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A Slice of Life
by Francine Brokaw
Deja Vu
When a terrorist blows up a ferry filled with people, ATF agent Doug Carlin (Denzel Washington) is hot on the case. He teams up with an FBI Agent (Val Kilmer) who, unbeknownst to Carlin, heads a special team with extraordinary – and secret - capabilities. By combining all the satellite images and using software to show every detail of what happened they can see the past play out in 3D. The glitch is that they can only see 4 days 6 hours into the past, however they can manipulate their angle of view as well as zoom in and out of any scene. This truly amazes Carlin who realizes by watching the past they can more easily figure out who set off the bomb and bring him to justice.
If you’re thinking Big Brother is watching, you’re right. This unsettling realization for Carlin changes to amazement when he discovers that they are not only looking at the past, but they have found a way to “fold space.” And by folding space they can actually reach into the past.
The space/time continuum dilemma is very much a consideration, as they decide to send a message back to try to stop the bombing from occurring in the first place. This changes some events, however not enough to satisfy Carlin who decides to transport himself back in time to alter the past. He is determined to save the people and is willing to take a chance on an untested procedure knowing that during transportation his body will encounter an electromagnetic pulse which will stop his heart. So, what better place to transport himself than a hospital?
But is destiny meant to be? Are we living in parallel universes? If something changes in the past what happens to us in the present? These are all questions that arise whenever a time travel film is produced. And what exactly is folding space anyway? Is that what happens when we have that sense of Déjà vu? Have we really experienced something before? Are we confusing the past and the present? There are quantum physics theories that are taking on these very questions.
In any case, this film is a suspenseful drama that will intrigue audiences. And Washington is wonderful as always. However, unless you’re a quantum physicist or a New Age follower, don’t try to understand the theories. You’ll get a headache. Just enjoy the movie.
This movie was the first film made in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer was determined to film in this city that provided such haunting scenery. “The city has a distinct culture that is unforgettable,” explains Bruckheimer. “New Orleans deservedly became a character in the film.”
Déjà Vu is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and terror, disturbing images and some sensuality.
© 2006 Francine Brokaw
All pictures Robert Zuckerman © Touchstone Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Inc. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
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