Déjà Vu

Movies that deal with the phenomenon of time travel always require a suspension of disbelief. As the latest thriller from director Tony Scott (who has finally done away with the choppy editing style that plagued his previous films Man on Fire and Domino), Déjà Vu tries its best to explain the physics behind its more fantastic plot points. It involves the coordination of satellites; billions of dollars in government funded electronic power; a ragtag team of computer geeks; and some seriously detailed navigation capabilities that put Google Earth to shame. You could drive yourself crazy thinking about how all of it is possible, so it’s probably best to leave all manner of logic at the door and just enjoy the ride. The premise involves a terrorist bombing of a New Orleans ferryboat, and it’s up to ATF agent Denzel Washington to locate the perpetrator in the past, follow his actions leading up to the blast, and obtain enough evidence to nail him in the present. Things become complicated when a woman, whose body was recovered from the wreckage, is found to have been killed before the incident ever occurred. The film starts out as an intriguing detective mystery before gradually becoming a full-fledged time travel adventure, and it is riveting every step of the way. Of course there are a couple of problems—as the villain, Jim Caviezel is given too little attention, and as the romantic interest, Paula Patton’s character is developed far too late in the game—but for the most part, Déjà Vu works. A wonderfully intricate script, some beautiful camerawork, and a spot on performance by Washington make this one of the best time travel thrillers in years.

Directed by Tony Scott.
Written by Bill Marsilii and Terry Rossio.
Starring Denzel Washington, Val Kilmer, Jim Caviezel, Paula Patton, Adam Goldberg, Elden Henson, Matt Craven and Bruce Greenwood.

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and terror, disturbing images and some sensuality. 128 min.

**** so says The Fish