Leonard pieces together clues in order to catch the killer and avenge his wife's death.

From Michel Gondry, starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Gerry Robert Byrne
Rated R

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 romantic science fiction dramedy directed by Michel Gondry. It follows the story of Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) and Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) as they navigate through the complicated emotions of a break-up. After an intense argument, the two decide to have all memories of each other erased from their minds through a procedure offered by a start-up company called Lacuna Inc. As Joel undergoes the procedure, he begins to regret the decision and attempts to preserve the memories of their relationship. The film follows Joel on his journey through his fading memories and his attempt to keep Clementine in his mind as time runs out. As Joel and Clementine come to terms with their relationship, they realize that they may be better off together than apart.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley
Rated R

Shutter Island is a psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, who is sent to a psychiatric hospital on Shutter Island to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a patient. As Teddy investigates, he discovers a much darker conspiracy involving a government experiment, powerful forces determined to keep him from uncovering the truth, and a shocking revelation about his own identity. Ultimately, Teddy must unlock the secrets of Shutter Island before it consumes him completely.

From Ron Howard, starring Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer
Rated PG-13

A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 biographical drama film directed by Ron Howard and written by Akiva Goldsman. It is based on the true story of John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. The film stars Russell Crowe as Nash, along with Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, Adam Goldberg, Judd Hirsch, Josh Lucas, Anthony Rapp, and Christopher Plummer in supporting roles. The film follows the life of John Nash, a genius mathematician who experiences delusions and hallucinations due to paranoid schizophrenia. Despite his mental illness, Nash is able to continue his work in game theory and eventually earns the Nobel Prize in Economics. Along the way, he struggles to find stability in his personal life and is aided by his wife, Alicia, who stands by him despite his condition.

From Harold Ramis, starring Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky
Rated PG

Groundhog Day is a 1993 fantasy comedy starring Bill Murray and directed by Harold Ramis. The film follows the story of Phil Connors (Murray), a cynical TV weatherman who is sent to the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities. He soon finds himself in a time loop, repeating the same day over and over again. In order to break the loop, Phil must overcome his selfishness and embrace the people and environment around him. Along the way, he learns to become a better person and appreciate the small joys of life. By the end of the film, Phil escapes the loop, and finds himself in a much happier and more content life.

From Ingmar Bergman, starring Victor Sjöström, Bibi Andersson, Ingrid Thulin, Gunnar Björnstrand
Rated Not Rated

Wild Strawberries is a Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman. It tells the story of Isak Borg, an elderly professor on a road trip to receive an honorary degree. Along the way, he reflects on his past life, his relationships, and his mortality. Through a series of dream sequences, Isak is forced to confront the regrets of his life. Ultimately, he learns to accept his past, embrace the present, and look to the future with hope. The film is a powerful exploration of the human spirit, and its themes of nostalgia, regret, and mortality remain relevant today.

From Federico Fellini, starring Marcello Mastroianni, Anouk Aimée, Claudia Cardinale, Sandra Milo
Rated Not Rated

8½ is an Italian comedy-drama film directed by Federico Fellini.The film follows Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni), a famous Italian film director, as he attempts to make an ambitious science fiction film, but finds himself distracted by his personal and professional struggles. Guido is overwhelmed by his life, his profession, his relationships, and his health issues, and he is unable to create any meaningful art. As he retreats further and further into his own fantasy world, Guido's delusions and dreams grow more vivid and bizarre. 8½ is a surreal exploration of the creative process and the complex inner life of a brilliant artist, and it is considered one of the defining works of Italian neorealism.

From Andrei Tarkovsky, starring Margarita Terekhova, Filipp Yankovskiy, Ignat Daniltsev, Oleg Yankovskiy
Rated Not Rated

Mirror is a 1975 Russian drama film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. It follows a man, Alexander, as he reflects on his life and past experiences. The movie is told in a non-linear fashion, through a series of surreal, dream-like sequences which make up Alexei’s memories. Through a combination of startling visuals, poetic narration and sparse dialogue, Mirror explores themes such as mortality, nostalgia, and the power of memory. The film features the work of several well-known Russian actors and musicians, including Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy, Margarita Terekhova and composer Edward Artemiev. Mirror has been highly praised by critics, and is considered to be one of Tarkovsky's greatest works.

From Woody Allen, starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane
Rated PG

Annie Hall is a romantic comedy directed by Woody Allen in 1977. The film stars Allen, Diane Keaton, and Tony Roberts and follows the story of New York comedian Alvy Singer and his romance with the titular Annie Hall. As their relationship progresses, they struggle to make it work amidst the hustle and bustle of their busy lives. Alvy reflects on his past through a series of flashbacks and dreams that provide insight into his life and the issues he faces in his relationship. Eventually, the couple breaks up, and Alvy must learn to move on with his life. In the end, Alvy learns to accept the past and live in the present.

From Richard Kelly, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne
Rated R

Donnie Darko is a psychological thriller set in 1988 about a troubled teenager, Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal), who is visited by a mysterious figure in a giant rabbit costume, claiming to be from the future. He tells Donnie that the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds. Donnie is skeptical at first, but soon finds that the warnings are true. With help from his new girlfriend, Gretchen (Jena Malone), his philosophy teacher, Dr. Monnitoff (Noah Wyle), and his eccentric psychiatrist, Dr. Fisher (Katharine Ross), Donnie must confront forces from the future and the past in order to save the world. Along the way, he discovers the power of time travel and the intricate details of his own destiny.

From Yimou Zhang, starring Jet Li, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang
Rated PG-13

Hero is a martial arts epic film directed by Zhang Yimou. The story revolves around a nameless warrior (Jet Li) who is summoned to the Imperial Court by the King of Qin (Chen Daoming). The warrior must prove his worth by recounting how he managed to slay three of the King's deadliest enemies, Sky (Donnie Yen), Broken Sword (Tony Leung) and Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung). Through his recounting of the events, a series of flashbacks reveal the warrior's motivations, the intricate relationships between the enemies, and the King's own motivations for wanting the enemies dead. In the end, the King realizes that the warrior is actually attempting to take his own life in order to end the war between the states, and in doing so, unites them in peace.

From Doug Liman, starring Franka Potente, Matt Damon, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen
Rated PG-13

The Bourne Identity is a 2002 action-thriller directed by Doug Liman and starring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, an amnesiac man on the run from mysterious assassins. After being found in the Mediterranean Sea, Bourne discovers he has a variety of impressive combat and language skills, as well as an array of false identities and a bank account in Switzerland. He soon learns he was once an assassin and is being hunted by the people he used to work for. With help from a German woman, Marie, Bourne sets out to uncover the truth about his past and his connection to a covert government operation called Treadstone. Along the way, he outruns and outwits his pursuers and discovers that his identity is not what he thought it was.

From Robert Redford, starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton
Rated R

Ordinary People is a 1980 American drama film directed by Robert Redford. It follows the story of the Jarrett family, a suburban family in the Chicago area, dealing with the aftermath of the death of their older son, Buck, in a boating accident. The family consists of Conrad (Timothy Hutton), the younger son; his father, Calvin (Donald Sutherland); his mother, Beth (Mary Tyler Moore); and his aunt, Marian (Elizabeth McGovern). The film focuses on the family's struggle to cope with their loss and the subsequent psychological consequences. It explores how the parents attempt to protect Conrad, while also trying to nurture him and help him heal. The film depicts the family's gradual recovery, showing how they are able to rebuild their lives by supporting each other and learning to accept life's difficulties.

From Jim Jarmusch, starring Forest Whitaker, Henry Silva, John Tormey, Cliff Gorman
Rated R

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is a 1999 crime drama film directed by Jim Jarmusch. The film follows a modern-day African American assassin (Forest Whitaker) known as Ghost Dog, who lives by the code of the ancient Samurai warriors. After a powerful mobster (John Tormey) orders him to perform a hit, Ghost Dog must decide between his loyalty to the code of the Samurai and his loyalty to the people he works for. Through his journey, he meets a young girl (Camille Winbush), a French-speaking ice cream vendor (Isaach De Bankolé), and a local gangster (Tsuyoshi Ihara). The film ultimately reveals the power of loyalty, honor, and friendship in a world of violence and betrayal.

From Gaspar Noé, starring Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel, Albert Dupontel, Philippe Nahon
Rated Not Rated

From Michel Gondry, starring Gael García Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Miou-Miou, Alain Chabat
Rated R

From Steven Soderbergh, starring Terence Stamp, Peter Fonda, Lesley Ann Warren, Luis Guzmán
Rated R

From Rowan Joffe, starring Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Anne-Marie Duff
Rated R

From Harald Zwart, starring Liv Tyler, Matt Dillon, Mary Jo Smith, Michael Douglas
Rated R