'Vertigo' versus 'Memento': Page 4

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121:
Vertigo 55:25 vs.
Memento 32:58

Is this truly a message for me? he shouts.


Scottie’s yelling over distance and the noise of traffic, while Leonard is angry and upset. Bonus: both shots occuring from behind the man's left jacket shoulder.

122:
Vertigo 55:35 vs.
Memento 33:02

Worrying about someone – or not.


The woman in both movies is temporarily appearing taller than the man with whom she's speaking.

123:
Vertigo 55:44 vs.
Memento 33:13

There’s nothing for you to concern yourself over, the woman says. (Spoiler: it’s really not that simple.)


124:
Vertigo 55:53 vs.
Memento 33:17

One person was pulled into this against their will, by the actions of the other.


125:
Vertigo 55:55 vs.
Memento 33:18

Out of the goodness of your heart, that’s why.


126:
Vertigo 55:58 vs.
Memento 33:25

I’m telling you, that’s exactly what it was.


127:
Vertigo 56:01 vs.
Memento 33:26

Take my word on it; yes.


128:
Vertigo 56:04 vs.
Memento 33:32

This whole thing is going to have consequences for you/me.


It’s interesting to me how many times the blonde gets the line in both movies but the meaning is reversed or the subject of the line is mirrored.

129:
Vertigo 56:07 vs.
Memento 33:34

Breathless when I speak about love/death – but I didn’t actually do anything wrong!


The conversational rhythm here is pretty wonderful: it’s been rapid fire up until this point, and the gasp of the character involved makes the exchange pause however briefly for the punch of emotion.

130:
Vertigo 56:15 vs.
Memento 33:45

You helped me out, and I’m grateful.


131:
Vertigo 56:21 vs.
Memento 33:49

The disposition of the message that was sent to me.


Scottie opens the door to get Madeleine’s letter, and Leonard lets Natalie know that you can’t tear a polaroid – you have to burn it to destroy it properly.

132:
Vertigo 56:31 vs.
Memento 33:53

There has to be something you can trust, even when you don’t know anything else, the woman says.


133:
Vertigo 56:45 vs.
Memento 34:00

You can question, but the blonde is sure about it.


134:
Vertigo 57:11 vs.
Memento 34:31

She’s going/gone.


135:
Vertigo 57:13 vs.
Memento 34:33

Oh, just something trivial.


136:
Vertigo 57:22 vs.
Memento 34:43

The brunet performs an action with a jacket.


Scottie tucks Madeleine’s letter into his jacket pocket, and Natalie helps Leonard take his jacket off.

137:
Vertigo 57:27 vs.
Memento 34:53

I (didn’t) think that you’re this type, the woman says.


Love that we get both these shots over the man's right shoulder.

138:
Vertigo 57:33 vs.
Memento 35:24

Wandering separately – or together.


In Vertigo, Madeleine and Scottie are beginning to truly align mentally (although an argument could be made that Madeleine/Judy’s faking it in order to seduce him to her and Gavin’s purpose) and Leonard stands still while Natalie strips off his shirt… and permits her hands to wander his skin.

139:
Vertigo 57:36 vs.
Memento 35:47

Only one is a wanderer, says the woman. (And sometimes they don’t come back.)


140:
Vertigo 57:41 vs.
Memento 35:57

Thinking, in disagreement with the woman’s opinion.


141:
Vertigo 57:44 vs.
Memento 36:16

We should fix that, the woman says.


142:
Vertigo 57:55 vs.
Memento 36:21

Apparently a good long drive equals (presumably) sex.


In a more certain form: there is a physical intimacy that is mildly scandalous. Audiences of the time would understand that Madeleine is a married woman alone in a car with a man she barely knows. We see Natalie and Leonard in the intimate location of her bed: not usually a place one shares with a stranger.

143:
Vertigo 58:31 vs.
Memento 36:23

How old (is my grief)?


144:
Vertigo 58:39 vs.
Memento 36:30

The woman hasn’t been/isn’t here.


145:
Vertigo 58:45 vs.
Memento 36:46

People die and yet this life continues.


146:
Vertigo 58:58 vs.
Memento 37:02

This horrible knowing of death.


147:
Vertigo 59:08 vs.
Memento 37:13

I know I (can’t) have her back.


I love the visual puns, but this is also a specific moment. Scottie is touching Madeleine in an intimate and proprietary fashion that audiences would have understood at the time – and it’s striking enough to be noticed.

148:
Vertigo 59:15 vs.
Memento 37:17

Something dead is still here.


149:
Vertigo 59:46 vs.
Memento 37:33

I (don’t) know how long it’s been.


150:
Vertigo 59:53 vs.
Memento 37:40

You couldn’t feel the time.


151:
Vertigo 1:00:05 vs.
Memento 37:53

The blonde leaves their conversational partner momentarily.


152:
Vertigo 1:00:08 vs.
Memento 38:43

The woman’s name as we look at her, turned away.


Scottie then pursues her, and Leonard returns to the bed and Natalie cuddles up to him again.

153:
Vertigo 1:00:56 vs.
Memento 39:27

Testing someone who won’t remember.


In Vertigo it’s Scottie’s rapid fire questioning of Madeleine. In Memento it’s Leonard mentioning Sammy’s continued testing.

154:
Vertigo 1:01:04 vs.
Memento 39:41

But they’re giving the wrong answers this time.


Now Madeleine is saying that she’s been to the redwood forest before – and Sammy’s still picking up the electrified shapes.

155:
Vertigo 1:01:06 vs.
Memento 39:46

They didn’t respond at all.


Madeleine only shakes her head when asked when she had been to the forest before.

156:
Vertigo 1:01:21 vs.
Memento 39:52

The blonde turns someone down on something important.


157:
Vertigo 1:01:34 vs.
Memento 40:01

They're helpless.


158:
Vertigo 1:02:45 vs.
Memento 40:17

Walking down the corridor.


159:
Vertigo 1:02:51 vs.
Memento 40:21

Fragments of that mirror still hang there.


160:
Vertigo 1:02:59 vs.
Memento 40:22

Darkness versus light.


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