Hugh Jackman Stumbles Through Stylish, Soulless Sci-Fi Noir

Too bland to be offensive, writer-director Lisa Joy’s talky sci-fi neo-noir “Reminiscence” is as corny and plain as star Hugh Jackman’s voiceover narration, which incorporates such intriguing, however empty observations as “The past can haunt a man. That’s what they say. And the past is just a series of moments, each one perfect.”

That maxim doesn’t show to be correct, as you may count on given who’s talking: personal eye Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman), who makes use of a science-fiction machine — half sensory deprivation tank, half digital actuality simulator — to assist his purchasers relive their previous recollections. Nick has grow to be obsessive about Mae (Rebecca Ferguson), a nightclub singer who instantly disappears after she makes use of Nick’s memory-palace system. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot thriller in Mae’s vanishing act, particularly given how neatly defined every part is thru dialogue and/or rigorously organized grasp pictures of good-looking actors who seem engaged by, however by no means actually invested in, what they’re saying.

“Reminiscence” is peculiar and sometimes straightforward to observe, given its surprisingly sturdy price range and manufacturing design. There are additionally flashes of character throughout the film’s motion scenes. But Joy’s dialogue — as you may count on from the co-creator of HBO’s “Westworld” — pushes the plot ahead hardest, and whereas all that speak is quirky sufficient to be form of charming, it’s additionally by no means sensible or impassioned sufficient to be compelling.

Nick’s cynical observations, together with some asides by his pessimistic colleague Watts (Thandiwe Newton), typically distract from no matter’s on-screen. The cinematography by director of pictures Paul Cameron (“21 Bridges”) is commonly polished sufficient, introduced in nice large angles, a subdued colour palette, and with an considerable depth of area. But it’s onerous to get misplaced in Cameron’s photos or Joy’s workmanlike path given how typically they’re overwhelmed by her flashy dialogue.

Characters are inclined to speechify at size, taxonomizing every part and each feeling they’ve as quickly as potential. It’s sufficient to make one overlook that there’s an entire sci-fi dystopia outdoors of Nick’s workplace, which relies in a stately and in any other case deserted Art Deco–model financial institution. Also, he lives by The Sunken Coast, a seedy water-logged microcosm that’s managed by native despot Walter Sylvan (Brett Cullen, “Joker”) and his scheming child Sebastian (Mojean Aria, “See”).

Still, the principle focus of “Reminiscence” is Nick’s irritating quest to search out Mae, a lady who clearly took benefit of him after which cut up. Sparks don’t even fly once they meet, partly as a result of Jackman by no means appears to be thinking about Ferguson as a romantic curiosity, but additionally as a result of, after he first hears her sing, he compliments her voice, and he or she replies: “Four years I’ve worked here, and you’re the first to notice my voice.” That form of calculating line units the tempo for the remainder of the film because it’s too clunky to be seductive, but additionally too self-conscious to be unlikable.  

Nick’s pursuit of Mae requires him to quiz numerous suspects, together with crooked cop Cyrus (Cliff Curtis) and native crime boss Saint Joe (Daniel Wu). Both of those supporting characters threaten to tug the plot away from Nick; though additionally they speak like “Blade Runner”–loving movie college students, they by no means fairly handle that Herculean feat. The film’s set items additionally add intrigue, particularly one prolonged reminiscence palace session that’s introduced completely with subjective camerawork, to simulate the point-of-view of considered one of Nick’s purchasers whereas they re-enact their previous. We additionally get an unexpectedly intense struggle scene involving a piano and an underwater “The Poseidon Adventure”–model rescue, although it’s in the end not as thrilling as that description.

The finest sci-fi and movie noir concepts in “Reminiscence” are equally…