A One Mann’s Movies review of “Reminiscence” (2021).
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Mae (Rebecca Ferguson) and Nick (Hugh Jackman) testing Covid restrictions. (Source: Warner Brothers).
Plot Summary:
It’s the near future and global warming and a recent war have drastically changed life in Miami. The days are too hot to do anything other than sleep, and the oceans have risen deluging the city. Ex-military colleagues Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman) and ‘Watts’ Sanders (Thandiwe Newton) run a ‘reminiscence’ business, allowing customers to re-experience memories from their past as if they were there.
But when nightclub singer Mae (Rebecca Ferguson) begs for their help in finding her lost keys Nick’s heart, life and livelihood are thrown into turmoil.
Miami, near future. Now everyone has a beach-side apartment. (Source: Warner Brothers).
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandiwe Newton.
Directed by: Lisa Joy.
Written by: Lisa Joy
.
Helping out the DA. Watts (Thandiwe Newton) and Nick (Hugh Jackman). (Source: Warner Brothers).
“Reminiscence” Review:
Positives:
- The special effects showing a submerged Miami are impressive enough.
- I enjoyed the soundtrack by “Westworld” and “Game of Thrones” composer Ramin Djawadi.
Mae was auditioning to be the new Jessica Rabbit. “I’m not bad… I’m just drawn that way”. (Source: Warner Brothers).
Negatives:
- The script is dreadful. Hugh Jackman’s does a voiceover, droning on incessantly about things like memories being “perfect complete beads on the necklace of time”. (Yes, I appreciate it’s apeing film noir here, but you KNOW how much I hate voiceovers!) Outside of the voiceover, the dialogue generally doesn’t sound remotely like things that people would say to each other. There are some cringible segments of speechifying. That’s when you can actually understand what’s being said: I found the sound mix makes that really difficult with some of the lines.
- This seemed to me to be reflected in the performances of Jackman, Ferguson and Newton. Star-power indeed, but it appeared to me that they didn’t have confidence in the words. Fans of the trio will, I think, be disappointed. (And I am a big fan of Rebecca Ferguson. She is again gorgeous here and – unlike in “The Greatest Showman” – actually gets to sing).
Not going through the robot motions. Actually “Westworld”‘s Angela Sarafyan is very effective in her role as the love-worn Elsa. (Source: Warner Brothers).
Summary Thoughts on “Reminiscence”
This film is a big disappointment to me. When I first saw the trailer, I went “YES, YES, YES!!”. It looked like an interesting post-apocalyptic sci-fi with perhaps elements of “Inception”, “Waterworld” and “Flatliners” thrown in. Jackman even gets to tussle with sheets on a rooftop again! (Was anyone else playing “A Million Dreams” in their head?).
But then came the film itself. The result was that about two-thirds in I was really willing it to end. (On principle, I don’t walk out of movies). To be fair, the story did pick up slightly towards the conclusion, so I could quietly put my 1* logo away.
I really feel sorry for writer/director Lisa Joy for writing such a negative review. The executive producer of “Westworld” (who’s also written and directed some episodes) had secured Jackman and brought some of her “Westworld” talent with her. I’m sure she put her heart and soul into this as her directorial feature debut. But I’m afraid it just did nothing for me and – given the talent available – came across as a wasted opportunity.
Interesting Note
This is the first movie in which Thandiwe Newton has adopted the original Zimbabwean spelling of her first name. Apparently, this was because the “w” was accidentally left out of her first movie titles, and she just ‘went with it’.
Trailer for “Reminiscence”:
The trailer for “Reminiscence” is here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tshycci2ZA .
