Remember Me

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Opening in theatres this Friday from director Allen Coulter and Summit Entertainment is a moving film about the fleeting moments of our lives with “Remember Me”.

This film tells the story of Tyler Hawkins (Robert Pattinson), a young man with anger issues due to a distant father (Pierce Brosnan) and the death of his brother. Putting himself in all sort of bad situations he runs into Sgt. Neil Craig (Chris Cooper).

Craig arrests Tyler after a scuffle making him all the more anti-social. That is until his roommate Aidan (Tate Ellington) discovers the Sgt. has a daughter! He suggests that Tyler get to know Ally (Emilie de Ravin) as a way to anger the cop.

Ally is also hurting after the death of her mother and a father that is less than affectionate. These two make a perfect pair as the angst mixes and the two fall in love.

But no love is perfect and it all comes to a boiling point when Craig finds his daughter is with Tyler and the story comes out. Ally is once again hurt and Tyler finds himself back where he started.

Tyler reaches out to his father, his family and Ally to save him.

FINAL WORD: In this film Pattinson shows an edgier side to his acting ability in this role. He shows arrange of emotion that has been previous stifled in his other roles. There is something here that is moving and riveting to watch.

Ravin is equally as good. In her role as the withdrawn Ally – there are moments where she bursts out with pent emotion but reels it back in. As good as she is in the hit television series “LOST”, she is more so in her role in this film.

The scene-stealer here is little Ruby Jerins as Tyler’s sister Caroline. This child actress seems to be aware of her surroundings and the pain of the people involved. Through her eyes you see how even the youngest is affected by the pain life sometimes brings.

Brosnan is good as the emotionally detached father. He wraps his life in the business world and is clearly content to do so until he is confronted by Tyler.

Other cast include: Lena Olin as Diane Hirsch, Gregory Jbara as Les Hirsch, Kevin P. McCarthy as the Police Chief and David Deblinger as the NYU Professor.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give “Remember Me” three and a half tubs of popcorn. I enjoyed the pace of the film, as it wasn’t in a hurry to get to its end. The film let the story unfold and tell all its secrets in its own sweet time!

The look and feel of the film is also nicely done. The cast worked well as an ensemble and with a few minor flaws, which I can easily overlook on this one.

In the end…live in the moment.