Science Fiction films of the late 2000s and early 2010s were something else. There was a wide selection to choose from, disaster films and science fiction tales, genre-bending tales about life-changing drugs, and mind-bending films that were filled to the brim with action. However, I never thought that I’d be seeing Justin Timberlake as the protagonist in one of these sorts of films. Not only was I surprised, but I was genuinely taken aback when I found out about In Time, a film that is laughable at what it tries to do with its concept, but entertaining enough to be somewhat fun!
How to Download In Time
You can download the film from a digital store. You can also stream it. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. If you want to see more of Justin Timberlake, check him out also in The Social Network, and listen to his song from Trolls Can’t Stop the Feeling.
The Movie Review
In Time is set in a world where time is the most valuable asset there is. Humans stop aging at the age of 25, but there’s a catch here: unless you can afford to buy your way out of it, you’re genetically programmed to only live another year.
The wealthy effectively become immortal as they “earn” decades of time being alive, meanwhile while the rest of humanity must beg, borrow, or steal enough time to get by each day. A man from the underclass is forced to flee with a stunning captive after being wrongfully accused of murder. Living minute by minute, the couple’s love turns into a potent weapon in their battle against the rigged system.
I’ll be honest, this film features a fantastic science fiction concept. However, there are a TON of issues here that keep it from being very good. Something is tremendously lacking here, and that is the world building.
The concept here wasn’t used to its potential, the film keeps bragging with exposition rather than showing you the world. The ghetto neighborhood doesn’t feel as tough, and the world feels content. I found it frustrating to imagine no one was going mad and robbing everyone they could to buy more time.
The potential for a dystopian society is not explored sufficiently.
The Cast
The cast, in my opinion, was not skilled enough to explore this unique concept. Justin Timberlake doesn’t have what it takes to be the leading guy, despite any success he may have had in supporting roles. Another professional whose appeal sometimes overshadows her skills is Amanda Seyfried, who plays off Justin Timberlake for much of the movie.
Without ever offering anything new, In Time is a lifeless blockbuster that is content to mimic the appearance and aesthetic of more unique films like Jumper. It’s surprising that Kiwi director Andrew Niccol, who previously directed the brilliant Gattaca would direct a film as derivative and dull.
The Visuals
The cinematography is not too bad though, the production design doesn’t do a great job of creating sets that are believable in a dystopian era, but the cinematography does a good job of showcasing whatever there is. In fact, the cinematography and the visuals are some of the better aspects of this film, as they bring in more variety to the scenic and visual capacity of this world. The only way we see this film’s world is through the lens, as there is little to nothing else that expands upon it.
Sound & Music
The music, well, it’s better that I just simply don’t talk about it. The music is so rudimentary that it makes TV films feel better produced. You can throw in as much budget as you want into production, but if the different elements don’t seem to match in creating an atmosphere that you can associate with the world, there isn’t going to be much to like left.
The Verdict
It won’t take long for you to find story flaws because Andrew Nichol obviously didn’t spend enough time working out the kinks within In Time. Although writer and director Andrew Nichol’s In Time had a strong concept that had the potential to be incredibly original, he, unfortunately, does not do it any justice whatsoever.
His movie essentially consists of one extended chase sequence with a romance subplot for the majority of its running duration, which ends with a lackluster finale that sends you wondering, ‘did In Time truly waste my time?’
