Reminiscence movie review 2021

MOVIE TITLE: Reminiscence (not to be confused with the 2018 movie of the same name)

Available now in theaters and HBO Max.

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hour 56 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

This movie had me at Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson. I loved them in The Greatest Showman. Nick Bannister, a private investigator of the mind, navigates the alluring world of the past when his life is changed by new client Mae. A simple case becomes an obsession after she disappears and he fights to learn the truth about her.

The dramatic mystery is directed by Lisa Joy who is the sister-in-law of famous director Christopher Nolan! This is her debut feature film after directing the popular HBO show Westworld: The Complete First Season (DVD)

THINGS I LIKED:

I adore Hugh Jackman and will watch anything he’s in. He’s so talented, handsome, and charming. His fans will be thrilled to see him shirtless quite a few times in the film.
Rebecca Ferguson is so beautiful. We all fell in love with her in The Greatest Showman, especially when she sang, only to learn that her voice was dubbed by American Idol contestant Lauren Allred. Stunning voice. In this movie, we actually do get to hear her real singing voice in several scenes. Unfortunately, it’s nowhere near the level of Jenny Lind’s, but good for Rebecca Ferguson for giving it a shot.
Thandie Newton is such a likable actress.
The scenes shown at the beginning of the film were fascinating. I wanted to learn more about what happened to make those images occur. Very good world-building with some cool visual effects.
Nice cinematography.
A few twists.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The screenplay stalls in its attempt at an apocalyptic film noir. It falls far short of its potential.
The story is a bit confusing and boring at the same time.
Even the action sequences were not very good.
There are some insightful lines, yet the dialogue is not very inspiring.
Sadly, this movie will be entirely forgettable.
I kept wondering how the electricity would work in the buildings if much of the buildings were underwater.
The world-building wasn’t completely thought out. Many of the parts of the dystopian world just didn’t make sense.
As much as I loved the talented cast, some of them were not ideal for their roles. For example, I really like Thandie Newton but we’re supposed to believe she was such a tough military might during a war that she has a reputation even though she’s such a petite woman.
It’s really hard to get fully invested in any of the characters.
Very slow pacing.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be bored. So will many adults.
You see people in their bathing suits or underwear.
Violence
Profanity
People die
Hand-to-hand combat, guns, and other weapons
Pre-marital relations (clothed)
Love

THEMES:

“We’re all haunted by something.” – Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman)
Judging others
Living in the past or present
Yearning
Military brotherhood
Self-deception

FUNNY LINES:

“You’re late” – Emily “Watts” Sanders (Thandiewe Newton) “Late is a construct of linear time and we don’t believe in that.” – Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman)

INTERESTING LINES:

“The past can haunt a man. That’s what they say. The past is just a series of moments, each one perfect, complete, a bead on the necklace of time.” – (Hugh Jackman)
“It’s us who haunt the past.” – Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman)
“Time is no longer a one-way stream.” – Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman)
“The truth is the past is addictive.” – Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman)
“Don’t say ‘always.’ Always makes promises it can’t keep.” Mae (Rebecca Ferguson)
“Memories are like perfume: better in small doses.” – Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman)
“If there’s a ghost to be found, it’s us. We haunt the past.” – Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman)