After graduating from Stanford University, Lisa Joy started working for McKinsey & Company before earning a law degree from Harvard. She submitted a spec script to ABC between her studies, which became the cult TV series Pushing Daisies. Joy also worked as a staff writer and eventually became a co-producer on the long-running series Burn Notice. In 2016, she and her husband Jonathan Nolan created the TV series Westworld based on the 1973 film. The show was a massive hit and received several Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including “Outstanding Drama Series.” Thanks to the show’s success, Lisa was able to work on directing her first feature film starting in 2019. While initially supposed to be released in April 2021, Warner Bros. pushed the release date to favor Mortal Kombat. Now titled Reminiscence, the film saw a worldwide release on August 20, 2021.
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Synopsis
In the not-too-distant future, the world has become flooded due to climate change, and people only come out at night. Using technology initially meant for interrogations, people can relive their happiest memories to escape the harsh reality around them. In Miami, Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman) and his friend/partner Emily “Watts” Sanders (Thandiwe Newton) offer people such opportunities. One day, a mysterious woman named Mae (Rebecca Ferguson) visits them, and Nick almost immediately falls in love. The two start a relationship, but after a few months, Mae mysteriously disappears, and Nick starts looking for her. Despite Watts’ objections, he explores his memories, looking for clues about her whereabouts, going deeper down the rabbit hole. The trail leads to him confronting the corrupt cop Cyrus Boothe (Cliff Curtis), who asserts Mae has some dark secrets. Just who is Mae, and where will this trail lead Nick?
Review
Given what Lisa Joy is most famous for, it should come as no surprise that Reminiscence borrows from other movies. It has a film noir style similar to Blade Runner, though not nearly as futuristic and more grounded in reality. Also, the plot element of worldwide floods and humanity adapting to it is very much like in Waterworld. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with movies borrowing elements from other movies so long as the final result is worthwhile. Unfortunately, this is a case where you’re thinking of better films that you could be watching besides this. The story is incredibly convoluted, with tons of twists that come out of nowhere and in rapid succession. Also, they hint at things taking place before the events of the film that sound far more interesting.
There’s also plenty about this film that elevates it to be at least passable despite its flaws. For one, the cast all do a solid job, with Hugh Jackman always making for a strong and likable hero. The lovely Rebecca Ferguson fits the femme fatale role, and she has some great chemistry with Jackman. Thandiwe Newton has some good back-and-forths with Jackman, acting as his voice of reason despite mostly speaking in exposition. Also, Cliff Curtis makes for a decent antagonist, even if he doesn’t show up until roughly halfway through the movie. Another aspect of the film that stands out is the cinematography, adding a dreamlike quality to the film noir vibe. At almost two hours, you could certainly do worse, but this is one I could only recommend at matinee prices. Overall, Reminiscence is an at-best average sci-fi mystery whose acting and visuals compensate for its weak story.
Buy tickets to see Reminiscence in theaters: https://fandan.co/3zdPw5C.
