Movie Review: "In Time"

Uploaded to YouTube by ClevverMovies on Aug 8, 2011.

Movie Review: 

"In Time"

Written, Directed, and Produced by Andrew Niccol

Starring Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, and Cillian Murphy

Also features appearances by: 

Olivia Wilde as Justin Timberlake's Mom!

Matt Bomer (who played Bryce Larkin in the NBC show "Chuck")

And Johnny Galecki (who plays Leonard Hofstadter
in the CBS show "The Big Bang Theory")

The blurb at IMDB.com says: "In a future where people stop aging at 25, but are engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Here, Will Salas finds himself accused of murder and on the run with a hostage - a connection that becomes an important part of the way against the system."

(Click the picture below to be taken to IMDB's info about this movie.)

"In Time" blends "Robin Hood" and "Bonnie & Clyde" with splashes of "Logan's Run" and "Pulp Fiction" in a future where the adage "Time is money" is taken literally. The poor live from day to day. Or they die. The rich can live forever while still looking age 25.

Reinforcing Scot Anderson's claim in his book "Think Like a Billionaire, Become a Billionaire" that to rich people, the most important thing is time, not money. But refuting Kansas' assertion in their classic hit song "Dust in the Wind": "All your money won't another minute buy." Reminds me of Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hour rule from his book "Outliers: The Story of Success". (See my previous post: Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell)

 

What intrigued me most about this movie was the message. The movie presents an exciting thriller with a few lulls. And some parts I could predict, but they may say more about how many movies I've seen as opposed to any failings on the part of the writer/director/producer. (That's the writer's dream, by the way, to have total creative control over one's own project! Way to go Andrew Niccol.)

Beyond being just another action sci-fi thriller, this movie is a metaphor that hints at, or outright reveals, a conspiracy: The rich keep the poor poor. I.e., If everyone won the lottery, no one would collect the trash. The world has more than enough resources for everyone, but the privileged few hoard it to oppress the masses. The villains aren't as mad at the hero for stealing their time as much as they are for his giving it away.

The hero Will Salas (Timberlake) faces three main antagonists: Timekeeper (a.k.a. a cop) Raymon Leon (Cillian Murphy). The main man in charge of time/money Philippe Weis (Vincent Kartheiser, a.k.a. Connor in "Angel" and Pete Campbell in "Mad Men"). (Will's Love Interest Sylvia Weis (Seyfried) is Philippe's daughter!) And a gang of Clock-Cleaning Thieves who steal time (thus killing) people with too much time on their hands. Or, in this case, on their arms.

Despite watching the film faux pas where the car drives over the edge, but tumbles down the embankment without passengers, and then lands with two passengers inside, plus the aforementioned predictable moments and such, I enjoyed the movie.

In addition to some cool fight scenes, this film featured some great lines too:

Female Server: "You do everything fast."

Will Salas: "Not everything."

Sylvia Weis: "I didn't mean to shoot him, I meant to scare him."

Will Salas: "I think you did both."

And lots of fun references to time, such as the iconic:

Henry Hamilton: "Don't waste my time."

Is this movie worth your time? Should you invest 109 minutes of your life? (Longer if you count the previews.)

I recommend it. An exciting thrill ride with metaphorical meaning. Holds your attention. Has cool twists and turns. Being more than "just a movie", this motion picture makes you think: How should I best spend my time?

Watch online.         Or buy the DVD.        Or the Blu-Ray. 

This movie also made me wonder: What am I doing to help the unfortunate? 

Will Salas: "How can you live with yourself watching people die right next to you?" 

Sylvia Weis: "You don't watch. You close your eyes." 

I get it. We've become desensitized. "What? People in the world are still starving to death every few seconds? Are you kidding me?" Sadly, I'm not. Plus, it's a big world. With big problems. What can we do?

We can start by opening our eyes, not wasting our time, and supporting World Vision, an organization that not only rescues the destitute, but helps them to become self-sufficient too, with low marketing costs, so most of the money they receive goes to helping those in need. 

Okay. We can close our eyes to pray. 

But when we open them again, we'd best start helping others.

I should clarify: This movie doesn't necessarily make you respond that way. That's just the way it made me respond. Not that I'm entirely noble either, because the movie also made me think: Where can I find stolen money to steal? (Not that I would.) Owing to the film's twice repeated notion: "Is it really stealing if it's already stolen?"

We receive 24 hours each day. 

Starting tomorrow, how will you invest yours?

Blessings & Joy,

Dean Burkey