2006's Denzel Washington Thriller Movie Deja Vu

Keep Redoing It Until It's Right

By John Gugie, published Dec 30, 2006
Published Content: 496  Total Views: 225,014  Favorited By: 80 CPs
Rating: 2.7 of 5
A ferry filled with over 500 Navy sailors and their families is blown up in New Orleans on. ATF Agent Doug Carlin (Denzel Washington) is brought in to assist FBI agent Andrew Pryzwarra (Val Kilmer) in the investigation, and gets attached to an experimental FBI surveillance unit, one that uses space folding technology to look back a into the past. While tracking down the bomber, Carlin gets an idea in his head; could they use the device to actually travel back in time and not only prevent the bombing but also the murder of a local woman whose truck was used in the bombing?

I saw the trailer for this back in November and thought it looked interesting because it dealt with reliving the same events over, much like the new show Day Break, but I wasn't exactly sure how it was supposed to be done.

I had no idea what to expect as it began to unfold like your standard detective thriller with a ferry exploding, ATF Agent Doug Carlin (Denzel) questioning witnesses, families of victims, watching surveillance videos - your standard gumshoe. Then it got weird after FBI agent Andrew Pryzwarra (Kilmer) brings Carlin into the FBI's investigation, and shows him a experimental FBI surveillance unit which can look back in time four and a half days utilizing satellite images. I thought "Okay, I can buy that."

The main focus of Carlin's is that of a young woman, Claire, who was killed around the same time as the ferryboat explosion. He believes that if they can find her killer, they'll also find the person who planted the bomb.

But then Carlin starts questioning it and eventually they tell him that it is indeed a kind of time machine. From here on out, the movie changes from a standard detective thriller into a sci-fi time travel paradox film.

Poster for Deja Vu

Credit: unknown

Copyright: unknown

Takeaways
  • This isn't usually something I'd expect Denzel to take a role in but he did great.
  • Denzel Washington puts in a solid performance as usual.
  • A well-acted, intriguing story with a little bit of a thinker aspect due to the time travel paradoxes.
Did You Know?
Tony Scott, Denzel Washington, 'Val Kilmer' and James Caviezel held a news conference upon their arrival to New Orleans to announce their intention to employ the local New Orleans community and incorporate post-Katrina New Orleans into the film.
Comments
Showing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
 
 
I love the concept of time travel as what I've seen in "The Butterfly Effect". Too bad the Agent Carlin from the future died and did not had a chance to see the Agent Carlin of the past.

Posted on 07/26/2007 at 3:07:00 AM

 
"ok"..one neat chase scene, but the rest was a bit of a yawn and some errors in the plot

Posted on 07/08/2007 at 11:07:00 AM

 
This is a great movie. My wife and I just recently got the DVD recently, and we love it! Unfortunately, the critics weren't very kind to the movie. Great review!

Posted on 05/08/2007 at 7:05:00 PM

 
Deja Vu was a great movie and you should really go and see it. Denzel Washington and the rest of the cast did an awsome job. That is why Denzel is nominated for Favorite Male Movie Star for the People's Choice Award. It is airing LIVE on January 9, 2007 on CBS at 9pm. I work for the People's Choice Award Community and you can go to http://pcavote.webboard.com and leave a question for your favorite celebrity and it might be chosen to be answered LIVE during the broadcast. Check it out and leave a question!

Posted on 01/04/2007 at 11:01:00 AM

 
Thanks for a great review, well done. I am very much looking forward to seeing the movie.

Posted on 12/31/2006 at 2:12:00 AM

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