DVD Review: Deja Vu

Déjà Vu brings together actor Denzel Washington, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Tony Scott. This movie is a well-balanced blend of science fiction and action that appeals to both the average film viewer and the science fiction fan.

Washington plays ATF agent Doug Carlin, who investigates a terrorist bombing in New Orleans post-Katrina. An explosion aboard a ferryboat kills over 540 people, including many U.S. sailors. The body of a young woman washes up, but does not fit with the other victims of the blast. Though the body appears to be a victim of the explosion. Carlin learns it had actually been discovered minutes before the bomb was detonated.

During the investigation, Carlin meets FBI agent Andrew Pyzwarra (Val Kilmer) and his team of experts who invite him to join their group. Using top-secret surveillance technology, they are able to look back in time over the last four days by coordinating security cameras and heat detectors from satellites.

As Carlin examines watches the events leading up to the terror attack, he begins to fall in love with the victim Claire Kuchever (Paula Patton). He also begins to suspect there's more to this technology than his colleagues are telling him. Carlin begins looking for a way to go back in time to prevent Claire's death and stop terrorist Carroll Oerstadt (Jim Caviezel) before he can blow up the ferry.

Washington turns in a very good performance as Carlin, Patton is likeable as Claire, and Caviezel is very chilling as Oerstadt. But it is Adam Goldberg who steals the show providing humor as Denny, a lab technician on Pyzwarra's team. The screenplay is well written by Bill Masilii and Terry Rossio (Bruckheimer's Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy).

DVD bonus features include the featurettes "The Surveillance Window," which takes the viewer "back in time" to witness behind-the-scenes moments with the filmmakers. This documentary examines the film's stunts, the ferry explosion, a split-time car chase, as well as filming in New Orleans. The DVD also contains deleted and extended scenes.

Altogether, Déjà vu is a very good action thriller with some science fiction thrown in. The film is well written, produced and directed, and the cast members turn in some very good performances. This is the third film in which Denzel Washington and Tony Scott have worked together. I really enjoyed this film, and I look forward to seeing Washington and Scott work together again.