Deja Vu (2006)

Director: Tony Scott

Starring: Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, Jim Caviezel

After a ferry is bombed in New Orleans, an A.T.F. agent joins a unique investigation using experimental surveillance technology to find the bomber, but soon finds himself becoming obsessed with one of the victims.

Wow, the film has an impressively made opening sequence – filled with the ultimate terror, and emotion. The photography is also stunning.

The film’s first half was incredibly captivating and had me glued to the screen. I enjoyed their simplified explanation of the technically advanced Snow White program. They explained it in a way the guy on the street could understand. However, later it does become more complicated when they start meddling with the past, and what the character experiences and what we see is are different time zones – four days apart, to be exact. Fortunately I understood the set-up, but many people might have a very difficult time following the film, and understanding what is actually happening – and when. It was a bit much to process, but nevertheless fascinating. The film seamlessly blends fantasy and reality.

Denzel Washington delivers a powerful performance as agent Doug Carlin. I also enjoyed Jim Caviezel as the antagonist. Unfortunately midway through the film the obligatory love interest enters the scenario, and the film shifts a bit from the issue at hand. Although it never took over the film, it was constant and became the protagonist’s main driving force.

I also have mixed feelings when time travel movies alters time for the sake of the love interest. Again, not entirely in this case, but to a great extent. Despite this, ‘Deja Vu’ was a thrilling action thriller with plenty of action and suspense, and excellent all-round performances. This is indeed a top notch production.

‘Deja Vu’ earned $180.5 million on a $75 million budget. It was also nominated Best Science Fiction Film.

Would I watch it again? Maybe.