★★½
Reminiscence is an motion thriller movie directed by Martin Campbell (On line casino Royale), starring Liam Neeson, Man Pearce, Monica Bellucci, Taj Atwal, Ray Fearon, Harold Torres, and Ray Stevenson. It’s based mostly on a Belgian novel from 1985 referred to as, “De Zaak Alzheimer” by Jef Geeraerts which was already tailored right into a 2003 Belgian movie titled, “The Reminiscence of a Killer.”
Alex (Neeson) is an knowledgeable murderer. He is aware of what he’s doing and has been at it for years. However when he goes in opposition to the foundations and refuses to finish a job for a harmful prison group, they activate him. Instantly Alex is within the sights of, not simply the group, however the FBI, and Mexican intelligence as properly. Usually Alex would have the ability to deal with the stress however when he begins combating extreme reminiscence loss, he begins to query himself and his expertise, & he can’t even belief himself?
The premise of Reminiscence is a novel one: a hitman who’s affected by the start levels of Alzheimer’s. The story is difficult and takes some stunning turns, led by an murderer together with his personal set of morals. The right anti-hero. The addition of a crippling psychological dysfunction makes for an incredible sympathetic character.
Liam Neeson does an incredible job as Alex. He tugs at our heartstrings as he struggles to recollect the smallest factor (“The place did I put my keys?”) to extra essential particulars (“The place was I final evening?”). It’s nice to see him stretch his performing chops on this new tackle a task we’ve seen him in loads of occasions earlier than. That is removed from the hitman we’re used to seeing from Neeson: the chilly and pushed sharpshooter that walks away on the finish of the film with hardly a scratch on him. No, Alex makes errors. He’s weak. He questions himself and, at occasions, is surprisingly reckless.
Man Pierce does an equally terrific job as haunted FBI agent Vincent Serra. As each Hollywood FBI agent protagonist must be, he’s a hothead and obsessed with particular instances due to his background and historical past.
Coincidentally, this hitman movie falls quick in its execution. It isn’t a sluggish film by any means. There’s at all times one thing occurring, and it is very important pay shut consideration to the small print sprinkled all through. Nonetheless, it does come throughout as prolonged. Every of the scenes, whereas essential, really feel long-winded.
There’s plenty of promise within the plot and within the backgrounds of all of the distinctive characters: the hitman with Alzheimer’s, the FBI agent with a mysterious previous, the hotheaded colleague, the insightful accomplice, and the attractive however evil mastermind. Sadly, most of these characters aren’t utilized to their full potential. It is a good film however not an incredible one. Sadly, Reminiscence received’t be a film dedicated to everybody’s… reminiscence.
