Susan Granger’s review of “Remember Me” (Summit Entertainment)
Astute minds are guiding Robert Pattinson’s career. Segueing from his vampire role in the “Twilight” franchise, he’s transitioned into tortured, misunderstood young man mode.
In the summer of 2001, moody, rebellious Tyler Hawkins (Pattinson) is still haunted by the fact that his idolized older brother committed suicide on his 22nd birthday, a tragedy that split his wealthy Park Avenue family. While Tyler has reached an understanding with his now re-married mother, Diane Hirsch (Lena Olin), and adores his 11 year-old sister Caroline (Ruby Jerins), he’s still at odds with his frosty, Wall Street lawyer father, Charles Hawkins (Pierce Brosnan). In fact, 21 year-old Tyler’s only friend seems to be his loud, obnoxious, thoroughly irritating roommate, Aiden (Tate Ellington).
After a night of carousing with Aiden, culminating in a misunderstanding in a back street in Greenwich Village, Tyler’s roughed-up, cuffed and put in a holding-cell overnight by NYPD Sgt. Neil Craig (Chris Cooper). Later, Aiden spots Sgt. Craig dropping off his daughter, Ally (Emilie de Ravin from “Lost”), at NYU and talks Tyler into dating her out of revenge. Ally lives in working-class Queens with her widower father; neither of them has recovered from her mother’s brutal murder on a subway platform which Ally witnessed years earlier.
Love happens – but it’s not easy for Tyler and Ally, two grief-laden young adults. And it leads up to a maudlin, melodramatic conclusion in the Twin Towers on September 11th.
Screenwriter Will Fetters and director Allen Coulter obviously had memories of Nicolas Ray’s “Rebel Without a Cause” (1965) in mind here, envisioning Pattinson as this generation’s James Dean. Executive producing as well as propelling the narrative, Pattinson doesn’t disappoint in the moodiness department; he’s conquered that plateau, while spunky Australian actress Emilie de Ravin, who endured six seasons on “Lost,” exudes remarkable versatility. Chris Cooper and Pierce Brosnan deliver stalwart support.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Remember Me” is a romantic, angst-ridden 6, rated PG-13 and specifically aimed at Pattinson’s young female fans whose parents won’t be happy that he chain-smokes on-screen.
