The Mosley Review: Reminiscence
It seems to be a continuing trend nowadays to have a neo noir murder mystery that has a foot in the sci fi realm. Tech noir films like the Blade Runner series or even Minority Report are great examples, but their more heightened sci fi mysteries. I like the type of films that have those same elements, but are stripped down to something more simple and comfortable to digest. This film does that well and doesn't venture out of its own bubble to try and dazzle with overly complicated action sequences or visual effects. I found that refreshing and even though one of the action scenes was very stiff, the main focus was the storytelling and that's really rare. I liked the simple setting of the world and the many great visuals that aided the story in many great ways. There was a great deal of intimacy amongst the set pieces and the characters themselves that made this film compelling to watch. Without this cast, I think this would've been dead in the water to be honest.
Hugh Jackman leads this mystery as the charismatic and troubled protagonist Nick Bannister. I liked that he wasn't a hero, but more of a simple man trying to make his way in a sinking city. I loved his determination to find the truth and you truly feel his agony as his heart breaks when the truth starts to unravel around him. Thandiwe Newton was excellent as his partner Emily "Watts" Sanders. She has just as many demons as Nick since they're both war veterans and I liked that she didn't shy away from that. There is a bond between them and their chemistry is really great. Rebecca Ferguson stuns once again as the elusive love interest Mae. She was the very definition of a classic femme fatale. The sexual energy between her and Nick was so palpable and the love they share was genuine. Even though her story is a little cliche, it was still entertaining and well performed. Daniel Wu was smooth and fun as the villainous crime lord Saint Joe and I liked that he wasn't too over the top. Cliff Curtis is always fantastic and he brings his most sinister skills to the character of Cyrus Boothe. He was a key in the mystery and I loved the reveals that happen with him.
The score Ramin Djawadi was haunting, electric, soothing and superb all around. I loved his play on the typical noir thematic score with the use of more bass tones and warm tones in the more sensual moments. The weakest parts for me were the action scenes themselves. The shootout was very stiff and you see where the director tried to add some flair, but it was weak. The fight scene toward the end was fun though. The tone of the film was consistent throughout, but it felt flat at times and was on the cusp of something truly amazing. Visually the film was stunning and I loved the device that was used to watch people's memories. Writer and Director Lisa Joy has made a really fun noir detective story that has a great design, but lacks the polish for it to be as memorable. I still recommend this for a great matinee screening. The film is currently in theaters and streaming on HBO Max. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
