The Reel Review
Nick (Hugh Jackman) is a memory detective in a dystopian, flooded Miami of the future, using chemicals and a hologram machine called reminiscence, to transport clients back into past memories. When a new client (Rebecca Ferguson) disappears, his obsession to find her uncovers a deadly conspiracy in this sci-fi/romantic mystery.
Director Lisa Joy (Westworld) and husband Jonathan clearly intended to one-up his brother, director Christopher Nolan (Inception, Interstellar, Tenet) in the nonsensical plot department – creating a stylish, weirdly confusing, film noiry-type detective thriller. It borrows heavily from Blade Runner and Minority Report. But what it really is, with its embarrassingly awful dialogue, is a pretentious, tedious hot mess. It literally makes no sense.
The only two bright spots in this low wattage extravaganza are Thandiwe Newton, as Jackman’s assistant, and wide shots of flooded, climate-distressed Miami. The bizarre story finally gets back on the rails ever so slightly in the third act – but with such a repellent first hour and a half, it is highly unlikely you’ll still be watching.
REEL FACTS
• Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson co-starred in 2017’s The Greatest Showman.
• Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, creators of Westworld, also worked with Reminiscence co-stars Thandiwe Newton and Angela Sarafyan on the popular HBO series.
• Thandiwe Newton formerly went professionally by the name Thandie, but decided to re-add the “w” in 2021.
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