989 reviews
Good performances? Check. Good cinematography? Check. Creative visual effects? Check. Intriguing concept and interesting introductory world building? Check.
A boring, generic corporate corruption plot? Check. Not knowing what the actual central conflict of the film is until about 90 minutes in? Check. Underdeveloped character relationships that completely cause the audience to not understand or care why our lead character is so hell-bent on doing the things he does? Check. Not including any plot or character elements that relate to the weird semi-apocalyptic setting of the movie, rendering it utterly pointless? Check.
Lisa Joy thought her TV skills would transfer to film. They don't. It's a different method of storytelling, and her episodic techniques used here are so frustrating and boring to watch in a feature film.
This should've been an HBO mini-series.
A boring, generic corporate corruption plot? Check. Not knowing what the actual central conflict of the film is until about 90 minutes in? Check. Underdeveloped character relationships that completely cause the audience to not understand or care why our lead character is so hell-bent on doing the things he does? Check. Not including any plot or character elements that relate to the weird semi-apocalyptic setting of the movie, rendering it utterly pointless? Check.
Lisa Joy thought her TV skills would transfer to film. They don't. It's a different method of storytelling, and her episodic techniques used here are so frustrating and boring to watch in a feature film.
This should've been an HBO mini-series.
- benjaminskylerhill
- Aug 19, 2021
- Permalink
...apart from the eventual moment where credits rolled, it's a decent watch, it just felt too long at times, and a bit repetitive.
It's an interesting film, it's almost like a sci fi film noir, it has that moody, subdued atmosphere, and the appropriate dialogue, the contradiction comes with the water logged Cities and imaginative technology, an interesting contrast of styles.
The trailers looked great, the film looks fantastic, but for me there was too much of a focus on the visuals, and not enough on the actual storytelling, which at times was a little drab. Visually though it's amazing, the futuristic world looks awesome, throw in Rebecca Ferguson's gorgeous presence and Jackman's muscles, and you have something for everyone.
Imaginative, interesting, just a little too slow for me, it felt like a film hampered by restrictions, which of course it was. 6/10.
It's an interesting film, it's almost like a sci fi film noir, it has that moody, subdued atmosphere, and the appropriate dialogue, the contradiction comes with the water logged Cities and imaginative technology, an interesting contrast of styles.
The trailers looked great, the film looks fantastic, but for me there was too much of a focus on the visuals, and not enough on the actual storytelling, which at times was a little drab. Visually though it's amazing, the futuristic world looks awesome, throw in Rebecca Ferguson's gorgeous presence and Jackman's muscles, and you have something for everyone.
Imaginative, interesting, just a little too slow for me, it felt like a film hampered by restrictions, which of course it was. 6/10.
- Sleepin_Dragon
- Aug 27, 2021
- Permalink
The plot was good and different. The whole movie was fine and there were some fine twists too. I ignored all reviews and watched it . It was a good movie. There weren't so much action scenes but apart from that it is good. Ending could've been better.
- aastikhimta
- Sep 7, 2021
- Permalink
Any movie that might bring anyone to read on certain things ... is good in my book. And while I assume that some watching this, may not have heard of Orpheus story ... they hopefully will look it up.
Having said that, I understand that for some Hugh Jackman may look like he's not fully involved in here at times. But the fact this feels like a Science Fiction noir ... well that really tingled me quite a lot. Also the overall casting is amazing. Daniel Wu may only be a bit player here, but his charisma and coolness oozes of the screen.
Add to that a wonderful cinematography and you could do far worse here. The story may be predictable to a degree and certain things may not make too much sense, but there is a philosophical note here ... and an ending that is the best possible I assume ... but you may judge differently.
Having said that, I understand that for some Hugh Jackman may look like he's not fully involved in here at times. But the fact this feels like a Science Fiction noir ... well that really tingled me quite a lot. Also the overall casting is amazing. Daniel Wu may only be a bit player here, but his charisma and coolness oozes of the screen.
Add to that a wonderful cinematography and you could do far worse here. The story may be predictable to a degree and certain things may not make too much sense, but there is a philosophical note here ... and an ending that is the best possible I assume ... but you may judge differently.
I didn't think Reminiscence was a bad movie, certainly not like some other reviewers tried to portray it. The story was sometimes a bit difficult to follow, simplicity sometimes just works better, but at one point it all made sense, you just have to be patient. The acting could have been better, certainly with that cast, but again it wasn't all that bad either. My wife and I did enjoy this sci-fi thriller so no complaining here. Could it have been better? For sure, but that's the case with almost everything so just take a chill pill and try to enjoy a movie with its flaws.
- deloudelouvain
- Jan 28, 2022
- Permalink
Just wtached this movie and it was great. Enjoyed it the action is really good the music is good it suited the movie very well.
It isn't cheesy and it definitely isn't misogynistic like that one review said. Isn't any misoygni anywhere. The perosn who said that is 100% high.
The acting is great the story line is great. One of the greatest endings to a film I have ever watched!
It isn't cheesy and it definitely isn't misogynistic like that one review said. Isn't any misoygni anywhere. The perosn who said that is 100% high.
The acting is great the story line is great. One of the greatest endings to a film I have ever watched!
"Reminiscence" feels like an old film noir mystery movie with a modern twist. What could of been a more serious take on ideas seen in "total recall," instead takes things in a different direction with its decent plot.
The movie has some intriguing lines, interesting visuals, and boasts the beautiful Rebecca Fergusson if Hugh Jackman doesn't do it for you. An Interesting scifi movie, if nothing truly memorable.
The movie has some intriguing lines, interesting visuals, and boasts the beautiful Rebecca Fergusson if Hugh Jackman doesn't do it for you. An Interesting scifi movie, if nothing truly memorable.
- martinrobertson300482
- Aug 19, 2021
- Permalink
- SnoopyStyle
- Aug 24, 2021
- Permalink
The reviews are so overwhelmingly negative that I almost feel a moral obligation to come to the defense of this movie.
It is not a prefect effort, and perhaps it could have been better. But it is solid work for what it is. A great deal of thought, talent, and craftsmanship went into making this film, and it shows. The story was engaging. Honestly, I was bracing for boredom and found myself somewhat riveted once the story got going after the first 10 minutes or so. Parts of this movie were quite beautiful in design as well as narrative.
Without giving too much away, the story somewhat mirrors Vertigo, but within a film noir format. Perhaps it could have been better if the narrative was more realistic and gritty vs. Artistic and noir-ish - but who knows?
Lisa Joy ought to be commended for an intriguing story, meticulous and nuanced direction, and good pacing that causes neither confusion nor boredom - two ailments that many modern movies suffer from.
This isn't an action or superhero flick. You've got to pay attention and have your thinking hat on. If that's not your idea of entertainment, then take a pass. It is very respectable work. Enjoy it.
It is not a prefect effort, and perhaps it could have been better. But it is solid work for what it is. A great deal of thought, talent, and craftsmanship went into making this film, and it shows. The story was engaging. Honestly, I was bracing for boredom and found myself somewhat riveted once the story got going after the first 10 minutes or so. Parts of this movie were quite beautiful in design as well as narrative.
Without giving too much away, the story somewhat mirrors Vertigo, but within a film noir format. Perhaps it could have been better if the narrative was more realistic and gritty vs. Artistic and noir-ish - but who knows?
Lisa Joy ought to be commended for an intriguing story, meticulous and nuanced direction, and good pacing that causes neither confusion nor boredom - two ailments that many modern movies suffer from.
This isn't an action or superhero flick. You've got to pay attention and have your thinking hat on. If that's not your idea of entertainment, then take a pass. It is very respectable work. Enjoy it.
It's not much of a story, not much of a mystery, not much of a revenge story, not particularly deep, not particularly insightful and doesn't have half as much to say as it thinks it does.
Overall it's not a great movie, but it's well-crafted, well-acted and the cast and crew did a good job.
The script and idea behind it were lacklustre, but at least it wasn't boring and there was no noticeable dead time I could point at that wasn't needed for the story being told.
I mean there were elements that didn't add much and that could easily have been cut out, and the pacing was OK, but it wasn't really the kind of movie you need to nitpick that way. Not quite a popcorn flick, but maybe one rung above that.
Overall it's not a great movie, but it's well-crafted, well-acted and the cast and crew did a good job.
The script and idea behind it were lacklustre, but at least it wasn't boring and there was no noticeable dead time I could point at that wasn't needed for the story being told.
I mean there were elements that didn't add much and that could easily have been cut out, and the pacing was OK, but it wasn't really the kind of movie you need to nitpick that way. Not quite a popcorn flick, but maybe one rung above that.
- andrew-hill515
- Aug 19, 2021
- Permalink
It's an interesting concept, set in an interesting world of sci fi and film noir.
Unfortunately it dosn't work as well as it should, or is it as smart as it wants to be.
It's not without some great scenes, or without a great cast and characters. Some of the characters are great but feel badly drawn. Full respect to Cliff Curtis. He stands out. ( an oddly unappreciated actor )
It's a tragedy, but only if you manage to watch it to the end.
Unfortunately it dosn't work as well as it should, or is it as smart as it wants to be.
It's not without some great scenes, or without a great cast and characters. Some of the characters are great but feel badly drawn. Full respect to Cliff Curtis. He stands out. ( an oddly unappreciated actor )
It's a tragedy, but only if you manage to watch it to the end.
- themadcamel
- May 16, 2022
- Permalink
This is a near-future Noir that's very true to it's Golden Age antecedents. If you like the genre, it's worthwhile. Not original by any means, but that's not the intention: the opposite. Noir has it's tested format and tropes to which the movie conforms faithfully, and it still works. The lonely, jaded detective; the femme fatale; the brutish yet somewhat sympathetic antagonist; the cynical but honest friend: all very well cast, particularly Thandiwe Newton who I found very reminiscent of a Thelma Ritter in this. What this captures of the old movies that many comparable films don't is the sentimentality, and I think it eventually succeeds in it's central aim of generating a wistful atmosphere, though it's no "Out of the Past".
I wanted to see what the director had done with a favourite genre, and I apreciated it - it was to my taste.
I wanted to see what the director had done with a favourite genre, and I apreciated it - it was to my taste.
The premise may be interesting, but the story telling makes the film flat and dull. There's little chemistry between characters. I don't care about what happens to them, or rebar happens to the story.
I'm not going to discuss the movie at length, others will do that definitely, I'll just say that I left the theater feeling absolutely nothing.
I was not attached to any of the characters during any part of the movie, with such great cast and Lisa Joy at the helm it's hard to miss the point, but I think Reminiscence has missed it.
The story wants to be on one side of a disbanded/chaotic near future, and on another side a heavily policed and rule abiding citizens kind of future.
The cast is awesome, but there's absolutely no chemistry between them, I honestly feel like Hugh had more charisma and chemistry playing that teacher that was convicted for embezzlement.
And every other moral or lesson falls totally flat because of this weird world Lisa Joy has built and the lack of chemistry between the cast and the view with the cast.
It's a bit tragic to see something like this go to waste.
I was not attached to any of the characters during any part of the movie, with such great cast and Lisa Joy at the helm it's hard to miss the point, but I think Reminiscence has missed it.
The story wants to be on one side of a disbanded/chaotic near future, and on another side a heavily policed and rule abiding citizens kind of future.
The cast is awesome, but there's absolutely no chemistry between them, I honestly feel like Hugh had more charisma and chemistry playing that teacher that was convicted for embezzlement.
And every other moral or lesson falls totally flat because of this weird world Lisa Joy has built and the lack of chemistry between the cast and the view with the cast.
It's a bit tragic to see something like this go to waste.
- ArthurianX
- Aug 18, 2021
- Permalink
The first rule in film is Show, Don't Tell. A reasonably simple rule and one that the majority of films adhere too. Apparently 'Reminiscence' didn't get the memo though. The exposition in this film is bordering on ridiculous. First of all we have narration, and not just set up narration, but constant narration over-top of the majority of scenes. Then there are the cringe-inducing moments where the characters just talk us through everything that is going on. At one point a revelation is being revealed to the audience and Hugh Jackman's character is just summarising it point by point for us. It was embarrassing.
The film is so bland. It asks us to care about a mystery of a missing woman. However it completely forgets to make us care about her first. When she disappears you don't feel anything. If anything you're probably relieved she is gone because she was rather annoying.
The supporting roles are badly written, like fake imitations of real people. They feel more like Bond villains - just without anything interesting to say. The premise might sound interesting on the surface, but really it just takes away any need for characters to do any digging into the mystery. Why investigate when you can just plug someone in and watch? This movie was a total misfire and one I would certainly not recommend spending your hard-earned on.
The film is so bland. It asks us to care about a mystery of a missing woman. However it completely forgets to make us care about her first. When she disappears you don't feel anything. If anything you're probably relieved she is gone because she was rather annoying.
The supporting roles are badly written, like fake imitations of real people. They feel more like Bond villains - just without anything interesting to say. The premise might sound interesting on the surface, but really it just takes away any need for characters to do any digging into the mystery. Why investigate when you can just plug someone in and watch? This movie was a total misfire and one I would certainly not recommend spending your hard-earned on.
- jtindahouse
- Sep 1, 2021
- Permalink
Starting with the positive , excellent cast, fantastic setting .
However I can't get over the stilted script . Or the phenomenal setting reduced to staging by strange lighting and little world building. Then we have the score ,uh , what score? The barely there soundtrack added nothing .
I hate to be a downer but the whole time something felt off and I couldn't get past it. The film is a solid 6 , the cast's performances push it to a 7.
However I can't get over the stilted script . Or the phenomenal setting reduced to staging by strange lighting and little world building. Then we have the score ,uh , what score? The barely there soundtrack added nothing .
I hate to be a downer but the whole time something felt off and I couldn't get past it. The film is a solid 6 , the cast's performances push it to a 7.
- theknownames
- Aug 24, 2021
- Permalink
- Prismark10
- Aug 23, 2021
- Permalink
This is not going to be the most exciting movie you have ever seen. It is definitely a quiet, thoughtful, slow burn of a movie. But it is absolutely worth watching. While viewing, I got essences of Blade Runner meets the Minority Report meets just a hint of Inception. Don't get me wrong; it is not nearly as good as any of these movies, but it takes you on a mind bending, dark, futuristic journey that has a resolution which worked for the overall feel of the story. I think the final scene was the weakest, being completely illogical and impossible. I think the build-up of some of the character's relationships were definitely rushed and felt incomplete, like some bad editing had stolen moments that would have allowed me to care more about the characters. There are also come completely unbelievable scenes which take away from the movie as a whole, but it is a futuristic fantasy, so who am I to judge? However, overall the movie is completely watchable, and entertaining in a quiet way and has some really beautiful scenes. If you go into it not expecting more than it is, you will enjoy it.
- beckystodd
- Aug 25, 2021
- Permalink
Film is boring from start to finish, pretty good concept ruined by an incredibly bland story, I'm not sure I've ever cared less about characters.
REMINISCENCE is good, but it lifts SO MUCH from Kathryn Bigelow's STRANGE DAYS (1995), that you should probably just see that instead.
It started with a good idea (Inception inspiration) past the first half hour everything will change, slowly i lost interest, it's boring, weak plot and some weird moments that I just wanted the movie to end... sorry this is not Inception, not even close!
Overall: 76.5/100
I honestly enjoyed this film. It was visually stunning with good action. It had an enjoyable score that brought the intensity of some scenes out. The chemistry between Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson was beautiful and nearly perfect. I enjoyed the romance between them. The pace of the film was decent. A lot happened in just the first hour, but when I checked the time that's when things started to drag a bit. However, the story was still good even with it hopping about too much and not thoroughly explaining a couple minor details, but overall everything connected in the end. Speaking of end. The end gave enough closure that I wasn't sitting there wondering what I just watched.
Overall, though I may be in the minority, I would recommend watching this film at least once.
Enjoy the show!
I honestly enjoyed this film. It was visually stunning with good action. It had an enjoyable score that brought the intensity of some scenes out. The chemistry between Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson was beautiful and nearly perfect. I enjoyed the romance between them. The pace of the film was decent. A lot happened in just the first hour, but when I checked the time that's when things started to drag a bit. However, the story was still good even with it hopping about too much and not thoroughly explaining a couple minor details, but overall everything connected in the end. Speaking of end. The end gave enough closure that I wasn't sitting there wondering what I just watched.
Overall, though I may be in the minority, I would recommend watching this film at least once.
Enjoy the show!
- PerryAtTheMovies
- Aug 20, 2021
- Permalink
The characters of Jackman and Ferguson make a quick connection in this film. Later in the film their sincerity is called into question. Does he seek to re-live his memories out of love or obsession or avoidance of prison time? Does she use lost keys as an excuse or as an adventure or as a desperate cry for help? There are several layers to this film which is why the viewer needs to give it at least two viewings to discover them all. Follow this advice and you will enjoy the results.
- jdianahall
- Aug 24, 2021
- Permalink