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Putatively a new romance starring Robert Pattinson, Remember Me begins like a vigilante movie: A Brooklyn subway platform, 1991; a racially charged stickup; an 11-year-old girl watches her mother get shot. It's the first sign that here is a film that won't be content just charting the little measures by which two people become able to love—in fact, it'll barely do that at all.
Flash-forward 10 years, to the halcyon days of the Strokes and whatever other significant events happened in NYC circa 2001. Pattinson is histrionically depressed Tyler Keats Hawkins, a coasting, scruffy NYU student coming up on his 22nd birthday. (Pattinson's great actorly virtue is that he wears clothes well, so it's too bad he's slackered-out in cargo pants here.) Tyler is less revealed than telegraphed through accessories: a dead brother (depth), a pack-a-day habit (angst), a bookstore job (smart), and a rich, aloof, and permanently disappointed daddy (Pierce Brosnan). He shares his disheveled bachelor pad (a mannequin with a sombrero!? You guys!) with Tate Ellington's Aidan, a cretin with a spinach-chin goatee who delivers the least-likable horny party-guy best-friend performance since the last one.
Meanwhile, that little girl on the subway platform has grown up to be, not Batman, but fellow NYUer Ally (Emilie de Ravin), whose still-bereaved, overprotective cop dad (Chris Cooper, his conviction mostly quarantined from the rest of the narrative) busts Tyler and Aidan one night. Some coincidences later, Tyler will pick up Ally on a revenge-dare, ensuring an eventual variation on the ever-popular teen-movie "Was I a bet?" breakup, after which Tyler's so bummed he can barely enjoy himself while watching escapist pre-9/11 multiplex fare like American Pie 2.
Before all that, wounded souls Tyler and Ally meet cute with crackling undergrad repartee from screenwriter Will Fetters: "I don't date sociology majors." "Lucky for you, I'm undecided." " 'Bout what?" "Everything." Fetters also has a knack for announcing his own clichés, which is what passes for self-awareness ("Our fingerprints never fade from the lives we touch. . . or is that just poetic bullshit?" "I've seen this scene a hundred times. . . .").
Allen Coulter not only fails to establish Tyler and Ally's bond, but his insensate direction makes comic relief painful and dramatic crescendos farce. I had to avert my eyes during Aidan's (unlikely) horrifying monologue about having had a sex partner of every race, while sweaty Pattinson's barging into Dad's boardroom to air the family laundry could melt a tough crowd into giggles ("You're so, just, tragically blind"). For her part, de Ravin, whose research for playing a cop's daughter from Queens seems to have been limited to locating the borough on a subway map, chews her lower lip expressively and gets some coupling sessions with Pattinson that might seem hot if you currently own an Edward Cullen pencil case.
There's an insult-to-injury quality to a plain bad movie with a "seize the day" message (Remember Me's tagline: "Live in the Moments"), which heckles you with all the other things you should or could be doing while you're marking time waiting on the credits. And Remember Me is DMV dull, the plot showing so little motion toward a discernable resolution that after a while you wonder if the movie will ever end. Well, it does—oh, mama, does it ever, with a crazy long-bomb heave toward epochal significance. (Far be it from me to spoil the surprise; let's just say Robert Pattinson dies in 9/11.) In marked contrast to, say, Kristen Stewart's detail-perfect Adventureland, Pattinson has found a "small, one for me" Twilight-break project that's more tacky and preposterous than the worst blockbuster phone-in.
ooofffffff
You didn't ruin the movie for me, because I checked out your review from Rotten Tomatoes right after I saw it. It was a childish move, though, as others have pointed out. I'm guessing you're under 25 (I really hope), and you felt like doing something so prickish would help your career in some way. When you're older, and you've had a few more jobs, you'll have more of a sense of why giving away the ending isn't original, and you'll be embarrassed by it.
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My friend and I went to see this film last night, simply because the trailer looked interesting. We both thought it was a great film, far better than similar angsy family dramas like Fireflies in the Garden. I didn't think it trotted out cliches: actually it subverted several, including the overprotective cop father. And the script was understated but funny. 'When's the last time you had one drink?' 'Communion'.
Um...did you really just give away the end of the movie, just because YOU thought it sucked? You need to find a new job. I hate you.
You really suck inyour Job. Get a life. RM was great.
He Hit the nail on the head!!!! The money was awful, Robert couldn't be any worse. The guy has no talent. Robert shouldn't of played the part anyway he's not American!!!! I hope this is part of his payback for what he and Kristen did to Michael. I can't wait to see more.
signor critico scrivo d'Italia e adesso io faccio la recensione del suo articolo.Io ho visto il film e non la penso come lei ,ma lei non ha pensato, ha sputato sentenze che sembravano piene di odio e di invidia ,ha propio voluto fare un dispetto rivelando il finale alle persone che non avevano ancora visto il film. la cattiveria che sprizza fuori da esso è assurda .Mi chiedo con molta curiosità con quale titolo e quale preparazione ha giudicato il film e Robert,UN RAGAZZO CHE sta lavorando come un mulo per ottenere dei risultati forse perchè non è americano?premetto che ho 36 anni e non sto dicendo questo per amore", ma odio le persone che sputano sentenze con pregiudizi ,è questo che io perciepisco dal suo articolo ,il mio pensiero non è meno importante del suo e penso che il film rispecchi quanto ha volte è assurda la vita questo significa che non si deve vivere? Sarebbe meglio vedere un film di um mondo immaginario pieno di colori e personaggi curiosi per 2ore e poi uscire dal cinema e ritrovarsi in tutta delusione alla realta che a volte è crudele e rimanere con l'amaro in bocca? Spieghi il perchè di questo accanimento alla prossima recenzioni di un film di Pattinson. Mi augoro da quale persona intelligente, che io penso che sia che al prossimo articolo farà le sue scuse a quelle persone a cui a rovinato il film e il lavoro. cordiali saluti
I do believe that turk (Comment #51) definitely has the best comment of them all. Spot on, good sir, spot on.
You're so smart, Rolling Stone...From your day one to now.
ok ok, so he dies that day; my theory is his body experienced some sort of metaphysical transformation, what with the heat of the explosion and the relative cool of the air way up there; then his remains gave way to spores, magical spores y'alls, and the 'em spores uhmm... like, spread and infiltrated the circulatory systems of like young babies and whut nut; and then 'bout a decade later 'em filthy contaminated babies morphed in to a countless army of insular, insensitive, un-sympathetic, brainwashed and self-obsessed, emotionally disconnected fucking idiot wannabe-yuppies running around this goddamned country bitchin' and whining 'bout "the whole movie" being given away. talk about missing the picture!
Thank you for ruining the move for me asshole. The ending is supposed to be a surprise jackass.
I often wonder if critics purposely give bad reviews.Reading Pinkerton's made me wonder which movie he was actually watching... interestingly, my only reason for even going to see this movie was to take my teen age daughters, yet I fell in love with this movie. I felt for the characters, I was touched by them. Pattinsons' and Brosnans' performance were strong and captivating. Definitely a movie that will remain as a favorite in my book
OMG one of the worst movies ever. Robert Pattinson should have stuck with Edward Culen. He should have just waited till he finished the 4th vampire movie. We couldn't wait for the end. It was boring, and unbelievable. The only touching thing was the ending. There was no credibility to Robert and the girl's feelings for each other and this may discredit him from the Twilight movies. There were few people in the theater and much laughing at the ridiculous dialogue.
I thought Remember Me was excellent. The cast was terrific and my heart broke. Robert Pattinson is a way better actor beyond the Twilight saga and I look forward to seeing the other interesting and challenging choices he makes in his career.
I've never seen a Twilight movie, and don't care too, but to give away the ending because you don't like it, is childish. Nick Pinkerton probably gave away the ending to 'The Crying Game' also. I'll never read a review by this man again.
So, I get that you are a critic and it is your job to review the film and give your honest opinion. However, is it really fair to give away the ending?
Are you nuts? I hope you enjoyed your little spoiler at the end of the review. You must be petty little prick. Last time I EVER check out your review. You suck.
Here is an intelligent commentary on Rememeber Me from Newsweek. For those who are interested in a review that is full of hate and ignorance. http://www.newsweek.com/id/234827
This is not a review, it´s pure hate! The movie-world don´t need it.
The critic could have mentioned the movie involving 9/11 without giving away the entire ending. When is the line drawn between what kind of films "deserve" careless treatment and what don't? People are getting fired up because it's a VV critic lambasting a crappy, probably horribly exploitative Hollywood movie. But by the same token, how would you feel if some lame film critic for the Us Weekly you were thumbing through in the checkout line gave away the ending for something not "suited" to ITS readers? Something higher brow than the latest Zac Efron flick? It's the same thing.
Thank you for telling people how this steaming pile ends. I know many people who lived that day who would be turned into a hysterical mess if surprised with a gotcha moment like that at the end of a movie that never stated upfront its relation to 9/11. To everyone who is all uppity about the spoiler of this movie being revealed, you should be relieved that is your only concern here. The people marketing this movie should be ashamed of themselves.
The people complaining about the ending being spoiled should take a step back and acknowledge that it's absolute dirt to use 9/11 as an emotional tool to get a bunch of people sobbing about their poor Robert Pattinson dying by that nasty inconvenient terrorist attack, especially in an otherwise benign and meaningless romance movie. It's exploitation of an event that actually affected thousands of people in the real world, specifically people who would be able to pick up a copy of the Village Voice on their way to and from work/play/whatever in NYC. As a lifelong New Yorker I am glad to get a heads-up that a wolf in sheep's clothing like this movie exists so I can avoid it like the f'ing plague
Call yourself a critic? This article just reeks of pre-conceived opinions and it's obvious you decided to hate it before you even began watching it, for whatever reasons known only to yourself. Oh, and the spitefulness of including the ending, without even a spoiler alert, just shows how unprofessional and stupid you really are.
Whoa, if the Voice were still a reputable publication, they would've never allowed you to divulge the end of a movie, no matter how crappy and Hollywood. Rather, they'd trust readers to make informed decisions instead of allowing a film critic cliche to throw a bitchy tantrum. Yet another reason why the Voice becomes more and more bitter, marginalized, and inconsequential with each passing year. Dude, you're employed. Sitting through even shitty movies and getting PAID for it would be a dream to most people in this totally fucked economy.
Saw the movie last week and i wouldn't be able to come up with a better review than yours, good job
Wow, how unprofessional to give away the ending to the movie just because you didn't like it. Whatever you think of the actor, director or movie in general...doing that just disrespects all of us that might be going to see the movie.l Whoever made up the phrase "Too bad ignorance isn't painful" said it best. Thumbs down.
This issue with this review isn't whether you like Twilight vs high art. It's that a film reviewer gave away the entire ending of a movie he was critiquing, on purpose. Really poor form.
You're entitled to your opinion and I'm not a fan of Twilight, RPattz or anything... but ruining the ending of the movie for your readers was just ludicrous, disrespectful and unprofessional. Seriously. I won't be reading your reviews in the future, in the event that you decide to presumptuously disrespect another film I have any interest in seeing.
Ok, this just pisses me off. Not just the asshole above that RUINED THE WHOLE DAMN movie! But you assholes, responding that keep bringing up Twilight and Kristen Stewart! SO f'ing what if he was in Twilight and Kristen Stewart was his co-star why is every1 soooo fixated on those 2 subjects!? I don't recall John Travolta's GREASE movie role following him everyWHERE.... or Tom Cruise's RISKY BUSINESS movie role trailing after him like a bitter b@stard whining about his underwear scene. Anyways, alot of you all seem to come on here with the ENTIRE PURPOSE of ripping Pattinson a new 1! But... LOL... did any of you "critics" even like him from the beginning? That should be the real question? I think he's an alright actor but this movie has a likeable story ... I don't think this requires a "critic" to give away the entire movie. Am I the only one that sees that as uncool!? Anyways, enough venting to u people ... I'm just trying to say it would be nice if people weren't so judgmental when they don't know a person enough to have an opinion to begin with!!
Rob Pattinson steps in the Shoes of James Dean. The Critics who only can judge him because he was in the Twilight Movies are just Pathetic. Giving away the whole Movie is just so unprofessional and unwanted. And guess what Rob is not the only Actor in this Movie but you and some of your fellow colleges can not concentrate on anything else. Mr. pattinson makes a statement right there. Oh and you like Adventureland...well that explains everything
robsesed and twi-hards get a life. people are entitled to their opinion. Remember me won't be the first movie to get some bad review. Have you seen some reviews for alice in wonderland, green zone, up in the air and others movie? People arn't robot, we don't feel the same thing. That's the beauty of life. Get over it. Not everyone think rob is a i couhjamescougdean. So stop making a fool of yourselves.
Can twihards get the fuck out of this site? Go check in the dictionnary what a critic means, it means someone give his opinion. I respect this journalist opinion. Maybe when i see the movie i will disagree with him. But since i have already read the script and it was awful; i have no interest in seing it. That doesn't mean other people can't enjoyed it. It just means the the script was full of cliche and daddy issue. And the journalist here obviously is on the same page. But this doesn't mean our opinion is right or wrong. Is just how we feel. So give this guy a freacking break and go mastubated yourself in front of rob and edward poster.
Your review was completely unprofessional. Any educated proper critic would not give the entire movie away. Just because you despise everything Twilight doesn't mean you have the right to trash this excellent well acted, directed & produced movie. You write like a two year old who need ritalin. Do us all a favor & find another line of work. You absolutely suck!!!
Well, your nasty opinion means Zero! I saw an early screening & thought the exact opposite of your god aweful boring review. The movie was well directed, produced & acted. I don't know what planet your on, but you clearly need to fine a new line of work!!!
what a crap? i will see the movie for sure because i think rob is a good actor, .And cara, aventureland was a great movie , all critics agree to say it is one of the best movies in 2009 and i really liked it. I think new moon was really horrible. I don't care about this review , i will judge by myself
This guy is so envious, anything good he could find in the movie, Rob is suppossed to have filmed an Oscar-deserving movie at 23 years old. I am glad to know he dies in the 9/11 thing in advance, so I do not die of pain in the theater, envious, envious, envious. Rob won 20 million dollars in 2009, and is an adorable man whatever clothes he puts on, that`s why so many envious guys hate him.
How come everybody who saw a screaning of this movie liked it, except for you. Honestly, you can´t decide to hate the movie before you´ve seen it. And how did twilight and Kristen Stewart suddenly become a part of this? Just because you´re not a fan of Rob, doesn´t meed the movie shouldn´t get an honest review. Oh and thank you for spoiling it to everyone.
Thanks for the unceremonious spoiler alert, dickhead. Did I think the movie would probably suck balls? Fo sure. Was I going to see it to stare at Robert Pattinson? Fo sure. So thanks for ruining the movie for me. What a breathtakingly arrogant move. Sounds like you have a whole lot of respect for your readers. I mean, come ON. Who but stupid, midwestern rubes would see THAT piece of shlock, right? And anyone who WOULD see it deserves to get shat on. And by the way, Kristin Stewart has three ranges: Bored and Stoned; Annoyed and Stoned; and Bored, Annoyed, and Stoned. Maybe you like her because she's hot. Much like I like Pattinson because HE'S hot.
Wow. I don't think we saw the same movie. I thought it was beautifully done. You sound like you went in with your mind made up to not like it. It's amazing to me how other professional reviewers have the complete opposite opinion as yours. The fact that for some reason you brought Kristen Stewart into this speaks volumns too. That was just plain tacky.
I saw an early screening yesterday and left the theater with mixed emotions. I think areas of the movie could be improved and some of the supporting actors scenes felt "acty" and forced but I also was relieved to see that Pattinson can actually hold his own and did very well in it. I was hoping for some redemption after New Moon which I admittedly thought he was terrible in. I think I got it. ***Spoilers below although if you read the above review then, I guess not really. As the day wore on, however, I found a new appreciation for the movie. It not only opened fresh wounds about 9/11 but it alerted me to a fact that, for some reason, I had not really considered before. The fact that there were families who lost loved ones in 9/11 that had already had to cope with the untimely loss of a loved one in their family. The whole reason I saw the film was to see how the character, Tyler, deals with the untimely loss of his brother, something I can directly relate to. It ended up opening my eyes to other aspects. I can see where some people will hate the ending and think it was a cheap gimmick but I would have to respectfully disagree with them. I thought it was done tastefully and with subtlety. There were no airplanes, shots of burning buildings or the chaos that surrounded that day. I left the theater thinking it was simply a decent movie but have decided it really was good after allowing it to resonate.
You are such a bitter asshole. Completely unprofessional.
THIS IS GLORIOUS.
I was lucky enough to ride along on a reviewer friend's ticket. I thought reviewing movies was a glamorous gig. Not if all the movies were like this one. I fell asleep in the middle of the thing. It's terrible. Not that Pattinson isn't a cute li'l devil when he pouts and stares, which is about all he did here (at least in the five or ten minutes I was able to stay concious)
The reviewer's a tosser. Thats why he writes for this joke of a site.
Your review comes off sounding like a two year old having a temper tantrum. Your desire to trash this movie obviously overrode you ability to actually write a useful professional review. The majority of people who have seen the film give it high praise and even say how healing it is. Pity that your reviewer bias blinded you to a very profound movie. Your agenda was made perfectly clear by the fact you ended your review with a Twilight actor showdown. Enjoy the spotlight while it lasts because reviewers like yourself are the dinosaur to today's movie going audience.
THANKS A WHOLE EFFING LOT for spoiling the ending. I was going to go see it (despite your review) because, yeah, I like the pretty Pattinson. If you're going to savage it, that's your job -- okay. Ruining the ending is really bad form though. A bit unprofessional even. Have a crap day.
Yes, He is a bad actor in every sense of the term.
I saw a screening of this, too, and was really interested in what kind of reviews it would get. I wasn't a fan of it at all, but I think his fanbase will probably like it.
Thanks for your review. I will not be seeing RM
Okay, I don't care for this review myself. Still, a movie review is simply that particular critic's opinion. The reader can take or leave it, agree or disagree with it, but if the writer has seen the film (one would hope that's always the case) and if they are truly expressing their informed personal view, then their opinion is as valid as any other. If it's their opinion that the end of the film is so awful that it deserves being spoiled, then I suppose it's their right to spoil it. From their perspective, they may even consider it a duty to do so. We shouldn't read reviews if we don't want to be exposed to opinions with which we disagree or if we don't wish to risk the possibility of reading plot twists.
Pattinson is bad actor!it's terrible
vitriolic much???? horrible "review" and thanks for spoiling the ending....
what a hateful write up, be a real crtique, youi seems to hate it.....why so negative ? I see it this friday with friends and judge it myself, likewise reviews are personal......most of the people who have seen it are very positive
A movie critic goes to see a movie and reviews the movie. What a novel idea?!? Instead of venting your bile against an actor, really give an honest review of the movie. No hidden agendas. I don't think that happens anymore. Yeah, I'll go see the movie myself.
Dude, the twi-hards are going to take over this site rip you a new one and stick up for their man. Don't you know the 11th commandment: Thou shall not speak ill of the Pattinson?
Thanks Nick. I saw a small screening last week and I completely agree with your review. Such a beautifully and lovely written review. I admire you professionalism in sticking to your guns. Call out mediocrity from where it stands.
Sounds to me like this reviewer hated the movie before he even saw it. I'll form my own opinion and see it myself and atleast I'll be objective.
Oh wait, you liked Adventureland? And Kristen Stewart in it? LOL. Figures.
Whatever you think of the film, this is just vindictive and hateful and not at all professional (especially from someone of your supposed stature). Seems like there is more going on here.
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