In Time
Dir: Andrew Niccol
2011
***
Andrew Niccol is a great Sci-fi writer, his 2011 thriller In Time is his best film since his debut Gattaca, released in 1997. He has certainly developed a distinct style over the years and his depiction of the future is among one of my favorites of the genre in recent years. The idea of a future whereby time is currency is brilliant and just as good as any dystopian work by Philip K. Dick, Aldous Huxley, Ray Bradbury and from a sociological perspective, his work is as accomplished as any of George Orwell's. The film is directed well with some beautiful examples of composition but it's never as good as the idea. Far too much of the movie is filmed in the Los Angeles Storm Drains and the Bridges that cross it, which leads to several continuity errors. I didn't buy the scene whereby Justin Timberlake's character, who is a hardworking laborer from the poorest part of the country, suddenly becomes a poker pro and James Bond-alike as soon as he inherits a large amount of time (money) either. The first act of the film pretty much remains forgotten as the story soon turns into a Bonny and Clyde meets Robin Hood tale, when really they should have tackled the politics side of the idea. We're constantly told that Vincent Kartheiser's Philippe is a rich thief but his villainy is never really explored convincingly. I also thought Cillian Murphy's 'Time Watcher' role was underdeveloped which is a huge missed opportunity. Overall, I feel this should have been more a thriller with a bit of action rather than an action thriller. It seemed a bit rushed and unpolished and I'm afraid, apart from Murphy, it was fairly miscast. It is so close to being the masterpiece it should have been that I can't help but feel disappointed it wasn't.