In Time (2011)

In Andrew Niccol's new science fiction film, the world's currency is time. This is because at some point long before the events of this film, genetics were perfected and nobody ages past twenty-five. Nor do they ever gain weight, apparently, as everyone in this movie could be a model. That aspect of the proceedings may have something to do with the fact that no animals exist in this future as far as I can tell and tofu seems to be the meal of choice. Anyway, a man with a century on his clock, which is kept in green letters on everyone's arm, and he gives it all to Justin Timberlake before dropping dead. The police, called Time Keepers, are now after the poor guy, thinking he is a thief. Timberlake then kidnaps rich girl Amanda Seyfried and she learns what it is like to live one day at a time, not knowing where your next minutes will come from.

This is a very interesting movie, more for the violent discussion and debates geeks will have after seeing it then for what's actually shown on the screen. I have to wonder if the idea wouldn't have been better utilized on a more TV show level rather than a film. There is a world to explore here, at which we only barely get a glimpse. On the other hand, most of the material is hard to wrap my brain around. It isn't really very complicated, it just doesn't seem to be thought through very well. The movie claims that there are at least ten "time zones" in which people live, which get richer and richer the lower the number gets. What I don't understand is why each sector seems to be only the size of a city. Is this happening in only one state? Or is it the whole country and we just aren't shown everything? It certainly isn't the whole world, which begs the question: What's the rest of it like? These kinds of questions must be ignored while watching this movie and afterwards or you will wind up questioning yourself out of an enjoyable movie. Yes, In Time is a very entertaining movie and I enjoyed it, despite its flaws.

Justin Timberlake continues to prove that he is a real actor and not just a gimmick. Some of his scenes here are overdone, like a main character's death scene which is ruined by his comical screaming, but that probably isn't his fault as much as the director's. Any good that Timberlake does is underplayed by the incomplete feeling Niccol's screenplay has. Timberlake and Seyfried could have made a great new Bonnie and Clyde, but they spend most of their time doing stunts and looking pretty respectively. I have absolutely no quarrels with Niccol's skills as an action director and his work here will please any fans of the genre. Sci-fi fans should also find plenty to like with the movie's interesting ideas,even if they aren't played through very thoroughly. This is a movie that is easy to recommend for the promise it shows, which is only bogged down a bit by the problems it can't overcome.

7/10