CBS RADIO

Transcript "DEJA VU" Review By Jim Svejda

Air date: 5-8-98

IN A DOZEN FILMS MADE OVER A PERIOD OF 22 YEARS, HE HAS BECOME ONE OF AMERICAN'S MOST UNUSUAL AND ORIGINAL DIRECTORS: A maverick in the manner of his friend Orson Welles, whose work seems to owe nothing to anyone. Having made a career of making surprising movies, his latest ­ surprisingly traditional (and would you believe commercial) as it seems to be ­ should come as no surprise either. And I'm Jim Svejda, On Film.

In "DEJA VU," the new film from director HENRY JAGLOM, VICTORIA FOYT plays a successful American businesswoman who, on a buying trip to Israel, meets a mysterious older French woman who tells her a fascinating and romantic story about an antique ruby pin. When she leaves the pin behind, Ms. Foyt's character, Dana tries unsuccessfully to find her -- whereupon hangs A FANTASTIC AND VERY ROMANTIC TALE.

EVEN BY HENRY JAGLOM'S AUDACIOUS STANDARDS, "DEJA VU" IS AN INCREDIBLY DARING FILM. Yet what makes this one so unusual is that unlike the typical Jaglom film -- if there is such a thing -- the rambling, fascinating talk for which the director is famous is replaced by AN OLD-FASHIONED (AND EXCEEDINGLY ROMANTIC) STORY LINE. It's not that the characters don't have a lot of interesting things to say, but this time, what they say seems much less important than what they do.

AND WHAT THEY DO WALKS SUCH A DARINGLY FINE LINE BETWEEN SENTIMENT AND SENTIMENTALITY THAT ONLY AN EXPERIENCED AND GRACEFUL TIGHT-ROPE WALKER LIKE HENRY JAGLOM WOULD DARE -- TO MIX THE METAPHOR -- TO GO QUITE SO FAR OUT ON THE LIMB. THAT HE IS WILLING TO DO SO MAKES "DEJA VU" JAGLOM'S MOST INCREDIBLY DARING, HEARTWARMING AND WILDLY ROMANTIC FILM.

I GUARANTEE YOU'LL LOVE "DEJA VU." I LITERALLY GUARANTEE IT. IF YOU SEE IT AND DON'T AGREE, SEND ME YOUR TICKET STUB AND I'LL GIVE YOU YOUR MONEY BACK! HAVE YOU EVER HEARD A CRITIC SAY THAT BEFORE?