Movie Review: DEJA VU

The film "Déjà vu" will show you some things you have already seen before, and then some things that are fairly new.

"Déjà vu" centers around an ATF agent who seeks to catch a man who bombed a ferry, killing hundreds of people connected to the Navy. His investigation soon becomes based around the murder of a woman found down the river from the explosion and the usage of a secret government technology that ultimately allows time travel. The film has director Tony Scott teaming up once again with actor Denzel Washington.

Denzel Washington Most recently worked with Scott on the film "Man On Fire". Denzel's performance in "Déjà vu" comes of with a slight less amount of passion, which is an overall feeling that comes across in Scott's works in general. The film is rich in color and film techniques, but this Tony Scott calling card seems to be more of a focus than the actual story or acting performances put in sometimes. Everything from the acting perspective just seems more toned down and stale in comparison to the grounds covered with technology. In "Man on Fire" and another Scott film "Domino" the director toyed with lots of flashes during scene cuts. The effects are head ache inducing for many people and epileptics beware. On a positive note "Déjà vu" spars the viewer any of this high intensity screen flashes, but some how, maybe it is the color tones, the headaches gained are like déjà vu. Viewers already accustomed to high definition television and such probably would have a better time viewing such movie magic.

Aside from Denzel Washington, Val Kilmar, Paula Patton, and James Caviezel put in supporting performances with James being the most notable and intense. Adam Goldberg and several other recognizable faces also round out the cast, however their roles are just the same generic, and emotionless background fodder like Jack Black and company were for the Tony Scott film "Enemy of the State"; sitting around looking at monitors with a pointless line here and there.

There is one reason to watch "Déjà vu" and that is in regards to an innovative chase scene. A car chase scene that has Washington's character viewing a vehicle in the past while he himself is driving in the present, all courtesy of a special time traveling sort of head-rig, is spectacular fun. IF the rest of the film could have kept up with the same type of energy created via this one extended chase scene then the film would have been an action blockbuster in direct competition with such films as Michael Bay's "Bad Boys 2". However, as it stands Michael Bay keeps the edge and Tony Scott's film is going to be more easily forgotten.

There is at least one huge, glaring plot-hole (as with almost any time travel movie) that also has the potential to ruin the film if you catch it.

"Déjà vu" tries to build on a "seen it before" plot and fails to deliver the goods fully. All and all a solid rental if there is nothing else to be seen, the ending is even decent, but I wouldn't recommend getting it and expecting to be excited or all over impressed. It feels like just another work churned out with Tony Scott's calling card attached and little else.