Reminiscence - The Phillip K. Dick Story That Never Was

 

If you can do so safely, see it in theaters. Though I don't recommend it for this one.  

or 

Stream it on HBO Max through September 19.

    Film Noir is at its best when the story is deliberately paced and the audience is contentedly patient. The former can be easy to accomplish with the right people at the helm, while the latter is often challenging, especially in the age of the internet. With modern expectations of quick gratification coupled with narrative handholding, modern audiences find it difficult to justify enjoying works of art that demand patience. It's rare these days to see new media works that understand the importance of patience and the know-how to keep you engaged. 

    Today's subject, Reminiscence, is a modern Film Noir that mostly accomplishes its necessary goals and still comes out as a fascinating piece, despite a few flaws that might have otherwise caused me to disregard the film entirely. However, its redeeming factors are enough to make it worthy of your attention, if only for once.  

    Set in a future where the world is flooded, turning most (if not all) coastal cities into Venice, the story follows Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman), a former military interrogator now turned private detective. In this future, memories can be digitally observed, recorded, and relived through an advanced Matrix-like computer system known as The Reminiscence. Nick and his partner Emily (Thandiwe Newton) make a living selling time inside the machine to those who want to relive some of their better memories. Things seem stable until a mysterious woman named Mae (Rebecca Ferguson) enters Nick's life, becoming his new client, and eventually, his lover. After a few months of dating, Mae suddenly vanishes without a trace. Now, desperate to find her, Nick starts using The Reminiscence on himself, something he usually knows better to do for fear of addiction to nostalgia. As Nick searches his memories for answers, he soon discovers a greater mystery at hand, one that will lead him back to Mae but also to something he may not want to learn. 

    Right off the bat, there are tons of reminders and callbacks to similar stories. Blade Runner, The Matrix, Inception, and nearly every pulp novel starring a grizzled detective, to name a few. This likely caused many audiences and other critics to dismiss the film as unoriginal or plagiarist. However, in my experience, not only is "originality" incredibly overrated, it's not really possible. The hard & fast truth about fiction is that everything is, in some way, a remix of what came before. Genuine originality doesn't come from doing something entirely new; it comes from taking something familiar and presenting it in a different style or interpretation. It's like reupholstering a piece of furniture: it's still the same piece, but it's got a fresh covering, thereby changing things up a bit. Reminiscence is the same situation. It may not be entirely original, but it wears its influences on its sleeve with pride. 

    The cast is remarkable. Hugh Jackman delivers his usual emotionally driven performance that continues to make you wonder why he hasn't received an Oscar yet. Rebecca Ferguson not only shines as the classic Fem Fatale but also gets to showcase her remarkable singing talents. She's got pipes! Also, Thandiwe Newton gets an opportunity to shine as a total bad-ass. It feels as if part of the movie's goal was to give everyone in the cast the opportunity to play with their genuine talents, and they all shine through. 

    The production design is where the film shines brightest. Everything from the sets to the special effects succeeds in creating what a flooded world (likely due to climate change) might actually be like. Any production working with tons of water in any way is often a challenge, and Reminiscence earns many bonus points for pulling it off. 

    While I will gladly continue to sing the praises of this film when given the opportunity, I don't deny that it's not without its flaws. 

    There are moments when the writing can feel a bit unpolished: some of the dialogue comes off as a bit childish, certain plot points don't seem to make much sense, and the protagonist could have done with a few more sympathetic qualities. While these elements might have otherwise caused me to dismiss the film entirely, they are in keeping with the Film Noir tradition, thus are easier to overlook and, in some areas, forgive. By nature, Film Noir is dark, moody, and difficult to swallow at times. It's not a genre where conventional narrative expectations can survive. 

    Reminiscence is likely destined to become the most underrated film of 2021. It may not be what people might have expected or wanted, but it is a genuinely better film than I've seen most other critics and audiences have proclaimed thus far. While I agree that it may not be worth the price of theater admission, it is still worthy of your time and patience. This is a brand new example of the phrase "they don't make 'em like they used to." 

    Check it out. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.