After teaming for action thrillers like Crimson Tide (1995) and Man On Fire (2004), Denzel Washington, director Tony Scott and producer Jerry Bruckheimer did the same again with Déjà Vu. Critics didn't think much of the time-hopping plot, but they did fall for Washington's "eye-watering charisma" along with a few million moviegoers. It was no blockbuster, but it wasn't quite a flop either.

Watching Them, Watching You

The Surveillance Window invites you to 'go back in time' via nine featurettes and see how Scott and co. staged all those daring stunts and explosions. It turns out the New Orleans Coastguard were a bit antsy about having a fuel-loaded ferry being blown to smithereens on the Mississippi River, but Scott admits that "ecological" concerns meant no other city in the US would have them. What this says about the outlook of authorities in New Orleans is for you to surmise...

Stunts and make-up also come under the spotlight. Paula Patton is the unfortunate soul who must sit through hours of makeup to achieve that sexy 'burns victim' look, while Jim Caviezel takes a deep breath before being thrown clear of that exploding ferry. The erstwhile Messiah explains, "It wasn't until after it hit that I though, 'Gee. I can't believe what I just did...'" We can only assume his connections 'upstairs' insured him against a fiery death.

Familiar Faces

Washington gets a bit of talk time to reflect on his long-standing relationship with Scott and Bruckheimer as does co-star Val Kilmer. "He's not an intellectual," Kilmer says of Scott, "He's emotional, visual and visceral. He's like a monkey..." Um. That assessment is confirmed in some behind-the-scenes footage of a punch-up where Scott offers helpful direction to the actors of "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Scott's commentary for one extended scene (showing the aftermath of the ferry explosion) is even less edifying. He points out how the version that exists in the final cut is "condensed" while this longer sequence is "much more elaborate."

Obviously it's not his thoughtful approach to story structure of that secures Scott the big bucks. Perhaps then it's just as well that he doesn't give a commentary for the main feature. Still, if you got a kick out of Déjà Vu in cinemas, there's enough backstage action here to warrant a repeat viewing.

EXTRA FEATURES

Déjà Vu DVD is released on Monday 14th May 2007.