In Time

Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is In Time.

Written and Directed by Andrew Niccol.

Review #145

MPAA Rating:  PG-13 for violence, some sexualty and partial nudity, and strong language.

Runtime: 109 min

Cast

Cillian Murphy ...Raymond Leon

Justin Timberlake ...Will Salas

Amanda Seyfried ...Sylvia Weis

Vincent Kartheiser ... Philippe Weis

Johnny Galecki ...Borel

Olivia Wilde ...Rachel Salas

Matt Bomer ... Henry Hamilton

Alex Pettyfer ... Fortis


If only had a year to live. A month. A week. A day. An hour. How would you spend it?

We've all dealt with that hypothetical before. And we all answered the same non committal way. But what if you actually did have just a year, month, week, day or hour to live. How would you spend it Could you give an answer?


In Time does it for you in a very clever and original way.

That however doesn't make it a good movie.


Plot


In the not-too-distant future the aging gene has been switched off. To avoid overpopulation, time has become the currency and the way people pay for luxuries and necessities. The rich can live forever, while the rest try to negotiate for their immortality. A poor young man who comes into a fortune of time, though too late to help his mother from dying. He ends up on the run from a police force known as time keepers.


This was a mixed bag film for me. On one hand the concept was aforementioned very clever and original. Replacing money with time is a brilliant way to put a spin on the world and the perception of what true living actually means to us. The biggest problem with In Time is that is becomes 2 different movies between acts 2 and 3. Early on In Time plays like a very sharp sci fi thriller. Filled with intrigue and originality. Then it switches gears to a balls out chase film.

That's where In Time loses me.

For some reason Niccol decided to turn his movie into an action adventure midway through and it fails to deliver on the premise it set at the beginning. Another no no Niccol committed was the action scenes were in a word....BLAH. I've seen better chases in the Geico commercial where the dog is chasing the cat in the cars. They're also mind numbingly repetitive. For a film containing a very original idea, the action was severely lacking in that department.

What truly pains me about In Time was that I honestly felt that the abundance of action wasn't necessary. It was clear as day that this movie was a statement about our current financial crisis. How the rich get richer and how the poor scratch and claw for every last dollar to survive day to day. That is an impression worth expanding on through traditional thriller storytelling arcs. The call for guns and screeching tires didn't seem to fit here. A much more psychological approach would have been so much more satisfying.

The emphasis on action towards the latter half of the movie also kills the chemistry between the 2 main characters Will and Sylvia. Their connection is established and to the point when they first meet and just like he movie their relationship goes a complete and inexplicable 180. It's too bad because the change in their feelings for each other would have made more sense if more attention was paid to it. Instead they develop their newly found partnership as their dodging bullets.

I realize I've spent the better part of this review killing this movie. Don't get me wrong, it deserves the spanking I'm giving it but there was some good here too.

Leading off was the performance of Justin Timberlake. It's time to put away the Mickey Mouse Club and N'Sync jokes when it comes to this cat. He has paid his dues and put forth a pretty solid performance. As the leading man he carries the film very well. There was a believability in his emotions and actions. He showed the aptitude to handle action which creates a wider range for his career. He's not just the dopey comedic actor anymore. He's got some chops and it was on display here with his brooding, soft and very dark Will Salas.

It's because of Timberlake's performance the action wasn't a complete snooze fest. There was a pretty cool scene between him and Alex Pettyfer's character when they "fight" for Will's time. It was formulaic and predictable but well performed. It's time to take him seriously as an actor. Someone I hope gets a real look is the guy who took on Will in the fight. Alex Pettyfer. He's a big time unknown but I know him from his Wu Shu background. He's a very accomplished martial artist who has worked with one of Hong Kong's greatest directors/fight choreographers. Donnie Yen Ji Dan. There's something to be said about that because Yen is a bit of a snob when it comes to working with "gweilo" (white) fighters. Unfortunately his Wu Shu skill was not on display here but he showed some pretty decent acting here as the leader of the minute men.

Sadly, that's all about In Time I take seriously. The rest of the cast just robots their way through this one. I was especially disappointed in Cillian Murphy's performance as the Time Keeper. There was a whiff of apathy after every line he uttered. Shame. I really like Murphy a lot. Even the great ones succumb to the almighty paycheck. Everyone else seemed to follow in line with Murphy.

On the 5 star scale. In Time gets 1.5"Netflix It" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is Immortals.

Until Next Episode....I'll Save You A Seat!

"D"