DVD Review: Remember Me

I want to start off by saying Remember Me was not what I expected. It was a dark, gritty, emotional film where Robert Pattinson actually gets to showcase his talents. Nothing at all against the Twilight films (after all I’ve seen all the movies and read all the books like the rest of the girls out of there), but those films don’t require the range of emotions that this film does. And Pattinson nails it.

The film tells the story of Tyler (Robert Pattinson), a New York college student, who is still suffering the loss of his brother. It’s clear that he doesn’t know how to deal, and that is causing all kinds of problems in his life. When he tries to break up a fight in an alley and the cops come – his attitude doesn’t mesh well with the cop’s – which ends up landing Tyler and his friend Aidan in jail. In an effort to seek revenge on the cop, Aidan suggests that Tyler ask out the cop’s daughter, Ally (Emilie de Ravin) who happens to go to school with them. Tyler isn’t looking for revenge though, and quickly finds himself falling hard for Ally – who has also been through some horrific events and tragic loss in her past. Together, they seem to find that they have the ability to be happy again despite their emotional baggage and less than desirable family situations. However the same events that brought them together, threaten to pull them apart.

When I say the film wasn’t what I expected, I especially mean the ending – which actually had me saying “omigod” when I realized what was happening. And I have to give it credit, because there’s only been about three movies I’ve seen in my entire life that have ever been able to keep an ending that hidden from me. I sincerely did not see it coming – and that made the emotional impact all the more. So I won’t say anything else on that topic – as I want you to be able to experience what I felt as well.

Some might say that the film is manipulative or ill-conceived – or write it off completely because Pattinson is attached to the Twilight films, but I don’t feel that’s a fair assessment. One thing is for sure, it is an unforgettable and haunting story. It’s not an overly happy film, but it is worth checking out as it will remind you the importance of treasuring ever day of one’s life.

As far as special features there is a behind-the-scenes featurette and then also audio commentary with Robert Pattinson and the director Allen Coulter.

Grade: B+

Review By: Emma Loggins

Official Site: http://www.rememberme-movie.com/

Responses

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  1. I just saw it. I was surprised by it for a lot of reasons. I thought Chris Cooper was excellent in it. Pierce Brosnan was good too. I did feel his surface likability with the nuance of emotional abuse and distancing was a little confusing – only because the backstory of family trauma is kept from us. Pattinson was surprisingly good in this. It’s nice to know he has versatility and I cared for his character arc – especially his scenes with the younger sister. Those felt natural to me. Don’t hate me, but a few times I felt his character was inconsistent from scene to scene – as if Pattinson was trying out things and experimenting outside of Tyler’s range. Otherwise really great with mucho potential. I am a little neutral on DeRavin. She sufficed and the dinner at the Oak Room was good, but I think the connection between Ally and Tyler was odd even on the page. That could have been better. Pattinson really brought the spark, but I didn’t feel he was matched well there. Her lines and pacing during their scenes felt contrived a little. Scenes like the shower and the appetizer cake could have been truly touching, but she held back unresponsively, but not in the complex tension way of a damaged character. Her chemistry just didn’t register much at all. I felt she was just merely there a lot. Pattinson really had Tyler in most scenes – there were a few where intense emotion went a little all over the place unsustained and I couldn’t figure out why. I think the boardroom and apartment confrontations with both patriarchs could have used a little motive intuition and work. Yes, I cried. I wouldn’t say it was manipulative but the rolling reveals and events are really stacked toward the end – so finish your popcorn early and Remember Me when I say it’s important to rehydrate after a sobfest.

  2. Oh, I’d just like to add that considering the bizarre public fan intrusions during the filming, Remember Me really is a stellar effort. A lot happens internally and externally in it and if it were slightly longer, or allowed us to linger and focus a little more, or feel a connection with character motivation in a few places I would give it an A. Worth watching – even beyond the Pattinson mancandy factor. He’s got substance – it’s budding in this.