Review of Déjà Vu (2006) by Spangle — 30 Apr 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 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.