Have seen both the norwegian original and the nolan's version. While we may never get to know for sure how much of "Nolan" was in this film compared to following and memento it was lesser for sure. But still within the studio set-up I think it was a fairly dark film. I personally preffered the nolan...

For me it has to be the ending confrontation with Teddy after Lenny has killed Jimmy grantz.
'You tell everbody about Sammy jankis... Brilliant story which keeps getting better everytime you narrate it. So you lie to yourself to be happy...We all do it..."

I'm a BIG Nolan fan from india and have seen both the rip off versions (the 2005 one and the 2008 one too). Both are crap....melodrama ...songs (unnecessary) ...and dumbed down revenge drama (no drama in the films per se) The same filmaker has made both the films ..and he went around denying the fac...