Déjà Vu
By Tom Firth, blockbuster.co.uk

”You think you know what's coming? You don't have a clue”

Denzel Washington proves again that he is one of the few actors at his level that actually reads the scripts and checks they are good before committing to a project. Having been in the movie game since 1981 you would expect that he is able to recognise when something is going to suck. That’s why it’s always so assuring to see his name topping the bill of any new movie and when you throw Tony Scott in behind the camera, only sparks can fly.

A ferry explodes just off shore in New Orleans, killing more than 500 people, many of them members of the military and their children. This is where ATF agent Doug Carlin (Denzel Washington) comes in to investigate and he is put with FBI agent Pryzwarra (Val Kilmer), who runs the elite agency heading up the investigation.

Carlin soon finds himself looking through a window in time that gives amazingly clear images of events that occurred exactly four days and six hours ago. Pryzwarra's explanation is that it's a digital composite of satellite images, but Carlin doesn't believe him. He thinks it's something else, and he's determined to find out what.

Meanwhile, Carlin discovers a connection between the ferry bombing and the murder of a young woman, Claire Kuchever (Paula Patton). Obsessed and determined to find out exactly what’s going on, Carlin begins to study everything about Claire, watching her life unfold as time ticks away to the moment when her life will end.

It’s a good thing this is a very smart and well-thought out movie because when you dabble in time-travel sometimes things can end up being a bit cheesy. Again I go back to the fact that Denzel is rarely associated with below standard pictures, his performance is excellent in this film (like that’s some sort of surprise) and when the action gets going the movie just flies.

The story is not too complicated although it does ask you to get involved and work things out for yourself. This only serves to enhance the story and give it a bit more substance. It’s a worthy admission for two hours of your life, add it to your list now!