In Time
Review by Sean Lynch
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In Time
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For a film that spends so much time trying to convince it's audience of the value, importance and scarcity of time - In Time sure as hell manages to waste a good chunk of it's audiences fleeting moments on this earth with reckless abandon. Welcome to yet another alternate universe created by Andrew Niccol, the man behind such tomes as Gattaca and The Truman Show.
It's a world where time has become the ultimate currency. Yes, literally "Time is Money"!
People are genetically designed to stop aging at 25, with one sweet catch : you are genetically-engineered to
live only one more year, unless you can buy your way out of it.
The
rich "earn" decades at a time (remaining at age 25), becoming
essentially immortal, while the rest beg, borrow or steal enough hours
to make it through the day. When a man from the wrong side of the
tracks is falsely accused of murder, he is forced to go on the run with
a beautiful hostage. Living minute to minute, the duo's love becomes a
powerful tool in their war against the system. With
some pretty laboured dialogue (with several lines, that aren't as
inspiring as Niccols thinks it does, repeated ad nauseum) and clunky
performances, you could mistake this pricey Justin Timberlake vehicle
as little more than a "clever little Year 12 Media Project".
The idea is so solid, it seems a shame more isn't done to really explore some deeper themes and ideas like the far superior Gattaca did. Instead all we are left with is a donut that someone's forgot to fill with jam.
Alas, In Time delivers
little more than a lot of running, and a fairly one note concept that
acts as little more than a thinly veiled critique on those pesky 1% we
hear so much about lately.
A backwards step for Timberlake who, until now, hadn't put a foot wrong with his exploding film career. 2 out
of 5
Crazy Stupid Love
Australian release: 27th October,
2011
Official
Site: In Time
Cast: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried
Director: Andrew Niccol
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