REMINISCENCE
US, 2021, 115 minutes, Colour.
Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandiwe Newton, Cliff Curtis, Marina de Tavira, Daniel Wu, Mojean Aria, Brett Cullen, Natalie Martinez, Angela Sarafyan.
Directed by Lisa Joy.
Reminiscence is a complicated/complex adventure drama, thriller.
The most striking thing about the film is its science-fiction plot, the future where technology allows people to read the minds of others. But, this is the basis for a film noir thriller, especially with its femme fatale, her seduction of the leading character, her treacherous behaviour, her lies, her trying to make good what she has wrought.
Visually, the film is quite arresting, the future, the technology for reading minds, the techniques for dramatising the memories. Often it is very dark.
Hugh Jackman is the central character, involved in reading minds, tangling complexes because of what he sees, especially in clients who come to him for help, especially a woman, played by Rebecca Ferguson, with whom he falls in love, is mystified by her, delves into her past, and is ultimately betrayed by her. All the time he is working with his associate, played by tending we Newton, who is more alert to people’s characters than he is.
This is something of a post-apocalyptic America, San Francisco flooded, a visit to New Orleans, criminal behaviour, drugs, nightclubs… And a chief dealer played by Cliff Curtis. (Which means none of the four central characters played by Americans.)
The further the plot develops, the more complicated, especially in the dealings with femme fatale, the setup for seduction of the leading man, and dealings with a successful businessman, his wife his mind has deteriorated, his son, issues of inheritance.
It is surprising to find that the film did very poorly at the box office – but it was released in severe covert lockdown times.
- Science-fiction? Science fantasy? The future?
- The technology, memories and reminiscences, going back, the bath the conditions, hypnosis? The visualising of the memories, dramas, others entering and leaving the reminiscences? The plausibility of this technology?
- The future, Miami, the background of the war is, global warming, flooding, water in the city, the streets, surrounded by water? The visuals of this futuristic Miami, exteriors, the interiors? The visits to Louisiana, the city, drug areas? The musical score?
- The complexity of the plot, echoes of such films as the Matrix? The aspects of the noir thriller, the hero, obsession, the femme fatale, her background, love, deception?
- Hugh Jackman as Nick Bannister, age and experience, his skills with the reminiscences, working with Emily Watts? The collaboration for a long time? The authorities, the DA and her wanting information from a criminal’s reminiscences? Nick’s personal life, non-existent? Solely in his work?
- The character of Emily Watts, her history, the war, fighting, her daughter, alienation from her daughter? Working with Nick the years? Suspicious of his obsession? Collaborating with him, not giving him full information at times? Her wariness about Mae? The end, saving him when he was being drowned, her skill at shooting, the criminals? His final advice to her, to seek her daughter again? Her allowing him to go into the water, to spend the rest of his existence with reminiscences? But her reconciliation with her daughter?
- The complexity of the screenplay, the present, the reminiscences, the range of the past, the various tracks of the past, interconnections, characters interconnecting, the truth about Mae, deceptions?
- Mae, glamorous, coming for a session, her lost keys? Nick and his attraction? Emily and her suspicions? Her experiences and reminiscences, Nick and his infatuation, the collage of times with her, happiness for them both? The disappearance?
- Nick, his quest and obsession, finding the drug dealer in Louisiana and his reminiscences? Tracking down Booth, booth and his evil, discovering the relationship with Mae?
- Mae, prostitute background, her singing in the clubs, singing Where or When (and its recurrence throughout the film, from the wars, in Nick’s life, its use? The complexity of Mae in his life, the various stages, prostitution, the drugs, her becoming an addict? And Nick’s horrified reactions?
- The gradual revelation of her love for Nick, becoming involved in the Sylvan case, the young woman and the birth of her son, Mae rescuing the son? Sylvan, his wife, previous client, reminiscences, something going wrong? Her reappearances in the reminiscences, her relationship with her son, his greed, murders, the confrontation with Nick, the challenging him to kill himself, his mother saving him?
- Booth, his scars, having to relive the attack by the drug dealers, his being burnt, re-experiencing this as he reminisced?
- Booth and Mae, Nick entering the reminiscence, her talking to him and to Booth at the same time? The decision, taking the drug, killing herself?
- The effect on Nick, taking responsibility for the death of Booth, the authorities, interning him, allowing him to stay only with the reminiscences? But his going into the bath for the rest of his existence? The glimpse of him going grey, older, the older Watts and her daughter?
- The ambition of the ideas, the screenplay, success on streaming channels, but failure in cinemas?
