There's a pointed directness to the film in many regards that rides a line between being quirky and charming, and gawky and off-putting. The dialogue, scene writing, delivery, direction, and plot development all seem to bear that duality, and furthermore, the writing of characters feels altogether inconsistent. With all this in mind, it seems to me as though the cast often has a hard time (and understandably so!) navigating the space between to find the right tone for their performances. In fairness, this does somewhat comport with the nature of the story, about people facing uncertainty and struggling to figure themselves out; on the other hand, with tone up in the air here, the result is kind of flat, never particularly moving up or down no matter what's happening in the narrative. Between that flat tone, and the actual content that emphatically repeats ideas for scenes and story beats, it's hard not to feel like the feature is a little repetitive - yet, "then again" once more, the two chief characters are on similar paths (although they're not really seeming to go anywhere, are they?). Is the entirety of 'Space & time' a meta reflection of the idiom that "time is a flat circle?" Or is was none of this deliberate after all?
Please don't misunderstand: I kind of like this. I also don't know quite what to make of it, or how to feel about it. Are the off-kilter vibes intentional and ingenious, or accidental and sloppy? Is it imbalanced in the time and attention it devotes to Sean, or to Siobhan, or is it exactly what it needs to be? Is filmmaker Shawn Gerrard's screenplay troubled but indicative of an up-and-comer, or is it simply brilliant? Despite a sense that the actors have difficulty maneuvering between the words on the pages, I do like what they bring to the picture, and in fact the acting in and of itself may be the most consistent and rewarding part thereof. Uneven though the scene writing is, there are select moments herein that are utterly perfect, so this aspect of the writing secures a solid second place, and that's as much a credit to the actors, too, as it is to Gerrard. In the best moments Victoria Kucher capably depicts Siobhan with a complete sincerity that's welcome; Risa Stone impresses for the lively and somewhat aloof coldness with which she portrays DD. Amy Jo Johnson rather steals the show for the time she has on-screen, infusing much needed definite comedy into the proceedings with her airy, tongue-in-cheek embodiment of self-styled "spiritual advisor" Ahkila.
For any strength 'Space & time' can claim, however, including fundamentally solid technical craft, the overall feeling it communicates is that it couldn't find its own feet. The writing is so irregular and misshapen, especially where characters are concerned, that while this can meaningfully be called a comedy-drama, there is nothing resembling a stable harmony between those two halves. And still, even at those moments that should and arguably do carry the most weight, the feature is notably and falteringly even-keeled, failing to hit the notes that it wants to or should. And for all this, I can't tell if it's a series of conscious choices, or of stumbling missteps.
I like it, but I just don't see that this is what it wanted to be or could have been. I'm glad for those who get more out of it, I look forward to seeing the cast in other things, and I anticipate that Gerrard will continue to grow as a filmmaker and make me eat my words at some point in the future. As for 'Space & time' itself, however, I think it's maybe best recommended for those who are curious and open to all the possibilities that cinema has to offer, or those who are big fans of someone involved. Otherwise, I'm not sure what to say.
