REMINISCENCE Review: Lisa Joy's Feature Debut Will Stick In Your Memory For All The Wrong Reasons

REMINISCENCE Review: Lisa Joy's Feature Debut Will Stick In Your Memory For All The Wrong Reasons

Westworld co-creator Lisa Joy makes her feature debut as writer and director with Reminiscence, a noir-inspired sci-fi tale that will stick in your memory for all the wrong reasons. Check out our review...

Review Opinion
By MarkCassidy - Aug 18, 2021 09:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Sci-Fi

When it was first announced that Westworld co-creator Lisa Joy would be making her feature debut with another cerebral sci-fi tale starring Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson, there was understandably quite a lot of excitement. But after the release of a single theatrical trailer and a couple of TV spots, buzz began to die down, and it was difficult to escape the feeling that Warner Bros. never seemed fully committed to a proper promotional campaign.

Unfortunately, that now seems like a fairly safe assumption, because Reminiscence is not very good... at all.

The story takes place in a futuristic version of Miami, struggling to rebuild after a war (details are vague) while sinking beneath the rising ocean. Jackman plays a former solider named Nick Bannister who now works as a P.I. of sorts along with his partner Watts (Thandiwe Newton). Together, they utilize a technology that allows people to retrieve and relive any memories they wish - for a price.

When the beautiful and mysterious Mae (Ferguson) walks in and asks them to find her keys (as you do), Bannister is instantly smitten, but when she disappears without a trace, he becomes obsessed with finding out why and spirals dangerously close to self-destruction.

Hugh Jackman's Reminiscence Trailer Teases a Trippy Sci-Fi Thriller -  Flipboard

Reminiscence is clearly aiming for a classic, noir-style vibe with a sci-fi twist, but it misfires/miscalculates at almost every turn. Everything from the set-design to the dreadful dialogue to the bizarrely upbeat score serve to conjure entirely the wrong atmosphere, and the movie ends up coming across more like a Sam Spade spoof (think Steve Martin's '80s noir parody Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid) than something akin to Blade Runner or Inception.

Some of the usual tropes associated with the genre are expected (even welcomed), but it's all executed in such a hokey way that it's impossible to take seriously. At one point, a passionate sex scene culminates with a shot of water overflowing in a sink (you get the idea).

The performances don't help matters. The usually reliable Jackman starts off bland, before going completely in the other direction with a hilariously OTT array of snarls and grimaces (try to stifle a laugh when he attempts to bite a couple of goons intent on drowning him in a fishtank). Ferguson is better, but finds herself stuck with a thankless, clichéd femme fatale role. Newton is actually one of the film's only saving graces, and you might find yourself wishing the hard-drinking Watts was the primary focus. The Westworld alum is still at the mercy of the script, but at least she's having some fun with it.

And yet, Reminiscence is not a complete washout. There are some good ideas here, and although you'll have to wade through 90 minutes of silliness to get there, the movie actually comes together in its final act and manages to pull off a pretty effective finale. It may even have packed an emotional punch... if we were at all invested in the characters.

Newton's performance and a strong ending ensure Reminiscence is not an outright failure, but given the talent on display, Lisa Joy's big-screen debut is a major disappointment, and will likely stick in your memory for all the wrong reasons.

File:2 stars.svg - Wikimedia Commons
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GhostDog
GhostDog - 8/18/2021, 9:35 AM
This never really looked interesting. It seems like an Inception, Paprika, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ripoff.

The trailers gave off a vibe of mid 2000s generic thriller with a sci fi twist.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 8/18/2021, 9:55 AM
I heard Westworld S3 wasn't very good, so I guess she's running low on creative fuel.
madhombre
madhombre - 8/18/2021, 8:12 PM
@soberchimera - Season 1 was great.
Season 2 was so bad I didn’t bother with 3.
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 8/18/2021, 9:57 AM
It looked like a Nolan film rip off to me.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 8/18/2021, 9:58 AM
@HulkisHorny - So did Transcendence.
Pagliacci
Pagliacci - 8/18/2021, 10:17 AM
@HulkisHorny - "a Nolan film" was rip off too.
PhoenixBlade
PhoenixBlade - 8/18/2021, 12:24 PM
@HulkisHorny - Most of Christopher Nolan’s films are written by his brother, Jonathan. Jonathan Nolan is Lisa’s husband and is a producer on this film. So if it looks like a Nolan film, that’s because it kinda is, just without the Nolan everyone knows.
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 8/18/2021, 3:22 PM
@SamaelSaint -

That’s not necessarily true. Regarding screenplays...

Memento = Chris Nolan. Jonathan only did a short story
Insomnia = other people
BB = Chris and Goyer
Prestige = Chris and Jonathan
Dark Knight = Chris and Jonathan
Inception = Chris
Rises = Chris and Jonathan
Interstellar = Chris and Jonathan
Dunkirk = Chris
Tenet = Chris (this one probably could have used Jonathan’s help)

PapaSpank54
PapaSpank54 - 8/18/2021, 9:59 AM
Woah that's wild, Lisa Joy is married to Jon Nolan...
Meaning she ripped off her own brother-in-law, if everything I'm hearing about this flick is to be believed
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 8/18/2021, 10:11 AM
Well damn. Still gonna check it out because Jackman is usually solid in his roles.
MovieMonster
MovieMonster - 8/18/2021, 10:21 AM
I like high-concept original sci-fi and the trailer made this look like a blend of Blade Runner, Inception, Total Recall, and Eternal Sunshine. Seems ambitious Plus, I like Hugh Jackman so that made me want to check it out. I might do so but after this review, I’m lowering my expectations which weren’t that high to begin with.
bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 8/18/2021, 11:35 AM
Didn't expect this, but since I often agree with Ror I'll factor it into my expectations. Will still give it a try though
Wolverine777
Wolverine777 - 8/18/2021, 12:04 PM
Too bad I was looking forward to this, although I had a sinking feeling that this wasn’t going to do well. I just didn’t think it was going to be this bad.
BlackConvoy
BlackConvoy - 8/18/2021, 12:15 PM
We all know why stuff works. It's Jonathan Nolan. And that's not sexist in the slightest bit. Because Christopher Nolan's best movies are the ones where Jonathan were involved.
WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 8/18/2021, 4:02 PM
i don't think i've seen any movie this year that's been worth remembering or recommending.
MorenoVL
MorenoVL - 8/20/2021, 4:02 AM
For me it was a good movie, just not a very memorable one
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