By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Lisa Joy, the co-creator/writer and executive producer of HBO’s sci-fi drama “Westworld” makes an impressive big screen directorial debut with
“Reminiscence,” an intriguing and stylish dystopian tale.
Hugh “Wolverine” Jackman (“Free Guy”) stars as Nick Bannister, a former military soldier living in Miami. Nick now works as a private investigator, but he’s a different breed. He and his assistant Watts (Thandie Newton, TV’s “Westworld”) run a unique business geared toward helping people retain their fondest memories, their favorite moments in life, because for many of them the future of Miami looks dismal. Climate change has left much of the city underwater and uninhabitable. Other social issues are at play too.
No wonder people want to escape from this madness and find a happier place even if it’s only temporarily in their minds. Nick and Watts have some incredible technology. Those fortunate enough can strap into some fancy gadgets and they are soon transported to their special memories.
It’s a routine business for Nick until a gorgeous woman named Mae (Rebecca Ferguson, “Mission Impossible 7 & 8” and “The Greatest Showman”) saunters in with a simple enough request. She’s looking for her lost keys. It’s love at first sight for Nick. As her request plays out, the more Nick falls hard for Mae. When Mae leaves, Nick becomes obsessed with finding out as much as he can about her.
Nick’s frantic search uncovers Mae’s dark and dangerous world that is comprised of drug dealers (Daniel Wu, TV’s “Into the Badlands”) and crooked cops (the superb Cliff Curtis, “Avatar 2” ) and even murder.
There are enough interesting twists that keep “Reminiscence” floating right along. However, it’s Jackman who anchors the film and without him this would be just another run of the mill sci fi adventure. With him front and center and with Lisa Joy’s direction, “Reminiscence” is a mind-bending and memorable experience.
You can catch "Reminiscence" in theaters on Aug. 20 and on HBO Max.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Check Out This Trailer For
"REMINISCENCE"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
