Remembering the Good Times

A little slow on the uptake, I decided to take it upon myself to finally see one of the rare movies when Robert Pattinson was not a sparkly magical being (he kind of sparkled in Harry Potter 4 too...), Remember Me and I think I was pleasantly surprised.
Aesthetically speaking, the film was dark, reflecting the depressing nature of human and family contact.

While I was misled before seeing the film to thinking it was based completely around a love story, that is not primarily the case. Remember Me centres itself around much more pressing family issues, exploring multiple relationship connections and disasters.

It was interesting to see Robert Pattinson in a role that actually required him to do more than stare at a girl - and I must say he did it quite well. His performance as the delinquent and self-isolated Tyler Hawkins was thought-provoking and empathetic, and his loyalty and love for his little sister was heart-warming.

Australia's own Emilie De Ravin was great as Ali, though she seemed to be channeling a bit of Kristen Stewart's sultry acting style which is no criticsm from me. Her broken relationship with her father (played by Hollywood veteran Chris Cooper) was executed in a emotionally dark manner. What I enjoyed most was that Cooper's character, though diminished by hitting his daughter, was not the fundamental 'bad guy' that those characters usually are.

Former 007 Pierce Brosnan stepped into a much less righteous role as cold, unforgiving father Charles Hawkins, which he delivered with poise, sophistication and appropriate arrogance for the role.

But the character I had the most interest in was Caroline Hawkins, the little 'loner' sister who was portrayed beautifully and quietly by cutie Ruby Jerins. The loving familial interaction between Pattinson and Jerins was what had me totally hooked in the storyline, and gave the entire film purpose.

But the real reason I thought this film worth reviewing despite it being 'old news' on the film circuit was the incredible last five minutes when Charles Hawkins finally comes through and takes Caroline to school for the first time in years.

He's helping Tyler out with a lawyer after bailing him out of jail for the second time, and he's going to meet him in his office.

Tyler makes his way to the office, sits and waits for his father who might not be as bad as he'd always thought.

- Warning, spoiler alert! -

Brilliant cinamatography shows that Tyler is actually standing on one of the top floors of one of the twin towers, before cutting to Caroline's school class where they are writing today's date:

11 September, 2001.

The impact of that moment is for the viewers to find out, but suffice it to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this Allen Coulter indie film for what it was: A deliciously dark tale of family, love and relationships being tried and tested, and with a deep, heart felt message delivered with a subtle quality, that family should always come first.