There’s no denying that Denzel Washington is one of the greatest actors of all time. His filmography spans countless genres, proving he can deliver everything from a gut-wrenching drama (Fences) to an intense crime thriller (Training Day). Sci-fi, however, is one genre he hasn’t explored very often, and when he does, it usually comes with a twist, as is the case with his overlooked 2006 sci-fi action thriller that’s now streaming free.
Time Travel & Terrorists Collide in a Unique Sci-Fi Movie
Hitting theaters on Nov. 22, 2006, Déjà Vu saw the late Tony Scott bring a sci-fi twist to the action/crime genres. Washington stars as Doug Carlin in the film, an ATF agent investigating a devastating terrorist attack on a ferry that killed hundreds of people.
It isn’t long before his investigation takes an interesting turn, though, as he learns about an experimental surveillance program nicknamed “Snow White.” The technology allows him to observe events from exactly four days and six hours in the past, but as Doug studies footage of the suspected bomber, he becomes convinced that the program can do more than simply look into the past.
Filled with plenty of high-octane action, Déjà Vu may be an unconventional sci-fi thriller, but its central question is one that the genre has explored countless times. If you had the chance to change the past, would you? What makes it unique is that it initially uses time travel as a crime-solving tool before turning a murder investigation into a high-stakes race to prevent an even greater tragedy.
While it might be a little confusing to follow at times and cause you to question semantics, Déjà Vu is definitely one of those movies that deserves a second viewing if you love all things Washington, especially now that it’s free. The sci-fi action thriller just landed on Tubi in the U.S. on Nov. 1, meaning it won’t cost you anything but a few ad breaks to stream it.
‘Déjà Vu’ Has Been Called Everything From “Great” to “Mind-Bogglingly Stupid”
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Buena Vista Pictures -
Buena Vista Pictures
Also starring the likes of Paula Patton (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ), and Val Kilmer (Top Gun), Déjà Vu earned a respectable $180 million at the box office against a budget of $75 million. Sure, it might not be Washington’s best movie, but it’s a fun one.
To this day, Déjà Vu holds a solid audience rating of 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, signifying it’s a decent crowd-pleaser. Where some have called it a “great” movie, others have gone so far as to call it “a total mind trip” with an “amazing performance from Washington.”
Not surprisingly, critics were sour on the film. They gave it a score of just 55%, which earned it the dreaded green splat on Rotten Tomatoes. Chuck O’Leary called it “a mind-bogglingly stupid and phony time-travel thriller,” while Brian Tallerico noted that though “it’s a hard movie to hate,” Déjà Vu is a film “that’s far too easy to forget.”
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
