Deja Vu (2006)

Director Tony Scott and actor Denzel Washington, who have worked together on Crimson Tide and Man on Fire have teamed up again for the slick and enjoyable film Deja Vu. This time Washington plays ATF agent Doug Carlin assigned to investigate a terrorist act involving a ferry full of servicemen and women.

Carlin ends up working with FBI agents (Val Kilmer and Bruce Greenwood) using state of the art technology that allows them to watch, in "real time" four days in the past. The science is solid enough and the technology is shown with enough wiz-bang fun that it's easy to get pulled into the meat of the story.

Carlin's investigation on the terrorist attack is focused on a woman named Claire (Paula Patton) who's burned and mangled body washed up on the shore an hour before the terrorist bomb went off. It's through their investigation of Claire using this new technology that Carlin finds himself becoming emotionally attached to woman already dead.

The movie is really rock solid for the first 3/4 of the film, including one of the most ingenious chase scenes I've ever watched on film. Very cool stuff.

The last 1/4 of the film ends up following exciting, although expected twists and turns. In effect, the film is a victim of it's own success created by the first 90 minutes of the film. It is so unique and inventive and intriguing that when the last 30 minutes enters familiar territory it seems even more unoriginal by comparison.

But, don't let my comments on the last 30 minutes of the film keep you from watching it as the last act is still fun, enjoyable and effective storytelling.

Deja Vu took me by surprise. The reviews of the film were hit and miss and the box office brought in less than the film cost, so I expected a much lesser film when, in reality, it is a really fun night at the movies.

It's a very good flick. Check it out.