Déjà Vu

I didn't hate this film quite as much as the reviewer before me who called it the worst film ever, but I do think it was overpraised by most critics. The idea of lovers fated to meet is a familiar one, but a timeless theme that is always worth retelling --if you can do it in an original and compelling way. The problem with Deja Vu is that rather than allow a story to unfold naturally, the characters constantly talk and analyze the subject. They talk so much about love and coincidence that I could not really get into it.There are some good performances -Vanessa Redgrave is always a pleasure to watch-- but the main character (I forget her name, but she is the director's wife --as the last reviewer pointed out, a reason to be wary) was too whiny and silly for me. I think some reviewers are so grateful when a film is about something serious that they are too willing to overlook flaws. As any beginning book on writing says --"show, don't tell." Deja Vu tells way too much.

I must say I enjoyed this movie and I was taken by it from the first moments. It is full of wonderful characters and interesting acting. It was not replete with name actors and formula plots.

The quiet moments when the characters waxed philosophical were the best parts of the movie. It was a script that I could put my spiritual teeth in.

At first it was distracting to see Redgrave sitting among her "lessers" but as her role continued...I realized why she took the role. It spoke volumes about the central premise of fate and free will and added much to the film's story line. Plus, she delivered a marvelous performance.

(It always fascinates me when someone states that THIS is the worst movie they have ever seen. To say that about THIS movie reveals that the reviewer has not seen many movies. I have seen some alarmingly bad movies where I am cringing throughout. That is bad folks. This is not Shakespeare nor Gone With The Wind...instead...it is charming.)

Deja-vu was wonderful...a romantic movie for woman and men :)

This was one of the most romantic movies I've ever seen. The story is fascinating, beginning with the conversation at the cafe in Jerusalem with Dana and the mystery woman, through Dana's search in Paris, to the White Cliffs of Dover. To me, this movie is hope for women that there is one person out there who is truly meant for them and sometimes you are lucky enough to find that one person, as Dana was. The music was so fitting and made me weepy at times. I was really blown away at the ending, because I hadn't expected it, but it was so fitting. The final shot of the film says it all for me. Henry Jaglom and Victoria Foyt are truly the new wave of film makers and her beauty is extraordinary. As soon as the movie was over I wanted to watch it again.

I must admit, I only saw the first 20 minutes, and the last 5 minutes. The plot was SO predictable. Ten minutes in, I asked my fellow viewer (who had seen it) does X happen and Y turn out to be Z? And I was right 100%.

It was, without mincing words, awful.

Specifically, the score was horrific and made me laugh at points. The acting of the main character, Dana, was one-dimensional -- she went around with this dull, "what the hell is going on" look on her face.

But the worst part was the vomit-inducing camera work. Scenes start with a medium two shot, and then zoom into one character, pan left, and then zoom out again to a two shot. It looked like the camera operator and director were having a great time playing with the zoom button on their dad's new camcorder.

If you want to see some sickly sweet love story, find something with Karen Valentine on Lifetime.

I can't recall a movie that has ever so totally charmed and captivated me. Like other Jaglom films, this one makes great use of Victoria Foyt, and uses the refreshing method of allowing actors to ad-lib many of their lines. I found this to give the film a fresh, unconstrained feeling well suited to this type of story. I came out of the theater enveloped in a dreamy, warm romantic glow that stayed with me to the next day. I've been checking for this movie to be available for purchase on video ever since! For anyone who believes in fate and its hand in our lives and loves, this is a movie you'll cherish.