'Vertigo' versus 'Memento': Page 5

DISCLAIMER: All images and screen captures in this work remain copyright of their respective owners and are under fair use here as part of criticism, comment, scholarship, and research. All commentary, diagrams, and visualizations remain copyright © Paidi tis Vrontis and Thunderchild Insights. DO NOT REPOST in full or in part anywhere.

I do not consent for any portion of my articles to be used in any for-pay work of any kind or in any type of academic publication without prior written authorization (click here to read why). Contact me via any of my contact links to discuss.

161:

Vertigo 1:03:24 vs.

Memento 40:37

You didn’t know where you were.

Do you love the matching angles on the blonds, as well as the light sources? Look at those deep open collars.

162:

Vertigo 1:05:14 vs.

Memento 40:48

Love in one film occasionally equals death in the other.

(Although… frankly? I’ll admit it could also be this moment, because of the blood on his lips.)

163:

Vertigo 1:05:44 vs.

Memento 41:10

There’s a sudden arrival, and the person in the room hurries to conceal/reveal the source of their information.

Midge is hiding the program from the art gallery that has the portrait of Carlotta in it, and Leonard is consulting his polaroids to remind himself who Teddy is. I love the duplicated blocking with the opposing colors.

164:

Vertigo 1:06:25 vs.

Memento 41:46

The seated brunet feels a need to comment on someone else’s desperate desires and urges…

165:

Vertigo 1:06:28 vs.

Memento 41:47

But the blonde’s got a location-based question you still haven’t answered yet.

166:

Vertigo 1:06:32 vs.

Memento 41:50

Yeah, you wanted me to come over – I could tell.

167:

Vertigo 1:06:37 vs.

Memento 41:52

I’m doing a lot in this friendship, and maybe not getting as much in return... except maybe some entertainment.

168:

Vertigo 1:06:43 vs.

Memento 42:07

Now the brunet has questions of his own, and the blonde’s answers are flippant.

Open/unbuttoned collars on both Midge and Leonard.

169:

Vertigo 1:07:02 vs.

Memento 42:27

After a little bit of conversational beating around the bush, the blonde finally gets straight to the point with their questioning.

170:

Vertigo 1:07:05 vs.

Memento 42:31

A one word answer about a meandering, unsteady path, from a deceiver.

The name Dodd according to Wikipedia can mean “deceiver, or rascal” – and with his one word reply, Scottie isn’t entirely telling the truth. However, it’s also the root word for “doddering”: moving in a feeble or unsteady way, especially because of old age.

171:

Vertigo 1:07:09 vs.

Memento 42:33

Now, what’s the blonde been up to? (Spoiler: something they shouldn’t have been.)

172:

Vertigo 1:07:14 vs.

Memento 42:42

Again, love in Vertigo equals death in Memento.

173:

Vertigo 1:07:26 vs.

Memento 42:49

Who’s that picture of? Maybe I know her.

174:

Vertigo 1:07:34 vs.

Memento 43:30

The blonde’s got a plan… and it’s kinda awful.

Loving the tension between the two in scene and the painting in the background in both shots.

175:

Vertigo 1:07:40 vs.

Memento 43:34

The wordless yet deadly surprise.

Both the brunet actors in scene are looking toward a painting to see the distressing thing the blonde is showing them -- and no one speaks during this beat in either scene.

176:

Vertigo 1:07:48 vs.

Memento 43:35

Someone like me.

177:

Vertigo 1:07:51 vs.

Memento 43:40

That really isn't funny.

178:

Vertigo 1:07:57 vs.

Memento 43:54

Another brilliant idea as we’re leaving in something of a hurry.

179:

Vertigo 1:08:00 vs.

Memento 43:56

But we shoot that one down immediately.

180:

Vertigo 1:08:03 vs.

Memento 44:04

I’m not giving you what you think I owe you right now.

Midge wanted a movie date – and Teddy’s forever been coveting “Leonard’s” Jag (or maybe just the cash in the trunk).

181:

Vertigo 1:08:13 vs.

Memento 44:34

You’re being a clown.

Midge calls herself a fool, and Leonard makes a joke about Teddy’s mustache. Bonus: both rush off to the left of the screen as these lines are said.

182:

Vertigo 1:08:22 vs.

Memento 44:38

You’re an idiot for what you did/didn’t do.

183:

Vertigo 1:08:26 vs.

Memento 44:45

Referring back to the picture.

184:

Vertigo 1:09:13 vs.

Memento 44:59

The blonde shows up on the brunet’s doorstep, kicking off a number of questions -- but starts by speaking the woman's name.

Love that they’re both wearing gray jackets.

185:

Vertigo 1:09:21 vs.

Memento 45:15

The person with memory issues is/isn’t faking.

186:

Vertigo 1:09:27 vs.

Memento 45:21

Here, I’ll give you something that’ll fix this.

187:

Vertigo 1:09:36 vs.

Memento 45:25

But the other person definitely doesn’t understand the situation.

188:

Vertigo 1:10:18 vs.

Memento 45:54

Now the blonde’s planted an idea in someone else’s head…

189:

Vertigo 1:10:21 vs.

Memento 46:05

And a source of alcohol, even if no one’s drinking it.

Keep an eye on that bottle -- we'll come back to it shortly!

190:

Vertigo 1:10:28 vs.

Memento 46:07

This is not an altered state.

191:

Vertigo 1:10:34 vs.

Memento 46:25

You've seen it.

Leonard spots the scratch on his cheek finally.

Truth be told, I’m not sure where the shower and the naked brawl in Memento from 46:25 to 47:22 come from (other than the gods love us and want us to enjoy the slippery sinewy body of peak Guy Pearce). I have a hunch about its worth to the story structure itself separate from the plotmapping with Vertigo, but I won't have time to prove it for now. Maybe some future article!

192:

Vertigo 1:10:43 vs.

Memento 48:36

Here’s the location.

Bonus: look at those lamps, and the collar of Madeleine’s open jacket versus Leonard’s unbuttoned shirt.

193:

Vertigo 1:10:48 vs.

Memento 48:59

You can’t bully someone into remembering – but they’re still going to try.

194:

Vertigo 1:10:53 vs.

Memento 49:02

When you put someone under that much pressure, they choke.

195:

Vertigo 1:11:42 vs.

Memento 49:07

Come back/call back.

196:

Vertigo 1:11:50 vs.

Memento 49:26

Fleeing down the thoroughfare.

I also don’t have quite the musical background that I’d want to, but it seems to me that the soundtrack of Vertigo and the howl of the siren in Memento are very similar tones.