Editorial
Front Page - Friday, April 2, 2010
The Critic's Corner
David Laprad
“Remember Me” puts me in a difficult position. On one hand, I want to urge you to see it because it’s one of the best romantic dramas to come along in a while, but on the other hand, a lot of the people who see the movie are going to be angry about the ending. While I can’t tell you what happens, I can say it comes out of nowhere and will upset many viewers.
As I caught on to what was taking place, my jaw dropped in disbelief. Later, I couldn’t decide if what I’d witnessed was the cheapest, most emotionally manipulative trick in movie history or if the filmmakers were trying to say something profound.
I still can’t decide.
Everything that precedes the ending is wonderful. “Remember Me” centers on two young lovers: Tyler Hawkins (Robert Pattison) and Ally Craig (Emilie de Ravin). Tyler is the rebellious son of Charles, a rich and powerful businessman, while Ally is the daughter of Neil, a New York City police officer. Their paths begin to intersect when Tyler unleashes pent up fury on two men who are harassing a pair of pedestrians and then grabs Neil, the responding officer, in anger.
Charles bails Tyler out of jail with a phone call so he doesn’t have to meet his son at the station. To say their relationship is strained would be like suggesting the U.S. and the Soviet Union had some minor issues. Played by Pierce Brosnan (one of those rare actors who gets better with each movie), Charles is distant and hard. Tyler, however, is moody and unable to be in the same room as his dad without exploding.
Their problems stem from the suicide of Tyler’s older brother at the age of 22, presumably years before “Remember Me” takes place. Although Charles and Tyler are responding to that loss in different ways, both are still bleeding through open wounds.
Tyler also has a sister, Caroline, a 9-year-old art prodigy, who’s the target of bullies at her school. He loves her tremendously and is at his best when he’s with her.
When Tyler’s roommate learns Neil is Ally’s father, he suggests Tyler date her and then break her heart to get back at her dad. Tyler reluctantly goes along with the idea, possibly because he has nothing better to do. (He’s only auditing classes in college and has no job.) Using the fact that they attend the same university as an opener, Tyler turns on the charm and begins wooing Ally.
He also falls in love. Unlike most movie couples, Tyler and Ally slow dance their way into a relationship. Nothing feels forced or rushed, revelations come gradually, and the way they talk and learn to be together feels natural. Tyler and Ally are in no hurry to fall lockstep into the dictates of a plot.
In time, certain things do happen, as they must: Ally, who’s become a healing balm in Tyler’s life, finds out why he approached her in the first place, precipitating a massive argument; Tyler bursts into one of his father’s business meetings to confront him about skipping the debut of Caroline’s first exhibition; and the bullies at Caroline’s school go too far.
The last incident, however, turns out to be a blessing in disguise. When the police arrest Tyler for throwing a fire extinguisher through a window at his sister’s school, his dad shows up at the police station to see him out. I could almost hear the movie screen cracking as the ice between them started to melt.
Then, just as the tension dissipates, just as these characters realize how much they mean to each other, and just as changes begin to take root, the surprise ending swoops in like an evil bird of prey. The movie could have faded to black with Tyler smiling as he sees pictures of him and his brother on his dad’s computer, but it continues as he walks over to a window, looks outside and the camera pulls back to reveal...
I won’t say. But it’s devastating. You might be thinking I’ve said too much anyway, but I’m only trying to spare you disappointment if you have an aversion to movies that don’t leave you whistling a happy tune. I also want to compel you to see “Remember Me” if you can handle sad endings.
If you do see “Remember Me,” enjoy the first two hours. Take note of the confident direction of Allen Coulter, who helmed episodes of “The Sopranos.” Pay attention to Pattison’s remarkable performance. Who knew the brooding vampire from the silly “Twilight” movies could act that well? And above all, don’t say I didn’t warn you about the ending.
Email David Laprad at dlaprad@hamiltoncountyherald
.com.
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