[Remember Me] Critiques - Attention Spoilers

Remember Me" is a smart, engaging drama about young love flourishing amid sadness and loss. The story ends on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York, which, depending on your point of view, further underscores the sense of loss implicit in the movie's title or is an unnecessary dramatic ploy to end the film with a devastating twist of fate that immediately connects with every audience member. But to return to the original point: "Remember Me" is a smart, engaging drama about a romance.

In an opening sequence 10 years earlier, a subway mugging turns violent as the World Trade Center's Twin Towers loom ominously in the distance, a dramatic foreshadowing that fortunately does not continue into the rest of the movie. But it does establish the suddenness of tragedy, especially as it affects two families at the center of the film.

Allen Coulter, directing a script by Will Fetters, then proceeds to unfold a story about two young people who share little in common except an inexplicable tragedy in each of their lives from which neither family has fully recovered.

Tyler (Pattinson) comes from Park Avenue comfort, but his brother's suicide has pulled a rug from underneath him. He is a lost soul, and it's not clear he is going to snap out of his funk anytime soon. His divorced father (Pierce Brosnan) has grown tired of his melancholy and disaffection, but his mother (Lena Olin) still has faith in him.

Tyler has two entirely different sources of succor: his kid sister (Ruby Jerins), whom he adores, and his roommate, Aidan (Tate Ellington), who has enough wild-man spirit to get Tyler out of his routine and into a few parties and bars. By the way, Tyler has a way with women.

Ally (Emilie de Ravin) is from a blue-collar family in Queens. Her father (Chris Cooper), a cop, clearly has not recovered from the murder of his wife. On the surface, Ally is less damaged, but one suspects she simply hides her pain better.

The cop and Tyler have a late-night encounter where Tyler's righteousness comes up violently against the cop's hardened weariness. Then, in the movie's one quasi-contrivance, Aidan discovers that the cop's attractive daughter shares a class with Tyler. He persuades his roomie into romancing then dumping the woman as a way to get back at her father.

Predictably, the first part works but not the second, where he is supposed to dump Ally. Instead, the two fall in love.

The movie doesn't make a big point out of the grief that overshadows their lives. It's implicit in their actions and manner. They bond in many ways, not the least of which are over fathers at a loss to meet their kids' emotional needs.

The scenes between Pattinson and de Ravin exude genuine charm. One wants these two to get together. They are likable without being saccharine.

The fathers are harder to read. In a decade, neither seems to have developed a coping mechanism, and Tyler's father's indifference toward his daughter is inexplicable.

Fate, in the form of 9/11, casts all of these character flaws and shortcomings into bold relief. This is, after all, a film of memory and loss. One imagines that any of these characters might be narrating the story years later as they seek to remember those final moments before their world so utterly changed.

Remember Me est un drame magnifique et attachant sur une histoire d'amour, entre un jeune homme et une jeune femme, qui essaye de s'épanouir à l'ombre de la tristesse et de la perte d'un être cher. L'histoire se termine le 11 septembre 2001, à New York, qui, selon votre point de vue, soulignera encore plus le sentiment de perte implicite dans le titre de film ou sera un stratagème dramatique inutile pour terminer le film sur un dénouement dévastateur, un coup du destin qui touche immédiatement en plein coeur chaque spectateur. Mais pour revenir au point de départ : "Remember Me" est un drame magnifique et attachant sur l'amour.

Avec Robert Pattinson, de la franchise "Twilight", à la tête d'une superbe distribution - l'acteur est également producteur exécutif du film - "Remember Me" devrait attirer un public nombreux lors du week end de sa sortie. Quoi qu'il en soit, il trouvera écho auprès des jeunes femmes, et des moins jeunes, qui espèrent une histoire d'amour sans humour douteux ou muflerie masculine qui trop souvent vont de pair avec les films romantiques ces derniers temps. Summit Entertainment peut s'attendre à un box office au dessus de la moyenne.

Le film s'ouvre sur une scène d'agression dans un métro, 10 ans plus tôt, qui tourne mal alors qu'on aperçoit dans le lointain les tours du World Trade Center. Un dramatique présage qui heureusement ne se perpétue pas le reste du film. Mais il met en place la soudaineté de la tragédie, d'autant qu'elle touche les deux familles au centre du film.

Allen Coulter, qui réalise le film d'après un scénario de Will Fetters, continue de raconter l'histoire de deux jeunes qui ont peu de choses en commun, si ce n'est d'avoir vécu chacun dans leur vie une tragédie inexplicable, dont leurs familles ne sont pas complètement guéries.

Tyler (Pattinson) est issu des beaux quartiers de Park Avenue, mais le suicide de son frère l'a anéanti. Il erre comme une âme en peine et rien ne semble le tirer de l'état dans lequel il se morfond. Son père divorcé (Pierce Brosnan) est lassé par sa mélancolie et son détachement, mais sa mère (Lena Olin) a toujours foi en lui.

Tyler a deux sources de réconfort : sa petite sœur (Ruby Jerins), qu'il adore, et son camarade de chambre, l'exubérant Aidan (Tate Ellington), qui essaye de sortir Tyler de son train train quotidien en le trainant dans des soirées et dans les bars. Soit dit en passant, Tyler a beaucoup de chemin à faire avec les femmes.

Ally (Emilie de Ravin) est issue d'une famille modeste du Queens. Son père (Chris Cooper), un policier, ne s'est manifestement pas remis de l'assassinat de sa femme. En apparence Ally en est moins affectée, mais on soupçonne qu'elle cache tout simplement mieux sa peine.

Le flic et Tyler se retrouvent face à face un soir où la suffisance de Tyler le fait se retourner violemment contre le flic endurci et désabusé. C'est alors qu'Aidan découvre que la jolie fille du policier partage des cours avec Tyler. Il persuade ce dernier de la séduire puis de la larguer pour se venger de son père.

Comme on pouvait s'y attendre, la première partie du plan porte ses fruits mais pas la seconde, celle où il est censé se débarrasser Ally. Au lieu de cela, tous deux tombent amoureux.

Le film ne souligne pas la douleur qui a jeté une ombre sur leur vie. C'est implicite dans leur manière d'être et d'agir. Ils se serrent les coudes de bien des façons, et la non des moindres est vis à vis de leurs pères et leur incapacité à répondre aux besoins affectifs de leurs enfants

Les scènes entre Pattinson et de Ravin dégagent un charme authentique. On ne souhaite qu'une chose, que c'est deux là se mettent ensembles. Ils sont sympathiques sans être des personnages sirupeux.

Les pères sont plus difficiles à comprendre. En 10 ans, aucun des deux ne semble avoir réussi à s'adapter à la situation et l'indifférence du père de Tyler vis à vis de sa fille est inexplicable.

Le destin, sous la forme de 11 septembre, met encore plus en exergue tous les défauts de ces personnages. Il s'agit, après tout, d'un film sur le souvenir et la perte d'un être cher. On peut imaginer que l'un des personnages pourrait raconter l'histoire bien plus tard, alors qu'ils cherchent à se souvenir de ces derniers instants juste avant que leur monde ne change complètement.

I was lucky enough to see 'Remember Me' on premiere night in New York City. It was without a doubt the highlight of my trip, since for me at least.. the city fully embodies 'Remember Me'.

We had to check in our cameras and cell phones before going into the theater. Once the lights went down - cheers erupted as the movie began.

The love story of Tyler (Rob) and Ally (Emilie de Ravin), develops as we learn about their backgrounds and who and where they are because of them.

Rob really captures the role of Tyler, the troubled young man who has a strained relationship with his dad (Pierce Brosnan). I don't know about you, but I've been there. It felt real enough to me. Very relatable. Very raw.

There is one particular scene at Tyler's Dad's office where things come to a head between them, and then.. funny moments. Funny relieving the tension. Funny when you least expect it.

And that to me is what makes this film stand out. The range of emotions that you experience as an audience member. And yes (for those of you asking), there are some very hot scenes between Tyler and Ally, but even those sex-driven moments come about in the middle of other strong emotions that you don't necessarily expect.

There are also the not so palpable things, like the well chosen score & soundtrack that sets the mood in each scene, and the little clues that pop up, preparing you for what's coming.

Eventhough Lena Olin (Tyler's Mom) does not appear much in the film, her scenes with Rob, feel very genuine. But it's the relationship between Tyler and his younger sister Caroline (well played by Ruby Jerins) that takes center stage. As he picks her up from school and has daily chats with her in the park, you can really see the tight bond they share.

Chris Cooper's performance is also a strong one. He plays a dad worried about nothing more, than keeping his only daughter safe. So I guess what's appealing about all of these characters, is that they could be you or me.

In the end.. they are.

'Remember Me' was definitely the best I've seen of Rob. But more than anything, for me 'Remember Me' is about New York. And the everyday lives changed forever on a sunny September morning in 2001.

J'ai eu la chance de voir 'Remember Me' le soir de l'avant première à New York. Ce fut sans aucun doute le rayon de soleil de mon voyage , car pour moi .... .la ville incarne à merveille 'Remember Me'.

Il a fallu laisser nos appareils photos et téléphones portables avant de pénétrer dans le cinéma. Une fois les lumières éteintes - les acclamations commencèrent au début du film.

L'histoire d'amour de Tyler (Rob) et Ally (Emilie de Ravin),se développe à mesure que l'on découvre leur passé : qui ils sont et où ils en sont .

Rob a vraiment saisi Tyler, le jeune homme troublé qui a une relation tendue avec son père (Pierce Brosnan). Je ne sais pas vous , mais j'ai connu ça . Ca m'a semblait si réel. Je me suis reconnue. Ce fut difficile.

Il y a une scène en particulier dans le bureau du père de Tyler où ils en viennent à la confrontation , et puis .. il y a des moments rigolo . La comédie soulage la tension. Marrant quand on s'y attend le moins.

ET c'est selon moi ce qui rend le film si exceptionnel . L'éventail d'émotions que vous ressentez en tant que public . Et oui (pour ceux qui veulent le savoir ),il y a des scènes très sexy entre Tyler et Ally, mais même ces moments de sexe arrivent pendant un moment chargé émotionnellement et auquel vous ne vous y attendez pas.

Il y a aussi ces choses non palpables , comme la musique si bien choisie &la BO qui donne le ton de chaque scène,et ces petits indices parsemés ici et là ,vous préparant à la fin.

Bien que Lena Olin (la mère de Tyler's Mom) ne soit pas très présente dans le film,ses scènes avec Rob, paraissent authentiques . Mais c'est la relation entre Tyler et sa soeur Caroline (bien incarnée par Ruby Jerins) qui est au coeur de tout. Alors qu'il vient la chercher à l'école et qu'il a ses discussions quotidiennes avec elle au parc, vous voyez à quel point leur relation est spéciale.

La performance de Chris Cooper est également forte. Il incarne un père qui ne s'inquiète que de garder sa fille en vie . Donc je pense que ce qui est attirant chez ces personnages , c'est que ça pourrait être vous ou moi.

A la fin . C'est encore plus vrai

'Remember Me' est vraiment le meilleur film de Rob que j'ai jamais vu . Mais plus que tout , 'Remember Me' parle de New York. Et des vies changées à jamais après ce matin ensoleillé de Septembre 2001.

Fate sticks its foot out to trip all the characters in all the worst ways in “Remember Me,” a grave romantic drama with grandiose thematic intentions. Framed in a portentous manner with a calamitous ending that will only come as a surprise to those who haven’t been paying attention, the modestly scaled film delivers some moving and affecting moments amid a preponderance of scenes of frequently annoying people behaving badly. It is precisely the young female fans of star Robert Pattinson who will react most wrenchingly to this doomed romance, which should enjoy a short but sweet B.O. life.

Pattinson is in heavy James Dean mode here as a reckless, unwashed, chain-smoking, intensely confused pretty boy named Tyler who, as Dean did in “East of Eden” and “Rebel Without a Cause,” has major father issues. Turning his back, at least for the moment, on his family’s wealth — dad Charles (Pierce Brosnan) is a mighty Wall Street lawyer, while classy mom Diane (Lena Olin) has remarried and is raising precocious 11-year-old artist Caroline (Ruby Jerins) — Tyler rooms with crude low-life Aidan (Tate Ellington) while occasionally attending NYU classes between drinking bouts.

On a dare, Tyler hits on hot little classmate Ally (Emilie de Ravin), a working-class Queens lass who’s the only daughter of a cop (Chris Cooper) who recently threw Tyler in jail after a drunken brawl outside a nightclub. As revealed in the mortifying opening scene, Ally, as a little girl, witnessed her mother’s murder on an elevated subway platform; she and Tyler are thus able to morbidly bond over lost loved ones, since his own older brother committed suicide on his 22nd birthday — and Tyler’s 22nd is just around the corner.

As if this weren’t enough ominous emotional baggage for one movie, there’s plenty more, from the pain little Caroline feels from being ignored by her absent father to the story’s overarching historical setting; suffice it to say that the action, as announced at the outset, is set in 2001.

Debuting screenwriter Will Fetters structures the drama so that Tyler’s and Ally’s love affair, mostly conducted in the former’s squalid apartment, might seem like an escape from, and potential purgative of, the jagged emotions that plague them both. Unfortunately, the romance never feels intense or deep enough to fully serve this purpose; director Allen Coulter would have achieved a significantly greater connection had he been able to sweep the viewer up in the heady feeling of two wounded people falling hopelessly in love for the first time and trying, but failing, to prevent the other forces in their lives from gnawing away at their fleeting happiness.

This atmosphere of temporary escape never translates into desired privileged moments, partly because the lovers must share their nest with Aidan, one of the most gratingly obnoxious roommates ever invented. Whenever he turns up, you just want him to get lost, and matters aren’t helped by Ellington, who adamantly delivers most of his inane remarks at the top of his voice, as if that’s the only way he can get anyone to listen to him. It’s painful.

Then there’s the matter of Pattinson’s opaqueness. No one could deny that the actor is very watchable, but he’s also either incapable of or coy about letting anyone get inside what he’s feeling. One needs to palpably feel Tyler’s turmoil, which at times, particularly when his father disappoints Caroline most callously, nearly eats him alive. Tyler and Ally once or twice become physically rambunctious but never get carried away, resulting in less-than-fulsome viewer investment in their relationship.

Best known for her six seasons on “Lost,” de Ravin registers well with an agreeably assertive screen presence. Beautiful in some shots and almost ordinary-looking in others, the diminutive Aussie thesp has a chameleonlike presence that calls to mind a cross between Julie Christie and Samantha Morton. Cooper nails the fear and frustration of a limited man who’s already lost one significant woman in his life and senses he’s about to lose another. Brosnan concisely registers the frosty and seemingly unthawable outer layer of a downtown titan.