Read Mixed User Reviews for Deja Vu

5

BallisticYoursFeb 16, 2008

Agent Doug only went back in time once, as shown in him popping up in the hospital..the ambulance in the blown-up shack was there just to add drama that things seem to be coming to predictable end, since Doug hadn't gone back in time Agent Doug only went back in time once, as shown in him popping up in the hospital..the ambulance in the blown-up shack was there just to add drama that things seem to be coming to predictable end, since Doug hadn't gone back in time then. Same thing with the bloody clothes and Doug's fingerprints all over Claire's apartment. Tony Scott and crew should hv studied their time travel theories better. Heck,maybe they should have read their script, since one of the scientists used the Mississippi River analogy that once u change an event, it will spew into a different travel line. It's really all inconsistent. But have to admit, that car chase scene,no matter ridiculous, looked cool. The Back to the Future films are the best time-travel films since the people behind them were really intellectuals, and thought the storylines out before producing them. Deja vu is bordering on fantasy..Lord of the Rings had more reality than this film!!… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful

4

DarrylCriticApr 23, 2007

When someone writes "A perfect movie with good actors and a more than perfect scenario" when most experienced and respected critics found it imperfect, you tend to take that "perfect" review with a grain, no, make that a bushel of salt. (Jim When someone writes "A perfect movie with good actors and a more than perfect scenario" when most experienced and respected critics found it imperfect, you tend to take that "perfect" review with a grain, no, make that a bushel of salt. (Jim A., you're not doing yourself any favours.)… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

4

KurisuD.Oct 30, 2007

Went into the movie with suspicions. (oh great another time-traveling movie). The movie started off innocently enough, but soon turned to hogwash as a seemingly too many convenient series of preposterous events unfolded. Some average ATF Went into the movie with suspicions. (oh great another time-traveling movie). The movie started off innocently enough, but soon turned to hogwash as a seemingly too many convenient series of preposterous events unfolded. Some average ATF agent getting super Top Secret clearance to the nations most advanced technology. Not to mention such technology and the explanation of it were a complete joke especially compared to movies like Minority Report that managed to pull off such difficult plots. This ATF agent suddenly became the leader with authority to do whatever he wanted ordering people around and taking whatever technology he wanted. Where are all the guards? He just walks right in for God's sake toward the end. Despite all this the last 20 minutes or so kept me entertained/intrigued enough to bump the score up to a 4.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

6

SpangleMay 1, 2017

The problem with many Tony Scott films is that, in spite of his impeccable style, they are just hollow and cliche action films. Though repainted with a nice, new glossy sheen, the wall still has the same cracks and faults in spite of its newThe problem with many Tony Scott films is that, in spite of his impeccable style, they are just hollow and cliche action films. Though repainted with a nice, new glossy sheen, the wall still has the same cracks and faults in spite of its new coat of paint. Deja Vu is another entry in his filmography that suffers from this. Though featuring Scott's highly frenetic style of shooting action with rapid cuts and imagery that looks obscured by the sun with the brightness jacked way up, the film is undeniably stylish, but is often derailed by cliches, pure insanity, and a derivative ending where Scott takes the safe way out after creating such a compelling film beforehand. That said, where this film excels is when it treads off the beaten path. Taking a truly inspired approach to the concept of deja vu, the film is often quite smart, innovative, and a truly unique watch. It is a shame, however, to have to accept those strokes of originality while also having to accept the film's banal predictability and over-reliance on action cliches.

This originality comes in how Scott indulges in his fascination with surveillance. Previously deeply explored in his 1998 film Enemy of the State, the theme returns in Deja Vu when a bomb explodes on a ship, killing 543 people. ATF agent Douglas Carlin (Denzel Washington) is brought onto the case due to his sharp eye and ability to quickly identify what needs to be looked into further. Quickly, he figures out the key to the case is the death of a woman named Claire Kuchever (Paula Patton). Joining the team of FBI agent Paul Pryzwarra (Val Kilmer), Carlin is made privy of a special surveillance tool. Allowing the agents to look into the past on an alternate plane of time, the agents watch Claire in her home and try to find when her path crosses with the terrorist. Unfortunately, they can only look four and half days into the past from any given point. Attempts to try and change the future and capture the terrorist before he bombs the boat can certainly be made, but is it possible to avoid destiny?

A major theme in the film is undoubtedly destiny and how we change our own. If a person is destined to do something, is it at all possible to be able to change it? Coming out a year after Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans, this Bayou-set thriller certainly plays on how people tried to explain that natural disaster. The hurricane rings a chord throughout the film with people explaining how the bombing is different because it was not a natural disaster. The terrorist has a home in the 9th ward, one of the most brutally destroyed areas of the city. This concept of destiny and "God's will" as an explanation for the bombing could also be chosen to explain why the hurricane happened. Showing how somethings are simply ordained and unavoidable no matter what happens, Deja Vu is a deep believer is destiny until it comes time for Denzel to save the day. Yet, until then, its exploration of destiny and how fruitless it is to change small events along the way in the hope that it will change things at the end, is quite inspired. With each scenario and alteration adding up with throwaway plot points from the beginning that shows the deja vu inherent in the whole film, the film is incredibly tightly written, but also quite engaging. In essence, ignoring the ending, the film is about how even if we know something is coming, it is best to just brace for impact because something's cannot be run from, no matter where we bolt.

It is this ending that ruins not only the themes, but the sheer insanity of the film. Though it escapes the realm of reality with this infusion of science fiction, Deja Vu's stylish cinematography and glossy plot nearly lift it over the hurdles. However, once they zone in on the terrorist and shootouts and explosions ensue, Deja Vu becomes quite pedestrian. It is obvious Denzel will just come in and save the day in spite of the film telling the audience until then that a person cannot go back in time and cannot change destiny. It is a shame to see Scott indulge the more basic action cliches, a trait he often does embrace, in this otherwise finely tuned and impeccably smart thriller that may be implausible with gaping plotholes, but is otherwise entertaining and greatly unique.

With a strong central performance from Denzel Washington, Deja Vu is another stylish collaboration between he and the tragically late Tony Scott. In spite of a unique build-up, some time travel, and unexpected science fiction, Deja Vu is a surveillance thriller that explores destiny courtesy of Scott's fast paced style. With quick cuts and a sun-drenched camera, the film looks similar to Michael Bay's Bad Boys or Scott's earlier film Man on Fire. Though an improvement on the latter, Deja Vu still ends too predictably to rise completely over mediocrity and settles into being nothing more than an above average film.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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6

grandpajoe6191Sep 29, 2011

The movie starts out cool and brazen, but in the end it barely manages to hold itself from the tireless cliches it created. A movie I would recommend to rent & watch.

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

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6

lordjrsApr 21, 2012

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's a "okay" film, the end was strange... it doesn't fit with the rest of the plot, the man should have died with the accident... Well, at least it's entertaining... and the car chase scene was the best part of the movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

ZalDec 24, 2012

It has a great concept, but Deja Vu tries to do too much at once. It attempts to combine several genres at once and does not succeed at executing any of them well. It's pretty forgettable.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

StaticSpineOct 17, 2013

Rather pretentious movie, but it has some real flaws like stupidities in the story and very shallow characters with uneven motivation. The plot has potential though it's not realized properly. The only good things are filming and production.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

6

HariS.Feb 21, 2007

Taking out the absurdly and illogical end, this film is amazing, with a very interesting idea and one of most original car-chasing sequences in the movie history.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

4

ChristopherJ.Jun 3, 2007

This film was ok, except that the end was a little unclear, and also the scientists are too easily influenced by the ATF agent. So if you really like "Hollywood reality", then this film will not disappoint you. If you like to watch This film was ok, except that the end was a little unclear, and also the scientists are too easily influenced by the ATF agent. So if you really like "Hollywood reality", then this film will not disappoint you. If you like to watch sophisticated human dramas, this isn't for you.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

5

BillyB.Dec 6, 2006

This film just reminded me of so many time warping movies from the past and there is no new ideas in this movie prior to what they make you believe.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

5

RobertxxxNov 22, 2006

We've all looked at our watch during dull movies to see how much longer it's going to last--but after six minutes? this film stumbles from the start and never recovers; a silly time-capsule story that builds absolutely no suspense.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

6

KyleM.Dec 2, 2006

Nobody said it best as the guy sitting next to us in a crowded theatre that Denzel packed. "Whattttt?" he said after the last scene of this move, which is completely unbelievable. They tried to put out something half-believable and thought Nobody said it best as the guy sitting next to us in a crowded theatre that Denzel packed. "Whattttt?" he said after the last scene of this move, which is completely unbelievable. They tried to put out something half-believable and thought provoking...for that they get 4 points and 1 for Jerry Bruckheimer-esque things blowing up. Acting wasn't terrible, but if you want me to believe that you can have high-quality video of the past and Denzel can travel through time, get some nerd-looking scientists who know what they… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

6

howardp.Nov 24, 2007

Good grade B sci-fi action fare. Denzel sleepwalks through the role. The chase scene on the highway was the film's high point. Very creative.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

6

JudyT.Nov 22, 2006

Deja phooey, this movie would have been more interesting if Denzel hadn't gotten interested in Claire. The surviellance and time stream were interesting. Everything was going well until Denzel's character started focusing on the Deja phooey, this movie would have been more interesting if Denzel hadn't gotten interested in Claire. The surviellance and time stream were interesting. Everything was going well until Denzel's character started focusing on the girl. Just like Timecop the ending is for people who need happy ending and not something really interesting to ponder.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

5

TyranianSep 30, 2019

Fairly entertaining and Washington is good but the plot just doesn't add up.