Déjà Vu (2006)

I'm not going to explain the plot as most people reading this will have watched the trailer. I watch this movie everyone it's on its that good. You can't go wrong with a cast of this calibre, Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, Jim Caviezel, Val Kolmer. I don't usually bother with sci fi movies but this is a brilliant thriller from start to finish, fantastic visuals strong story and great acting a must see.

DEJA VU might just be my favourite pairing of Tony Scott and star Denzel Washington. Some of their older outings have dated somewhat over the years (try watching the overt flashiness of MAN OF FIRE for example) but this one just feels stronger and stronger as the years go by. It's also a fine, well thought-out little time travel movie whose plot is up there with that of the excellent underrated Spanish flick TIMECRIMES. Washington is on top form here playing a quick, smart, imaginative, witty, and brave detective working for ATF and trying to catch a bomber who blew up a ferry with all on board. The romantic elements of the story hang together well and aren't overdone. There are action elements including a car chase and shoot-out but they fit well with the flow of the story. It's the detective elements that I really enjoyed here and it makes me wish Washington could have starred as a detective in his own TV show, a la COLUMBO. DEJA VU is full of suspense and excitement, a real cinematic thrill-ride that I never get tired of re-watching. It's become a favourite.

"Wait a minute, have I seen this before?", a question that appropriately suites the overarching theme of this flashy mystery picture. This science-fiction action thriller, directed by Tony Scott, capitalizes on compelling concepts involving time travel, a sci-fi element with a constantly fluctuating reputation throughout most of the history of cinema. If there is any detriments to Scott's direction dealing with time travel, it is that he doesn't offer anything particularly new or original. Fortunately, that doesn't stop this film from being the entertaining tale of mystery and techno-compulsion. The title describes a phenomenon in which someone meets someone or faces a situation they believe they have encountered regardless of whether he or she has or not. This concept serves the centric theme of the story which places Denzel Washington in the lead role as a man seeking for justice against a heinous crime. In a solid conclusion, Tony Scott proves he is capable of tackling the concept with precision, if without inventiveness. This film follows Doug Carlin (played by Denzel Washington), an ATF agent who is assigned to a case involving a bomb explosion that takes the lives of 500 innocent people on a ferry in New Orleans. Boasting incredible detective skills, Carlin is invited by Agent Pryzwarra (played by Val Kilmer) to join the surveillance team who are responsible of using high-tech surveillance technology that allows him to travel back in time four days prior to the bombing. So Carlin must hunt down the man responsible in attempt to stop the disaster, while pursuing after Claire (played by Paula Patton), a woman the terrorist is hunting down to kill. Arguably one of Tony Scott's biggest achievements in this picture is effectively tackling the use of time travel in the way that avoids the common dilemma overcomplicating the narrative. Scott proves he is more than capable of telling a solid story without slipping into the cracks of irrationality or dullness. That is not to say that the film doesn't fail to offer anything inventive. Easily the film's sharpest detriment is its execution never stands out among other and more superior films that tackled the concept. On the bright side, Scott does not fail to bring on the thrills once the plot finally kicks into gear. The first half-hour focuses on the lead character and the team establishing an investigation on the terrorist responsible for the bombing, while introducing their groundbreaking technology that allows them to seek answers with powerful ability. This entire segment is driven with pulse-pounding mystery that opens doors for a suspenseful atmosphere. When the action, consisting of car chases through a moderately congested highway and gun shootouts that end in explosive chaos, arrives, the thrills begin to fly. Shot with slick cinematography, Scott captures the intense heat of the action with effectiveness, particularly the jarring opening explosion sequence, and the results are solid. As for Denzel Washington, this actor, who has reunited with Scott after 'Crimson Tide', plays the lead role with versatility and grit. Washington leads a supporting cast of Val Kilmer, Paula Patton, Kim Caviezel, Adam Goldberg, and Bruce Greenword -- all of whom are given only little time to show off their acting chops. However, none of them giving anything that allows them to standout among one another. Deja Vu is a slick, entertaining science-action thrill ride blossomed by the hands of director Tony Scott. Blending solid action set pieces with pulse-pounding mystery, this film offers a decently crafted rendition on time travel for those hungry for some adrenaline-fueled action and creativity. But do not go in expecting anything groundbreaking.

Perhaps it's just Washington's presence, an actor who's always only somewhat serious about himself and about the characters he plays. Anyway, the movie as a whole doesn't seem to take itself too seriously, too. Therefore, in spite of several loopholes and inconsistencies, it provides good fun without getting too heavy or self- important. Points to Scott for that, and let's hope for more entertaining stuff by the Washington-Scott duo. What begins as a seemingly ordinary disaster film turns into a geek-pseudo-sci-fi high-action and even slightly romantic drama. When moving through time is introduced, it is done organically and, again, the movie doesn't make too much of a big deal about it, and - thank the gods - doesn't try to over-explain it. It remains, above all, a good show that's fun to watch.