My Favourite Movies: Déjà vu

My regular readers will realise that I’m a big fan of films starring Denzil Washington and an equally big fan of clever well thought out movies. In Déjà vu we have an excellent example of both.

Seemingly we are, at first, presented with a by the numbers Jerry Bruckheimer visual spectacular. But the fact that the movie is directed by Tony Scott should hint that something more than explosions and clever camera effects will be forthcoming. In the opening sequences we see a New Orleans ferry filling with hundreds of Navy personnel and their families on the way to a celebration. Before they travel too far down the river there is a huge explosion and the ferry sinks with a large loss of life. It is very soon obvious that this was no accident and that terrorism is involved. Enter ATF officer Doug Carlin played by Denzil Washington. We see him investigate the crime scene before being pulled away on an apparently unconnected death of a young black woman identified as Claire Kuchever played by Paula Patton. While trying to understand how her death firs in with the unfolding tragedy he is approached by FBI Agent Paul Pryzwarra played by Val Kilmer. He is the head of a new Task Force set up to investigate such events and wants Carlin to join the team as a local expert. Carlin quickly discovers that the new Task Forces technology is not exactly as advertised. Let in on the secret he is told that scientists working on optics at NASA accidentally discovered a way to see back in time. Although though limited in range – both in distance terms and in time – this could be a valuable tool in the war on terror. But they need to know where to look. Carlin decides to look into the life of Claire Kuchever during the 4 day window prior to her death and the attack on the ferry. As he learns more about Clire’s life he realises two things – he is beginning to discover that she can sense them watching her and he is starting to fall in love with her. When he asks if any information could be sent back to notify the authorities of the upcoming attack he is given an ambiguous answer. But the more fundamental question remains completely unknown: Can you change the past and if you can what then happens to the present?

Even without the time-travel aspects this would have been a very creditable police thriller. With those aspects added in it knocked it out of the park for me. I’m a sucker for a good cinematic portrayal of time-travel (even if its just viewing the past as it happens) and this was a very good example of that. My favourite bit – without spoiling things too much – is a ‘car chase’ along a freeway where Carlin chases the suspects car ‘now’ but also 4 days in the past using a head-mounted unit to see where he was and what he did. That to me was very clever indeed and very dramatic. All in all this was a gripping police thriller, a race against time and with more that a little SF thrown in for good measure. Good acting throughout along with high drama and rather inventive camera work add spice as well as a host of other aspects to admire. If you missed this at the cinema back in 2006 I’d recommend you fix that oversight as soon as you can. I’ve watched it three times now and have enjoyed it just as much on each viewing. Enjoy.