this be a thoughtful adventure that i find to be part sci fi and part thriller and part love story and an unusually rivet filmgoing experience . unsurprisingly and it have few well developed character while but uncharacteristically for the genre and almost all the piece character and however brief their appearance may be and become memorable . there be a special effect disaster in the film and a rousing car chase and many other interest technical achievement while but i suggest that in this unusual achievement and these adult device help to move the story along rather than detract from it a be more usual . deja vu i find to be unusual in it structure also . boy lose girl and boy pursues girl be not the typical scenario for many film least of all for a sci fi narrative while but that what one encounter here . the fun in the film be i suggest mostly provide by just how the boy lose the girl and exactly how he pursue her to the end of this one . tony scott direct this action masterwork for producer jerry bruckheimer and from a script by bill marsilli and co producer terry rossio . production designer chris seagers make use of understated but consistent lighting of and new orleans street and background just enough to give the real flavor of the crescent city and which i have visit and experience more than once . paul cameron cinematography and the controlled art direction supply by drew boughton and and the award level and very complex set decoration by rosemary brandenburg all in my opinion add greatly to the film unusual believability . the makeup task be enormous in this movie while and the costume well handle while but these element mostly provide a background to the main storyline progress . among the exceedingly large cast and standouts include val kilmer and james caviezel a a terrorist and and a number of good actor in small role a fbi and atf official . it be difficult to do justice to the pace and intelligence and gradual unfolding of so interest a story . most reviewer can not understand sci fi and especially time travel story . so and the success of this modest but a production effort be worth note a a milestone in cinematic history . add in a strong folksy performance by denzel washington a the lead agent and attractive paula patton a his love interest while throw in good or good music by harry gregson williams and and you have a first rate film that deserve even more attention that it many nomination would attest . very highly recommend .