In Time (2011)
★★★ — In Time (2011)
Andrew Niccol had already established himself as one of science fiction's more thoughtful writers and directors, having scripted The Truman Show (1998) and written and directed Gattaca (1997), a film that shares In Time's interest in bioethical dystopia and rigid social stratification. In Time is an original screenplay rather than an adaptation, which was something of a rarity for a studio science fiction film of this scale in the early 2010s, a period when franchise properties and source material dominated the genre. New Regency backed the production at a reported $40 million, a modest figure for a film of this ambition, and it returned a healthy $173 million worldwide. Justin Timberlake's casting as the lead was a notable bet on his crossover appeal as a dramatic actor, with Cillian Murphy in support and Amanda Seyfried taking the female lead.
100 minutes I'd want refunded. Now this is a brilliant concept: time as currency, the rich living forever, the poor literally watching their lives tick away. It’s a fresh, clever sci-fi idea that had the potential to be something really special. The world-building is solid on paper, and I give it credit for originality. There’s something genuinely gripping about the tension of every second counting. The first act sets it up nicely too, and the whole “Robin Hood with a wristwatch” vibe is fun. But… let’s be honest, it’s plothole city. The more you think about it, the more it all unravels. The economy of the world doesn’t make much sense, the characters often make baffling decisions, and the rules seem to bend depending on what the script needs in that moment. Justin Timberlake does fine, and Amanda Seyfried’s there with her iconic wide-eyed stare, but neither are exactly carrying the emotional weight this story should have. A stylish, ambitious mess. Worth a watch for the premise alone but don’t expect it to hold up under any real scrutiny.
Rating: ★★★ | Year: 2011 | Watched: 2025-04-09
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