• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson star in a scene from the movie "Reminiscence." The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (CNS photo/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Movie Review: ‘Reminiscence’

August 20, 2021
By John Mulderig
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews, World News

NEW YORK (CNS) — Part dystopian adventure, part neo-noir mystery, “Reminiscence” (Warner Bros.) is undone by its own sense of importance.

Along the path of its protagonist’s quest, moreover, a relationship that speedily turns sexual is just one of several factors that make writer-director Lisa Joy’s thriller fit for grown-ups only.

Though the phrase climate change is never invoked, it’s pretty clear from Joy’s script why the flooded and overheated Miami of the future in which it’s set — where people lead nocturnal lives to avoid the swelter of daytime — is in the state it is. Between the warmth, the wet and a series of wars in the recent past, existence is so miserable that people use advanced technology to retreat into earlier and better times.

Hard-bitten veteran Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman) makes his living as an expert guide in that process, deploying his voice in the manner of a hypnotist to help clients access their cherished memories. A seemingly chance encounter with an alluring customer, nightclub singer Mae (Rebecca Ferguson), swiftly leads previously isolated Nick into an intense romance.

After their affair is abruptly broken off by Mae’s sudden disappearance, however, Nick becomes obsessed with tracking her down, despite the warnings of his business partner and best friend, Emily (Thandiwe Newton). Was Mae as innocent as she appeared to be or a femme fatale? Did she abscond of her own free will or was she abducted?

Dialogue burdened with pretentious philosophical reflections on the nature of time and the mechanics of memory make it unlikely that viewers will feel especially invested in Nick’s search. And Joy’s use of plot developments to depict all wealthy people as heartless, cowardly exploiters comes across as more than a little simplistic.

It’s taken for granted, of course, that Nick and Mae should tumble into bed together after two brief meetings. More unusually, perhaps, Nick also goes on to wreak torturous revenge on one of his adversaries, crooked cop Cyrus Booth (Cliff Curtis). Although Nick recognizes this as a transgression for which he must do penance, the underlying morality of the picture’s wrap-up remains murky.

Mature moviegoers willing to navigate such dubious material will find their reward a meager one. While “Reminiscence” offers some enjoyably moody moments — Mae’s performance of the Rodgers and Hart classic “Where or When” among them — the intervals between these rare highlights prove tedious.

The film contains much stylized violence, including gunplay and torture, a vengeance theme, semi-graphic premarital sexual activity, about a half-dozen instances each of profanity and milder swearing as well as numerous crude and crass terms. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.    


More Movie Reviews

Movie Review: ‘Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie’

Movie Review: ‘Deliver Us’

Writers’ strike over as union secures landmark deal with AI-related labor protections

Movie Review: ‘Expend4bles’

Videogame Review: ‘Under the Waves’

Movie Review: ‘A Million Miles Away’

Copyright © 2021 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

John Mulderig

Catholic News Service is a leading agency for religious news. Its mission is to report fully, fairly and freely on the involvement of the church in the world today.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Baltimore’s beloved Brooks Robinson, Catholic convert, dies at 86
  • Archbishop Lori will ordain 14 permanent deacons Sept. 30
  • Frank Bramble, 75, put his business skills to charitable use throughout archdiocese
  • ‘The most equitable path for all victim-survivors’ – Archdiocese of Baltimore files for Chapter 11 reorganization
  • Fire in packed hall turns wedding joy into tragedy in northern Iraq, killing more than 100

| Latest Local News |

‘The most equitable path for all victim-survivors’ – Archdiocese of Baltimore files for Chapter 11 reorganization

Mount Calvary parishioners combines music, farming and family

New chief advancement officer for Archdiocese of Baltimore sees role as support for ministry

| Latest World News |

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, remembered for ‘extraordinary’ legacy and Barrett controversy, dies at 90

New cardinals say building church unity is urgent need

New cardinals bring experience of ‘peripheries’ to universal church

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Sen. Dianne Feinstein, remembered for ‘extraordinary’ legacy and Barrett controversy, dies at 90
  • ‘The most equitable path for all victim-survivors’ – Archdiocese of Baltimore files for Chapter 11 reorganization
  • New cardinals say building church unity is urgent need
  • New cardinals bring experience of ‘peripheries’ to universal church
  • Movie Review: ‘Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie’
  • Cupich: Embracing ‘integral ethic of solidarity’ key to living the Gospel in polarized times
  • Basilian Sisters given Catholic Extension’s top honor for ‘powerful witness’ amid peril in Ukraine
  • Apostolate addresses often overlooked grief from pregnancy, infant loss
  • Mount Calvary parishioners combines music, farming and family

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED