In Time

In the world of "In Time", time is money. Literally. Set in a future where everybody ages until 25, then they have one year left to live, except that one year is currency. The rich can live at age 25 eternally and the poor don't always have a chance to live. Time zones are classes of wealth and you can't cross over without upsetting the order of the world. It's quite possible that they have taken this time is money equation too far.

But I enjoyed this twist on the same old action movie. It even starts with some thoughts on philosophy. A rich boy finds himself in a poor man's bar where everybody wants a piece of him, so much so that his considerable wealth and time line are in danger. While the poor are in constant need of money, it turns out that the rich don't have the same drives for life. This rich guy is impressed by Will's (Justin Timberlake) honesty and earnest desire to find out how the other side lives. Will is then faced with the possibility of an infinite life time of money.

From there, we get a Robin Hood action movie. Will pairs up with a daddy's girl vixen, Sylvia (Amanda Seyfried) and they are on the run from the time keepers (Cillian Murphy). I have enjoyed Timberlake's recent foray into the world of movie stars, but I like him more as a comedic straight man than as an action hero. Seyfried, on the other hand, proves that she can play pretty much anything. A mysteriously innocent, sharp-shooting, sexy action girl suits her well.

The logic that this new world presents is pretty easy to figure out, but as you are doing that at least you are distracted from the usual action movie set-up. Hollywood has ventured again into the science fiction romance genre, and has again come out with an intelligent, action-packed film with something for everyone.

Everyone is on a clock. What keeps the general population from devolving into id-driven mobs is the fact that no one knows how much time they have left on theirs. If you had a constant reminder on your forearm, however, you might simply go about your life in a desperate attempt to prolong it. Or not.

Will Salas (played by Justin Timberlake) is a 28-year-old factory worker whose one year clock started and aging stopped, like everyone else in the film, when he turned 25. He and his 50 year-old mother Rachel (played by Olivia Wilde) live in the ghettos of Dayton hoping to earn and save enough to at least see the next day. All while wages in the ghetto are constantly going down and the cost of living is constantly going up. Then, while out drinking with his friend Borel (played by Johnny Galecki), he learns of a man with more than a century left on his clock who has unadvisedly advertised his good fortune while in the same bar as Will and Borel. A local time-thief enters the picture and, rather than retreat like his friend did and advised him to do, Will comes to the aid of the fortunate stranger. While saving his life was all for naught, the stranger gives Will all the time left on his clock before allowing the time on his own clock to run out while he's sitting on a bridge overlooking a dry river basin.

"Time is money" was a phrase first coined by Benjamin Franklin. While the idea of reversing that concept to "money is time" is interesting, I don't believe the cast was up to the challenge of exploring it. Whatever success Justin Timberlake might've had in supporting roles, he doesn't have what it takes to be the leading man. Amanda Seyfried, whose role has her playing off Timberlake for a lot of the film, is another professional whose appeal tends to overshadow her abilities for some reason. Perhaps an independent production could provide actors with genuine talent, who are young enough to look the part, but this is closer some sort of CW melodrama.

A very unusual film screen-play, well written and shot, don't expect any CGI effects here, this is a very down to Earth sci-fi that bears more than a passing resemblance to our current problem with world banks. Surprisingly Justin Timberlake puts in a very professional performance, and not a song in sight, Timberlake carries the part with a very grounded performance being so laid back that he is almost horizontal. Amanda Seyfried submits a polished performance although her make-up makes her look like one of those Japanese animations of what a European looks like, complete with over-sized eyes. The film holds the attention from the first to the last frame and provokes some emotion from the viewer on several levels. Certainly worth a watch, not quite a Rolex, but much better than a Timex.

In Time (2011) presents an intriguing dystopian concept where people stop aging at 25 and must buy more time to live. The film features impressive special effects that make the futuristic world feel real. Justin Timberlake fits well as the main protagonist, and Cillian Murphy excels as the antagonist.

The cinematography is visually stunning, with proficient use of lighting in both daylight and night scenes, although the lighting in some club scenes feels a bit off. The film makes effective use of medium and long shots, complemented by great editing, particularly in the car chase scenes, which are thrilling and well-executed.

However, the editing feels clumsy and choppy at times, detracting from the overall experience. The pacing is intentionally rushed, aligning with the protagonist's characteristics. Despite enjoying the film, it feels like there are missed opportunities, especially in exploring its rich concept.

The writing captures the dystopian feel well, with time as the currency in a world where the poor and the rich are starkly divided. The film raises philosophical questions about life, death, time, justice, generosity, capitalism, poverty, morality, and trust. The dialogue is engaging, but the concept sometimes feels underdeveloped, lacking depth and straightforwardness.

The chase and fight scenes are entertaining, and the production design, with its contemporary buildings and futuristic cars and clothing, enhances the film's atmosphere. The soundtrack is unique, with a calm, mellow, and slightly electronic touch, featuring gritty bass lines and a dystopian feel. It's not generic but purposeful in its composition.

This film feels like a school project with a high budget. It could have benefited from extended scenes and more action sequences to fully explore its potential.

Overall, In Time is an interesting watch with visually stunning cinematography and a unique concept. Strong 6/10, decent 7/10.

What a fun thriller! Not only does it have a very intriguing premise, but there's a ton of eye candy and countless exciting action scenes. Why does it have so much eye candy? Because everyone in the movie is young. It takes place in an alternate universe where time has replaced money as a currency and everyone's time "runs out" at twenty-five. Once you hit twenty-five, the timer on your wrist starts ticking down. At work, you earn time instead of money, so you are literally working for your life. If your timer ever reaches zero, you drop dead.

And while yes, there are ugly twenty-five-year-olds, this movie doesn't feature any of them. Everyone is young and good looking. Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Matt Bomer, Olivia Wilde (who plays Justin's mom!), and other beautiful people grace the screen. There's a definite class distinction, with the "wealthy" betting thousands of hours at the casinos and the "poor" borrowing time from their neighbors just to make it to the next day. When Justin decides to spread the wealth (with the help from his new main squeeze), he's at risk from the wealthy people who want to stop him, the poor who are desperate for time, and the cops.

I love this movie and own a well-worn DVD copy. I saw it in the theaters, I watch it at home for fun, and it's still very entertaining. If you missed it because you thought it would be a cheap thriller, think again. It's one of the better ones.