Actor Guy Pearce recently shared his surprising self-critique after rewatching Christopher Nolan's psychological thriller "Memento" (2000), where he played the lead role of a man with short-term memory loss investigating his wife's murder.
"I watched Memento the other day and I'm still depressed. I'm s--- in that movie," Pearce told The Times in a candid interview. The actor's harsh self-assessment came after he participated in a Q&A session about the film, which prompted him to revisit his performance.
Pearce specifically pointed to his acting choices, stating, "I was trying to do a flippant attitude, but it was all wrong." He even went as far as rating his performance, comparing it to his work on the Australian soap opera "Neighbours": "If I reckon my performance in Neighbours is two out of ten, Memento is a five."
The actor, known for roles in "L.A. Confidential" and "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," addressed his lack of subsequent collaborations with Nolan. While he had previously attributed this to an unimpressed Warner Bros. executive, Pearce now offers a different explanation: "I know why I didn't work with Chris again — it's because I'm no good in Memento."
Despite Pearce's self-criticism, "Memento" received two Academy Award nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. The actor hasn't discussed his recent assessment with Nolan, suggesting, "No, because I reckon he'd agree with me."
Pearce, who received his first Oscar nomination this year for "The Brutalist," maintains pride in some of his earlier work, particularly "L.A. Confidential," but describes watching his performance in "Memento" as "Nails on a chalkboard!"