In Time | Review
I’ve stressed this before and I’ll stress it again: having an expiration date and knowing when you’re going to die has to be one of the scariest things that can happen to you. ‘In Time’ is a new science-fiction film that covers this concept of time in a near-future world. In the real world one is branded an expiration date unless they’re stricken with a terminal illness, but in this film every human alive has a ticking life span, and a short one at that.
‘In Time’ takes place in the year 2161, in which time has replaced money as currency. The human race has been genetically engineered to stop aging at 25 years, and everyone can live for one more year unless they can get more time through hard labor, gambling, or stealing. The time a person has left to live is depicted as a glowing, green, digital clock-of-sorts on one arm. The other arm is used to transfer and download time to and from other people or time collecting machines (for the payment of food, taxi cabs, hotel rooms, and other services).
The premise of the film allows for a cast composed almost entirely of young and beautiful people, considering everyone who is alive is either 25 in appearance or a child. This explains how someone young and gorgeous like Olivia Wilde (‘Cowboys & Aliens’) can portray the 50-year-old mother of the film’s hero, Will Salas (Justin Timberlake).
Will and his mother, Rachel, are poor and live in the ghetto. The both of them are quickly running out of time, leading to a dramatic encounter between the two. One night, Will meets a man named Henry Hamilton (Matthew Bomer), who claims to be over 100 years old and has another century to live. Hamilton explains to Will the corrupt and unmoral nature of their time-based society; the rich can essentially live forever by suppressing the poor and continuously increasing the cost of living. When Hamilton gives an unknowing Will all of his time and commits suicide, Will goes on the run because the security cameras make it appear like Will murdered him. Those who maintain order and manage time throughout this society are the Timekeepers. Cillian Murphy (‘Inception‘) is the head Timekeeper, Raymond Leon, who chases after Will throughout the majority film.
Other important characters include Fortis (Alex Pettyfer, from ‘I Am Number Four‘), the brutal leader of the time stealing gang, the Minutemen. Another is Philippe Weis (Vincent Kartheiser, from ‘Mad Men’), one of the richest men in the film; he owns many time banks throughout the world and is practically immortal. His daughter is Sylvia (Amanda Seyfried, from ‘Dear John’), who eventually encounters Will and becomes his love interest.
‘In Time’ has a plot that can include things like a 99 Second Store, or corny lines like “Don’t waste my time.” If the interesting premise were explored further in depth this could have been a great science-fiction film. Directed and written by Andrew Niccol (‘Gattaca’ & ‘The Truman Show’), ‘In Time’ is more adrenaline and action heavy than it is philosophical. It only hints and hovers around the moral and philosophical concerns of its characters and the society they live in. And the film could have explored Raymond Leon’s background more, as well as the faults of a society where people can live forever. Alas, this is still an entertaining film with potential to be so much more. Justin Timberlake once again showcases his acting chops, and it’s still impressive considering how he started off as a singer. With great performances in ‘The Social Network‘ and ‘Friends With Benefits‘, Timberlake shows he can be an actor to watch out for; his presence in films nowadays is much like Will Smith’s rocketed career as a movie star.