“Remember Me”: The Making of a Star

I’m going to put myself out there and risk some judgment right now.  I am a fan of one Robert Pattinson aka RPattz.  You may know him from such gems as “Twilight” and “New Moon” which are, I’ll admit, not the most amazing displays of his acting prowess.  This isn’t about those films though.  As I said, I’m a Robert Pattinson fan and I’ve been waiting awhile for him to be given the kind of role that truly demonstrates his acting talent.  His part as Tyler Hawkins in “Remember Me” is just that role.

I was lucky enough to score a pass for a free screening this past Monday night, March 1st, the same night as the film’s world premiere at the Paris Theatre in Midtown Manhattan.  It was exciting to think I was watching the movie for the first time at the same moment as the stars themselves, even if we weren’t physically sharing the same space.

As “Remember Me” doesn’t hit theaters for another two weeks, all cameras and cell phones had to be checked in with security, to be returned once the screening was over.  One thing I’ll say about Summit Entertainment, who produced the film, is that they get straight to the point.  No trailers, no announcements, no gift bags.  This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing seeing as no one wanted to be placated with those things anyway.  Summit know their audience and cater accordingly.

“Remember Me” centers around the aforementioned Tyler Hawkins, a twenty-something New Yorker who’s confused by his supposed place in the world.  It’s a feeling many can relate to.  The film begins in the Spring of 2001 and follows Tyler as he rebels against authority, questions life, falls in love, and deals with some intense family issues, everything culminating in a finale that most won’t see coming.

Though the first quarter of the film drags somewhat, you can sense that there’s a method to the madness, a reason why we’re learning certain things in the order that we’re learning them.  Then there is a point, at least for me, where it became clear that Robert being cast as Tyler will succeed in accomplishing exactly what it’s supposed to.  Namely, to break him out of being solely thought of as Edward Cullen from “Twilight”.  I honestly sat back and thought, “you just made yourself, kid” and I couldn’t have been more proud.  This is also the point where the pace of the movie starts to pick up, endearing the characters to us as we become more involved in their relationships.

Ally, played by Emilie de Ravin (LOST), stars as the not-quite-planned object of Tyler’s affection. Family tragedy has left its scar on Ally’s life much in the same way it’s left one on Tyler’s.  In something of a Romeo and Juliet twist, the two would never even have spoken if Ally’s overprotective cop of a father hadn’t arrested Tyler after a late night street fight.  What starts out as a play for revenge instead grows into the journey of two lovers learning to trust both themselves and others again, in turn teaching their loved ones to let go of pasts they can’t change.

Pierce Brosnan (“Die Another Day”), Chris Cooper (“Syriana”), and Lena Olin (“The Reader”) round out the cast in a perfect way.  Pierce’s role as Charles, Tyler’s father, was especially riveting; any scene involving the interaction of these two strong characters left me virtually breathless. The boardroom scene, in particular, shows both actors meeting as equals at the top of their game.

“Remember Me” is a very emotional film that, at its core, is a love story in more ways than one.  Its also a story about appreciating what you have before it’s gone.  Whether or not you’re a fan of Robert Pattinson, I highly recommend seeing this movie for the storyline as well as to witness the true birth of a promising acting career.

“Remember Me” debuts in theaters Friday, March 12, 2010.


Remember Me Homepage – check here for trailer etc.
“Remember Me” IMDB

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