REMEMORY (PG-13)
Released By Lionsgate
Review By John Pugh
Great films, leave us with memorable impressions. Unfortunately, for Mark Palansky‘s new sci-fi drama, REMEMORY, it is all too quickly forgettable. Palansky’s 2006 directorial debut PENELOPE, was a fun whimsical romance that never really took itself too seriously. His recent efforts were perhaps taken a little too serious for my liking. I think fans of Douglas Trumbull‘s 1983 sci-fi thriller BRAINSTORM starring Christopher Walken, may see REMEMORY as a similar but inferior story.
In REMEMORY, renowned scientist, Gordon Dunn (Martin Donovan) develops a new device that will extract, record and play unedited memories of individual lives. However, after the mysterious death of its creator, Gordon Dunn, we learn that this scientific breakthrough may cause more harm than good. Sam Bloom (Peter Dinklage) seeks to find the truth in the old “whodunit” scenario accompanied with the twists and turns of quickly introduced characters. We soon learn that Mr. Bloom may have further interest and motives in this whole scenario than what he leads on to those around him.
REMEMORY recently premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and from the murmurings of fellow festival goers, the film received a very mediocre reception. However, even with the uninspired missteps of the film, there are a few redeeming qualities. Though the character he plays is somewhat uninteresting and unlikable, Peter Dinklage proves to moviegoers that he’s the real deal. His dramatic performance IS the highlight of this film. As well as the late Anton Yelchin who brought a memorable and realistic uneasiness to his character.
In the end, REMEMORY, with its preposterous concepts, could have used some more joy in its storytelling. The film was far from a revelation. The twists and turns were mostly foreseeable and uninspired. Still, I believe Palansky is a good director and has potential to grow in his career. I’m hoping he and Dinklage will once again reunite and rebound from this lackluster endeavor. REMEMORY is not the worst film I’ve seen this year but I will say I won’t be remembering it by the end of the year.
