Guy Pearce gives one of the best performances of his career as Mementos vengeful tattooed amnesiac protagonist Leonard. However, he wasnt the first name linked to the film. Before he took the role, Christopher Nolan and co. had wanted Brad Pitt to lead the movie. A scheduling conflict possibly with Fight Club, considering that the films came out in consecutive years ruled Pitt out, but he had apparently been very interested in the script despite Nolans slightly-empty-at-that-stage CV. "Truthfully he did read the script," Nolan later said at the Slamdance Festival, before mentioning that Pitt had liked it but nothing came of it. Pitts interest, though, did have a benefit. Just by displaying an interest in the script, Nolan thinks that Pitt helped get Memento made. The talent agencies community sort of perked up a bit of interest in what was a very obscure project, otherwise, thanks to Pitts interest, Nolan claims. And I think really thats how it came to Guy Pearces attention, and you know, he sort of got the ball rolling. So, in a weird way, we have to thank Brad Pitt for helping get Memento off the ground. Cheers, man!
