Guy Pearce has never been one to shy away from self-criticism, and his latest comments about Memento prove just that. The actor, who played the lead role in Christopher Nolan’s 2000 thriller, recently admitted that he doesn’t think highly of his own performance in the film.
In an interview with The Times, Pearce bluntly stated, “I’m having an existential crisis,” before revealing that he recently re-watched Memento and found himself unimpressed. “I’m still depressed. I’m s**t in that movie,” he said.
The actor explained that while he had never felt that way before, a recent Q&A prompted him to revisit the film, leading to the realization that he hated his own performance. He criticized his attempt at delivering a “flippant attitude,” saying it didn’t work the way he intended.
Quoting legendary actor John Gielgud, Pearce added, “‘You can be good in a good movie, good in a bad movie, bad in a bad movie, but never be bad in a good movie.’” According to him, watching Memento again made him feel like he had failed that standard.
The Iron Man 3 actor also addressed why he has never worked with Nolan again. Previously, he believed that a Warner Bros. executive had blocked the opportunity, but upon reflection, he now thinks it was simply because he wasn’t “good” in Memento.
Pearce had previously told Vanity Fair that a Warner Bros. executive had openly dismissed him, telling his agent that they didn’t “get” Pearce and never would, making it clear that the studio wasn’t interested in hiring him.