★★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 primarily based on a Belgian novel from 1985 known 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 towards the principles and refuses to finish a job for a harmful legal group, they activate him. Abruptly Alex is within the sights of, not simply the group, however the FBI, and Mexican intelligence as effectively. Usually Alex would have the ability to deal with the stress however when he begins scuffling with extreme reminiscence loss, he begins to query himself and his expertise, & he can’t even belief himself?
The premise of Reminiscence is a singular one: a hitman who’s affected by the start phases of Alzheimer’s. The story is sophisticated and takes some shocking turns, led by an murderer along with his personal set of morals. The proper anti-hero. The addition of a crippling psychological dysfunction makes for an awesome sympathetic character.
Liam Neeson does an awesome 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 necessary particulars (“The place was I final night time?”). 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 susceptible. 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 ought to be, he’s a hothead and captivated with particular circumstances due to his background and historical past.
Coincidentally, this hitman movie falls quick in its execution. It isn’t a gradual film by any means. There’s all the time one thing taking place, 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 necessary, really feel long-winded.
There’s numerous 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 companion, 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 awesome one. Sadly, Reminiscence gained’t be a film dedicated to everybody’s… reminiscence.
