Who am I? Movie Amnesia
The incidence of amnesia amongst movie characters is far greater than that of the 'real-life' population, but then that goes for murders and crazy scrapes too. If movies are about telling stories - and let’s hope they are - then getting amnesia is a pretty darn good story.
Film Amnesia represents a loss of self; complete collapse of the ego. The character is a naive and vulnerable newborn, learning right from wrong all over again, either for comic ('Finding Nemo') or tragic ('Memento') effect. Consequently some of cinema's most interesting, funny, intriguing, exciting and enchanting stories have started with the proverbial bump on the head. 'Memento', 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', 'A Very Long Engagement' and the brutal, 'The Machinist' spring to recent mind; but what about, 'Paris, Texas', 'Angel Heart', Hitchcock's 'Spellbound', 'The English Patient', 'Robocop' even the 1987 Kurt and Goldie comedy classic, 'Overboard'.
Scroll down and check out some of these unforgettable titles…
Pictured: Ronald Colman tries hard to remember Greer Garson in 'Random Harvest'
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
8.3/10
Director: Michel Gondry
Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinso...
Brilliantly realized tale from writer Charlie Kaufman ("Adaptation") and director Michel Gondry ("Human Nature") for anyone who's been in love and wan... Read more
Facing Windows (2003)
7.4/10
Director: Ferzan Ozpetek
Starring: Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Raoul Bova, Massimo Girotti, Filippo Nigro
A young working-class wife and mother, Giovanna, has no time for the senile elderly man her husband has rescued from the streets. But as she uncovers... Read more
Fear (2007)
1.6/10
Director: Vikram Bhatt
A supernatural horror/thriller that begins with a young girl being rescued from drowning. Dev, her saviour, takes her to hospital, and as she cannot... Read more
Fight Club (1999)
8.8/10
Director: David Fincher
Starring: Meat Loaf, Tom Waits, Jared Leto, Helena Bonham Carter, Edward Norton, Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt and Edward Norton deliver grand performances in this stunningly original, darkly comic film from the director of 'Seven'. A chance encounter... Read more
Fight Club ( Blu-ray ) (1999)
8.8/10
Director: David Fincher
Starring: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, Jared Leto, Tom Waits, Meat Loaf
Brad Pitt and Edward Norton deliver grand performances in this stunningly original, darkly comic film from the director of 'Seven'. A chance encounter... Read more
Finding Nemo (2003)
8.1/10
Director: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich
Starring: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Willem Dafoe, Alexander Gould
From the Academy Award-winning creators of 'Toy Story' and 'Monsters, Inc.', it's time to dive into 'Finding Nemo' - an hilarious adventure that takes... Read more
Finding Nemo ( Blu-ray ) (2003)
8.1/10
Director: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich
Starring: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Willem Dafoe, Alexander Gould
From the Academy Award-winning creators of 'Toy Story' and 'Monsters, Inc.', it's time to dive into 'Finding Nemo' - an hilarious adventure that takes... Read more
Identity (2003)
7.3/10
Director: James Mangold
Starring: John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes, Alfred Molina, Clea DuVall, J...
What if every choice we ever make was already made for us? What if there really were no coincidences in life and our destinies were already predetermi... Read more
Jacob's Ladder (1990)
7.5/10
Director: Adrian Lyne
Starring: Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Pena, Danny Aiello
An original, highly psychological thriller that explores the thin line between reality and illusion. Jacob is a Vietnam veteran who becomes haunted by... Read more
Jericho (2000)
6.3/10
Director: Merlin Miller
Starring: Mark Valley, Leon Coffee, R Lee Ermey, Lisa Stewart, Mark Collie, Morgana Shaw,...
Jericho (Mark Valley) is a man haunted by a past he can't remember. Conked on the head with a shotgun eight years earlier, he's been on the run ever... Read more