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'
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
8/10
Director: Paul Greengrass
Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Joan Allen, Scott Glenn, Albert Finn...
Another relentlessly energetic and intriguing entry in the Bourne pantheon, this time from director Paul Greengrass who maintains a suspenseful immedi... 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
Speed Dating (2006)
4.9/10
Director: Tony Herbert
Starring: Hugh O'Conor, Flora Montgomery, Don Wycherley
Tony Herbert's comedic thriller concerns a man who has inherited millions and decides to end his lonesomeness through speed dating, a process whereby... Read more
Unknown (2006)
6.5/10
Director: Simon Brand
Starring: Jim Caviezel, Greg Kinnear, Bridget Moynahan, Joe Pantoliano, Barry Pepper, Jere...
In an abandoned warehouse five men wake up with absolutely no memory of how they got there. Two of them are bound, the others have various injuries a... Read more
The Bothersome Man (2006)
7.4/10
Director: Jens Lien
Starring: Trond Fausa Aurvaag, Petronella Barker, Per Schaaning, Birgitte Larsen, Johannes...
40-year-old Andreas has arrived in a strange city with absolutely no idea how he got there. He has a job, a flat, a beautiful girlfriend, but somehow,... Read more
Beautiful Dreamer (2006)
6.4/10
Director: Terri Farley-Teruel
Starring: Colin Egglefield, Brooke Langton
Beautifully photographed and designed, this romantic war drama focuses on the after effects of World War II. Colin Egglesfield plays Joe, a bomber pil... Read more
Unknown White Male (2005)
6.6/10
Director: Rupert Murray
Starring: Doug Bruce
In July 2003, ex-pat Brit Douglas Bruce, woke up on a subway train in New York headed for Coney Island. He had no idea who he was, how he got there o... Read more
Memories of Tomorrow (2005)
5.8/10
Director: Amit Tripuraneni
Starring: Richard Thompson, Rachel Gilchrist, Ray Trickitt
The slick look of this debut outing from film student Amit Tripuraneni belies its wing and a prayer NZ$15,000 budget. Cast and crew donated their tim... Read more
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
The Manchurian Candidate ( Blu-ray ) (2004)
6.6/10
Director: Jonathan Demme
Starring: Bruno Ganz, Denzel Washington, Jon Voight, Meryl Streep, Ted Levine, Jeffrey Wri...
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