Memento

At first I thought the reverse chronology was a clever stylistic flex,Nolan showing off. Then i realised If the film were told chronologically, the audience would figure out these manipulations way before Leonard does, and you'd spend the whole movie watching a helpless guy get played and SCREAM at the screen every three minutes. The structure isn't a gimmick. It's the only ethical contract Nolan can make with the viewer. he puts us exactly as in the dark as Leonard is. We don't know what just happened for the same reason Leonard doesn't