Remember Me
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin
Direction: Allen Coulter
Rating: ***
Taking a break from his role as the dreamy-eyed vampire in the blockbuster Twilight series, Robert Pattinson strives to extend his dramatic range with this maudlin melodrama.
This time around, Hollywood’s heartthrob du jour portrays an angst-ridden college student. The narrative charts the unlikely romance between the brooding rebel and his classmate (de Ravin) who happens to have her own set of problems.
The second feature by director Coulter (Hollywoodland), Remember Me hits some big emotional notes but unravels during the misconceived finale centered on a cataclysmic event in recent American history.
The script utilises an elliptical structure to develop the couple’s tenuous relationship. Both of them have lingering daddy issues. He despises his father (Pierce Brosnan), blaming the wealthy businessman for the suicide of his elder brother. On her part, his fiancé desires to lead her own life free from her no-nonsense pop-cop (Chris Cooper, in fine fettle).
Several subsidiary characters clutter the narrative, thereby distracting from the love story. For instance, the rebel’s roommate may be meant to provide some comic relief but his antics merely tend to grate on the nerves. Also, we hardly empathize with the plight of the little sister, a misfit kid who’s constantly bullied at school.
{{/usCountry}}Several subsidiary characters clutter the narrative, thereby distracting from the love story. For instance, the rebel’s roommate may be meant to provide some comic relief but his antics merely tend to grate on the nerves. Also, we hardly empathize with the plight of the little sister, a misfit kid who’s constantly bullied at school.
{{/usCountry}}Likeable performances by the lead pair anchor the film in a sense of believability. Incidentally, Emilie de Ravin who is Australian and Robert Pattinson who’s a Brit, play star-crossed New Yorkers. While Remember Me may not leave an indelible impression, it’s still well worth a look.