Film Reviews

Deja-Vu

• Rating:
• Director: Tony Scott.
• Starring: Denzel Washington, Val Kilmer, Adam Goldberg, Jim Caviezel.
• Details: US / 128mins (12A).

Tony Scott is one of those directors (others include Michael Bay and John Woo) who feel they're not doing their job unless they're moving the camera in every shot. One throwaway 90-second scene in Deja-Vu has no less than 38 cuts (yes, I was counting) and this is very off-putting because you're not just watching a film, you're watching Tony Scott direct a film. Saying that, though, any diversion from the ludicrous plot is a welcome relief this time round. I'm all on for suspension of disbelief but Scott and co. ask too much of the viewer: ATF agent Doug Carlin (Washington) is brought in to assist the investigation of a New Orleans ferry explosion (fine).Assigned to an experimental FBI surveillance unit, Carlin and co. can fold space and time so they can see what went on 4-and-half days ago and piece together clues that lead up to the explosion (it's a little out there, but okay).With the technology that allows them to see through walls (eh?) and influence the past from their office (ah, lads), the FBI can alter what happened and prevent the disaster (anyone for coffee?).'Charlie Kaufman does Google Earth, Back To The Future and Minority Report in reverse' may sound like a good show and for a long time I was on board with the story, but they pushed it too far. The scene where you'll probably give up is when Washington, today, is chasing the bomber, from four days ago, through the streets of New Orleans. If it was set in the future, or even the near future, Deja-Vu might have worked; but today's setting doesn't sit right and the thought 'they can't do that' keeps running through your mind. It's a pity, because it was a really interesting idea for a while.

Review by Gavin Burke