I will be the first to admit it. I did NOT want to watch this flick. Billy insisted that I watch it and I caved. I regretted it, but added Remember Me to my queue. If you follow me, you know that I'm not a fan of Robert Pattinson. I didn't like his Cedric Diggory. I still don't think he's the right fit for Edward; and I was sure this movie would be another debauchery. However, being a man of my word...Saturday night meant a home-made french bread pizza, some cookies, Munchos, an A&W Vanilla Cream Soda and Remember Me. I thought the food would be the highlight. Wrong. Remember Me is one of the best movies I've seen this year...no doubt.
It's the story of the ebb and flow of two families in post-crisis mode and still battling demons gone by. Tyler Hawkins (Pattinson) is son, big brother, little brother and boyfriend. Tyler's Father (Charles/Pierce Brosnan) is a distant, tyrannical, power tie kinda guy who seemingly knows one mode: Push to conflict. Tyler's little sister, Caroline (Ruby Jerins) is already an accomplished but still budding artist. Caroline needs her big brother to help navigate some pretty turbulent family waters. Tyler is there, being that much needed big brother. Tyler was also a little brother, evidently worshipping his brother Michael. Michael took his life six years earlier, an event that continues to rock the family, including Tyler. Finally, is Ally (Emelie De Ravin). She's the girlfriend and daughter of Neil Craig (Chris Cooper)--the cop that happened to arrest Tyler during a street brawl. Ally and Neil have seen their share of pain, too. At the age of eleven, Ally witnessed her mother being murdered on a Brooklyn Subway platform.
There you have it. Pain abounds. Ally and Tyler start a heated relationship much to the chagrin of dad, but that's just one source of conflict in this flick. The Hawkins are battling it out--specifically Tyler and Charles.
On the surface, you might think there are just too many things going on here. Two families in post-crisis mode colliding with numerous intricate issues surfacing like a frustrated volcano. It can be a lot to tabulate over the course of two hours. It was, indeed...but, it worked. We see the Craig family move to the backseat (--well, maybe a side-car) as the movie progresses. Ally is still hurting. Still coping. But it's the Hawkins family we see take center stage and move a few steps toward healing. Don't worry. We still see Cooper pull off (to near perfection) his protective, but angry and bitter father, a performance reminiscent of October Sky. However, the Hawkins' emerge as the focal point and start seeing those storm clouds dissapate.
That happens on Tyler's second arrest, which actually brought everyone together (finally) and put them on the same page. With that arrest, the Hawkins' finally realized they were a family. They realized that they needed each other and started living like it. But wait, there's more...yadayadayada...you can manage the ending on your own.
This was a great story with great performances. I'll give it 4.0 Stars. Pattinson proved he belongs on the big screen...on screen one to four, for that matter. Brosnan and Cooper were excellent--save some 'not quite pulled off' NYC accents.
It's a movie that makes several points. The latter of which slaps you subtly in the face, but leaves quite the red mark. It taught me to be more loving. It taught me that there is always a strong need to be more loving NOW. It reinforced the idea that much good can come from situations that require a reserved judgment, such as Tyler's second arrest. On the surface this sounds like a bad thing, but in reality that arrest was the best thing that happened to a hurting family. It further reinforced that an embracing compassion is needed on every step of life's journey.
It's good. I just regret that I didn't see it sooner. Sorry, Billy. I won't doubt you again...well, I probably will, but just say, "Remember Me", and that will put me back in line.
Thanks for reading...yeah--the yard is mowed and the weeds have been munched, despite the 97 degree temps! Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
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