Replay (2003)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Lee Bonner

Writers:

Lee Bonner (writer)
Sean Paul Murphy (writer)

Genre:

Mystery

Tagline:

Do You See What I See?

Plot:

The viewer becomes the eyes of two detectives who never appear on camera as they unravel a mystery on a video screen...

Plot Keywords:

Severed Finger | Hidden Camera | Strip Tease | Inside Man | Heist

Cast

Fisher Stevens	...	Blu (voice)
Michael Buscemi	...	Scotty (voice)
Rebecca Mader	...	Belinda Brown
Nestor Serrano	...	Seth Collison
Chance Kelly	...	Chester Robb
Richard Pelzman	...	Quinn
John Lumia	...	Harley
Douglas Crosby	...	Smink
Richard DeAngelis	...	Morty
Tim Caggiano	...	Cal
Mark Joy	...	Talbert
Jeff Perryson	...	Dunbar
Jay Hillmer	...	Doctor
Shae D'Lyn	...	Ellie (voice)
Mary Birdsong	...	Nicola (voice)

Also Known As:

21 Eyes (USA) (recut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Annapolis, Maryland, USA

Company:

Eastern Show

Quotes:

Scotty: [Finds footage of Belinda stepping out of her dress] Look what I found.
Ellie: You can't watch this.
Blu: Au contrare, it's our duty to watch this.
Scotty: This is evidence of a crime.
Ellie: It's a crime alright.
Blu: She'd be a nice girl for you.
Scotty: I'm not going out with any girl you've seen naked.
Blu: She's not naked.
Scotty: She will be in a minute.

Movie Connections:

References The Maltese Falcon (1941)

A Solid Film

My Rating: *** out of ****.

Like the first reviewer, I also saw Replay at the Annapolis Film Festival. There were a number of short films before it; some of them were good and others weren't. Nevertheless, Replay is a solid film that is definitely worth a look.

The way Replay is presented is an interesting and unique way. Its the story of two detectives investigating a murder case through a series of security tapes. However, Replay shows the detectives point of views when they are watching the tapes. This gets the audience involved in solving the case with the detectives.

There is no doubt that the success of the film comes from the filmmakers. Its a nearly flawless edited film, Sean Murphy(the editor) clearly knew what he was doing. The screenwriters bring some witty comedy into the investigation. The director of the film (I cant remember the name) does an excellent job.

Since Replay is always focused on the security tapes, we never get a glimpse of what the two detectives look like. However, the actors are given dialogue to act with and they give personalities to their characters. Even the supporting characters like their boss and the secretary display personalities.

Replay does have a flaw and unfortunately its not a small one. There is a scene in the investigation I dont think should have been shown. The scene kind of made the movie predictable in who the guilty one was. Thats the only mistake the filmmakers make, if it were not for that Replay would have received a higher rating. However, it is an entertaining and interesting film.