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'
A violent blast destroys the U.S. government's top secret Groundstar Research Complex, and six high ranking scientists are incinerated. The saboteur,... Read more
A time-hopping, psychological thriller with Ryan Phillippe as Simon, who wakes up in hospital with no memory of the previous two years. When he discov... Read more
A relentlessly stylish whodunit with Adrien Brody as delusional Gulf War vet, Jack Stark, who winds up in a mental hospital run by the brutal Dr Becke... Read more
Eight years after she was found suffering from amnesia, mild-mannered teacher and suburban mum Geena Davis discovers she has a few hidden talents that... Read more
As the Shepherds run their bar on Crete, Ann suddenly succumbs to amnesia. So begins intrigue, with a local policeman warning the couple that things... Read more
Trevor (Christian Bale) hasn't slept in a year. The shocking deterioration of his physical and mental health makes every waking moment an unrelenting... Read more
The second part of Aki Kaurismaki's "Finland" trilogy (coming after "Drifting Clouds"), the film follows a man who arrives in Helsinki and gets beaten... Read more
This dazzling update of the classic 1962 political thriller stars Denzel Washington as a former army major plagued by shadowy dreams of his service du... Read more
One of the finest political thrillers ever made. John Frankenheimer's blend of Cold War paranoia and sly satire stars Laurence Harvey as a former Kore... Read more
This dazzling update of the classic 1962 political thriller stars Denzel Washington as a former army major plagued by shadowy dreams of his service du... Read more