Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse.
Reminiscence is a 2021 post-apocalyptic science fiction mystery picture, that stars Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, and Thandiwe Newton, it was directed by Lisa Joy and follows Nick Bannister, a private investigator of the mind, navigates the alluring world of the past when his life is changed by new client Mae. A simple case becomes an obsession after she disappears and he fights to learn the truth about her.
UNDER THE LENS: Visuals and The Power of Memory
Visuals: First off Reminiscence is a gorgeous looking picture, the flooded city world of Miami is very original and creative. The picture is a splashy neo-noir that creates a dark wet world, where the day is too hot to endure and the night is full of dangers. The picture fleshes out the world of the land barons who live on islands of dry land, and everyone else who lives behind giant floodwalls that are slowly failing.
One scene that is particularly compelling is a fight between Hugh Jackman and Cliff Curtis as they break through a floor into a flooded music hall, the lighting and cinematography are beautiful and haunting as we see the old world that is so long gone. The cinematography was handled by Paul Cameron, who is known for Collateral, Deja Vu, and Man on fire, so it’s no surprise the film is beautiful looking, the visuals and CGI are not overwhelming and do help to immerse the viewer in the story.
The Power of Memory: An interesting aspect of the picture is its theme of memory and the power of the past. Nick Bannister is a detective of the mind, a man who provides people with an escape from the depression of their lives. We see one woman who comes in once a week to relive a night of passion with the man she loved, another just wants to see his beloved pet dog again. The overall theme of Reminiscence is how memory can hold us captive, and not allow us to move on in our lives because we are so tied down by experiences we feel are better than our current circumstances.
HIGHLIGHTS
Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson both turned in good performances
The picture took the “Clue gathering” of most noir pictures and turned it on its head, having the clue gathering be within memories and dreams
The world of Reminiscence is very interesting and the picture does a decent job of fleshing out the cultural and social framework of this new world.
QUOTABLE QUOTE
Nick Bannister: No such thing as a happy ending. All endings are sad. Especially if the story was happy.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Do you ever find yourself reminiscing about the past? Do you think your life was better in the past than it is now? Does thinking about the past make you not appreciate the life you are living now?
CONCLUSION
Reminiscence is very much a slow-burn neo-noir mystery thriller, one that is more interested in its characters than the overall plot. This is not really a bad thing though, as the characters themselves are ones you want to learn more about. The picture has something to say about the power of memory and how the past can tie us down, but also presents its viewers with a beautiful post-apocalyptic world to explore. The picture is overall about a small story, with characters who are everyday people, dealing with problems. Reminiscence is worth checking out if you are a fan of noirs and sci-fi, but also enjoy splashy visuals.