It is “Deja Vu” because, yes, you have already seen Denzel Washington in the action thriller hero role before. Many times.
But here, yet again playing a law enforcer getting to the bottom of a tricky case — this time as a federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent investigating a deadly domestic terrorist bombing and mass murder on a New Orleans ferry boat — the Oscar winner hasn’t lost any of his ability to raise the level of whatever project he chooses. As one of the few leading men around who can consistently wield both serious acting chops and movie star charisma, Washington provides the credibility and watchability to raise what would barely be a serviceable genre piece without him.
He’s aided in that raising of the bar by his “Crimson Tide” director Tony Scott (“Top Gun,” “Enemy of the State”), another guy known for being able to milk some excitement out of big-budget, big-studio mediocrity.
Unfortunately, veterans Washington and Scott must work their voodoo on a script by Bill Marsilii and Terry Rossio that relies on a lazy science-fiction twist to try to distinguish it from a hundred seemingly similar save-the-day adrenaline-pumpers.
This is one of those cases where a typical movie-review plot summary might ruin the picture for those of you who want to suspend disbelief and get into “Deja Vu.” Let’s just say that the movie’s title is a big hint as toits pivotal story “surprise.” That disclosure is presented deep into the proceedings as a bombshell shocker (even though promotion for the film already gives it away) and changes the narrative from a semi-realistic peek at near-future, post-Patriot Act government surveillance excesses to far-fetched paranormal hooey.
As Washington’s ATF whiz Doug Carlin endeavors to get to the bottom of the lethal Big Easy ferry explosion, he joins forces with a special FBI unit led by Val Kilmer and hatched by a sort of mad computer scientist played by Adam Goldberg as comic relief. A key in getting to the bottom of the intrigue is the beautiful victim, Claire Kuchever (Paula Patton). But is she dead or isn’t she?
And what about the rogue character played by The Actor Formerly Known As Jesus? Well, let’s just say that James Caviezel appears in a most unchristian role here.
Of course, Washington will come to the rescue of all gorgeous good people and vanquish those who would smite them. So there are probably worse ways to burn off your Thanksgiving starch bloat than sitting through his “Deja Vu.”
‘Deja Vu’
Stars: Denzel Washington, James Caviezel and Val Kilmer
Director: Tony Scott
Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and terror, disturbing images and some sensuality
