Libby Wadman, who has this week’s Friday Film Review, looks at a new movie dealing with dystopia, memories and choices.
Lisa Joy, co-creator of the HBO show “Westworld," has written and directed “Reminiscence," a thought provoking and intriguing look at the power of memories.
Flash to the future; global warming is in full swing; Miami has flooded, and the temperatures have risen so much, it has become a city of the night. Wars have been fought and tensions are still high making thoughts of a time gone by not only very desirable but an integral part of survival. Nick Bannister, a veteran, has adapted his war time interrogation skills and machine to become a mind investigator. As such, he occasionally helps the DA find evidence for cases, but more often, he provides the way for people to get back to that time gone by to find the peace and comfort for which they are desperate. When a new client, Mae, comes to his office seeking help to remember where she left her keys, Nick’s life is turned upside down and he finds himself falling prey to the power of memories.
Lisa Joy has written a fascinating screenplay that gives nothing away. Joy has used the concept of live action memories, which are memories seen in real time by all characters, rather than flashbacks seen only by the viewer, to propel the storyline providing more details and dimension than would otherwise be possible. Her direction is good, although there are moments of muddlement when this complex story becomes perhaps a bit too complex even for its creator.
The cast is led by a solid enough performance from Hugh Jackman, as Nick Bannister. Thandiwe Newton, as his assistant, “Watts," provides just the right touch as the logical, if flawed, half of the business that helps keep it all together. The rest of the cast is fine, but none of the performances could be considered outstanding.
If there is a real star of “Reminiscence," it is the cinematography, which brings the memories to life leaving it to the viewer to be the witness and to use their own memories as the story plays out.
At times, “Reminiscence” drags and is a bit confusing, but despite its flaws, it is a carefully crafted film. With some memories and thoughts revolving throughout the film, the viewer’s own perceptions of memories are challenged. Are they always accurate, do they haunt us or do we, perhaps, haunt them? The most important question presented by the film is if given the choice when faced with a seemingly crushing present, would you choose to move forward to make new memories, or would you choose to remain locked in the past reliving the same old memories? This introspection is the strength of the film “Reminiscence.”
At one hour and 56 minutes in length “Reminiscence” is a worthwhile, if somewhat depressing, watch and is rated PG-13 for strong violence, drug material throughout, sexual content and some strong language. It is currently in theaters and is available for streaming on HBO Max.
This is Libby Wadman, with the Friday Film Review, reminding you that film is always fun and fascinating.
