Movie Review: Reminiscence
Although the new sci-fi thriller Reminiscence strives to explore the essence of humanity by echoing a myriad of far superior science fiction and detective films, it ultimately flails about never finding its proper footing despite a decent concept and moody performance from Hugh Jackman.
Jackman stars as Nick Bannister, a retired detective who now make a living helping people channel their lost memories. Along with his former partner Watts (Thandie Newton), Nick manages to keep his business afloat, but just barely, that is until a new client walks in and upends his life. This femme fatale, named Mae (Rebecca Ferguson), disappears from Nick’s life as quickly as she appears and his obsession to find her leads him, in true noir fashion, to discover a conspiracy that runs deeper than anything he ever imagined it could.
While it is ultimately a love story, it proves increasing difficult to remember, or care about that, as the events of Reminiscence unfold. This is a film that wants to succeed in practically every genre imaginable and becomes so convoluted with trying to keep that particular ball in the air that it ultimately collapses in on itself, making it all just a frustratingly moody missed opportunity.
Nothing feels fresh about any aspect of this film. It all seems like there must have been a more effective rendition of this somewhere else in some other form. Other science fiction films have done a far better job of straddling the line between film noir and their own genre, but Reminiscence plays more like, well a remembrance of a better film where this was achieved with more grace and style than is brought out here.
There may be some aspects of Reminiscence that prove entertaining or pleasing to an audience, but that is undoubtedly doomed to be an empty feeling once the hollowness of the film becomes apparent and is repeatedly driven home by bringing to mind the other, far superior films you could be watching instead.
Mike Tyrkus
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