Why So Blu?

I had planned to watch this movie in increments over the course of a few days.  But once I got a few minutes into it, I knew that I wasn’t gonna be able to turn this off until the end!  I’ve been a fan of Plummer’s ever since the The Sound of Music.  He just has this calm elegance about his demeanor that conveys such strength while at the same time seeming very approachable.  He’s one of those actors that somehow elevates every film they’re a part of.  It’s really awesome to watch him walk this tight rope of using his age to play on people’s sympathies in order to get through tricky situations.  A younger person would seem pretty suspicious going about the various tasks Zev has to do in order to narrow down his search.  Max has found the name of the guilty party, but unfortunately there are multiple Germans with the same name who fought in WW2 and then migrated to America when the war ended.

I used to work in an Alzheimer’s and dementia unit and I can definitely say that Plummer nailed this role!  The confusion on his face, the anger he feels when he forgets something, and the sadness that falls over him as his memories slowly start to come back are all magnificent to watch.  Generally speaking, people with this type of condition experience quite a bit of anxiety.  So when they are taken out of their normal routine it can be pretty overwhelming and at times traumatic.  So when you throw in the fact that Zev is putting both his life and freedom on the line, you can just imagine the toll that all of this is taking on him both mentally and physically.

I have little doubt that there will be comparisons to Christopher Nolan’s Memento in that the main character is on a mission for vengeance and his biggest obstacle is his own mind.  However, where Guy Pearce’s character was unable to make short term memories, Zev struggles to recall events from his past.  And not just little things like, his wife’s favorite color, but major events that simply slip away from him when he wakes up.The music is very reminiscent of a 60’s spy thriller. Very subtle and casual but at the same time exciting and evocative.  The best comparison would probably be John Williams’ score for Catch Me if You Can, but not quite as “Jazzy”.  This is another instance where the filmmakers and composer could have chosen a somber and sad direction similar to that of a war film.  Where the horn section slowly dirges along as Zev goes about his mission.  But that would have been ill suited to this picture.  The music maintains a brisk pace with energetic melodies that remind you not to feel bad for this person, that he knows EXACTLY what he’s doing and what he’ll eventually have to do.

Without giving too much away, this movie comes to quite possibly the most satisfying conclusion that a story like this could reach.  To say that it’s a plot twist would be reductive and would give you the impression that it’s just some random plot device revealed for the sake of shock value.  But rather it’s the culmination of a gripping journey that’s been rife with unexpected developments and a surprising amount of action.

I was genuinely shocked at just how much I loved watching this film!  They really don’t waste any time getting you pulled into the story. Most movies of this type would usually start with some kind of narration about how after Max and Zev survived Auschwitz they made a solemn vow, and yada, yada, yada.  But you really get a sense of their earnest commitment as you follow Zev on his mission.  I love it when movies don’t treat the audience like they’re dumb or like they’ve never seen a movie before.  Remember hits the ground running and rarely takes a breath from it’s tense and suspenseful story.  But that’s not to say that it rushed through the emotional moments.  It allows you to settle into them just long enough to realize that film never truly settled at all!