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MEMENTO's Thematic Precursor
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The structural parallel is DOCTOR JEKYLL AND MISTER HYDE.
Leonard makes his sole moral choice at the end. After Leonard kills Jimmy Cliff, Teddy tells that Cliff was innocent because in fact, Leonard had already killed the rapist/ murder in a *previous* cycle. Leonard found a pattern out of random elements because he wanted to discharge his vengeance but had no memory of having done so. Thus he is condemned, a moral Sisyphus, to do it again and again. For a moment Leonard thinks about this. Then he throws Teddy's keys into the brush, steals Jimmy's car, and writes a clue to himself DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES that will put him on a chase culminating in the murder of Teddy (the movie we have just seen).
In other words, in his sole moment of lucidity and comprehension, Leonard rejects the idea of becoming placid. He chooses to relive his chase, knowing that it will culminate in him experiencing the joy of a vengeful killing. Hyde kills Jekyll, with malice aforethought.
Throughout the movie Leonard talks like Jekyll (including the black-and-white scenes with his unknown telephone interlocutor whom we learn eventually is Teddy) but *acts* like Hyde, with violence at every stage. In other words, he wakes up as Jekyll, morphs into Hyde, blacks out. (Think the sequences with Natalie.) Natalie's previous speech, that she can do anything she wants because Leonard cannot remember it, also applies to Leonard -- *he* can do anything he wants because each amnesia is a new absolution.
Just as Hyde triumphs over Jekyll, Leonard's desire for primal satisfaction triumphs over his hard-won knowledge.
I think that was all conscious by the director and writer. I hope it was.
5/13/01