Both Be My escape and Pel had the opportunity to see remember Me at a prescreening. First up we have Jen’s (Be My Escape’s) review. Pel’s will be up in a bit (she’s been working 14 hours days and is a little tired right now.) Please be aware that like with any review there are spoilers involved. So without further ado, Jen’s review:
I was lucky enough to see Remember Me at a screening a few weeks ago. I have to say I didn’t go in with any expectations. I hadn’t even really explored what the movie was about except that Rob Pattinson was in it and that wasn’t necessarily my motivation for seeing the film. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the script. New York City was used as the backdrop but the usual iconic scenery wasn’t rammed down your throat. It was a nice change of pace. Allen Coulter clearly took care in presenting the city in a way that people who live there can respect and understand.
The opening scene of Remember Me was haunting and sets the tone for the rest of the film. Tyler (Rob Pattinson) and Ally (Emilie de Ravin) have both been touched by tragedy and each is dealing with it in their own way. Ally’s motto is to live everyday to fullest knowing things can change in an instant. Emilie de Ravin plays Ally with just enough balance of playfulness and shadowed past. Her interactions with Pattinson are genuine and the chemistry is fantastic.
In Remember Me, how each person deals with tragedy is essential to who they are. Tyler (Rob Pattinson) suffers a loss that causes him to lose his way. He becomes the self indulgent, poor little rich boy who hates his father. Pattinson plays the part to perfection. Tyler becomes a relatable character brought to life by the combination of strong script writing, intelligent directing, and the subtle pain Pattinson brings to the character.
The film is a beautiful story about finding one’s self in spite of what you have been through and knowing that things can change in an instant. The family dynamics, whether it be Ally’s dad (Chris Cooper)being driven to extremes because of his over protectiveness or Tyler’s dad (Pierce Brosnan) being cool and aloof, not knowing how to care for his children, the dynamics are all recognizable characteristics in the average family.
Now let’s get to the part everyone wants to know about, the end. Any story set in NYC in 2001 runs the risk of being too painful to watch. 9/11 is like an old wound still sensitive to the touch, any movie that includes the topic doesn’t always appeal to the masses. In this case however the subject matter is handled with extreme delicacy and respect to those who lived through the experience. It is not driving force of the story but an element that adds another layer.
Overall if you are looking for a film that showcases Rob Pattinson as a knock-off version of Edward Cullen this is not it. The film is so much more than just a vehicle for Rob. The family dynamics and lack of direction that Tyler has are all things that average people can relate to. This is a story about survival, about being the one that was left behind and how you choose to live your life after being touched by tragedy. There is a heart and soul to this film that isn’t in your typical drama and it is absolutely worth the watch.
One last note bring tissues!!
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