Rating of
3/4
The acting of Mr. Plummer was absolutely brilliant
ikkegoemikke - wrote on 08/11/17
"Yes, I must finish. I must. After all, this is the man who killed our families."
"Remember" is a movie you should know as little as possible about before watching it. So I'm not going to tell too much. This drama, which gradually turns into a thriller, shows how the 86-year-old Jewish man Zev (Christopher Plummer) is searching throughout America and Canada for a former Nazi officer who was a blockführer in Auschwitz. Zev's friend Max Rosenbaum (Martin Landau), who's staying in the same rest-house, discovered with the use of old documents that certain SS officers escaped by stealing the identity of killed Jews. Zev is being sent to seek a certain Rudy Kurlander and kill him. And this as a revenge because he's responsible for the death of Zev's and Max's family. Unfortunately, Zev has to be reminded of this because he's in an advanced stage of the dementing illness Alzheimer.
The film thus shows mostly Zev searching for this person. Armed with a Glock and a handwritten letter from Max, he pays a visit to every Rudy Kurlander who's currently living in the U.S. And Canada. The letter is his guide because every time he awakes, he has no idea where he is and why he's there. He even forgets about the death of his wife Ruth. Hence the note with a pen on his arm to remind him to read the letter over and over again. "Remember" is captivating. "Remember" is thrilling. But "Remember" is also a moving movie. A film about people who have to deal with a trauma. How they need to carry an intense sadness. And the deeply rooted feelings of revenge. And I must say that the denouement is one that will stay in your mind for a long time. The only thing I could say was "No way!". It's been a long time since I couldn't predict the ending of a movie. It took me by surprise this time. Trust me, you'll remember the end forever.
Needless to say that Christopher Plummer's acting was sublime. A scarred, elderly person who tries to do the job faultless as assigned to him. Zev isn't only scarred by his past, but also by the present because of the loss of someone dear and a memory-consuming disease. The desperation and helplessness Plummer displays is lifelike at times. The encounter with John Kurlander (Dean Norris who's the spitting image of Jack Nicholson) is a masterful scene with an excellent acting Plummer. You feel pity for Zev who suffers a moment of outright fear. After this scene the movie changes from a diligent search into a ruthless thriller.
Despite his age, this star still knows to touch a nerve. More than when he played the well-known Captain von Trapp in "The sound of Music". A movie that makes me sick to my stomach as if I ate a poorly baked Wiener Schnitzel. The film is always shown on television around Christmas and New Years eve. Probably to worsen the hangover. Still find it strange I didn't recognize him immediately. The last time I saw Plummer was in "The Forger". But that part wasn't so memorable. Here the staggering and surprising end will leave a lasting impression. An absolute recommended movie.
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