In Time When done properly, Science Fiction can be a powerful tool with which to comment on the real world. When done through allegory and the symbolism of a simplified and more extreme world, fantastical fiction can paint injustice and happenstance in our own world in a clarified and glaring light. The sci fi subgenre of the dystopian world does this as well as any. In the tradition of Orwell's 1984, a glimpse of a nightmarish future can comment on current affairs better than the vast majority of more "realistic" fiction. Writer/director Andrew Niccol is no stranger to this tradition, having made the very underrated "Gattaca" (check it out if you haven't seen it) and also written "The Truman Show". Into this tradition steps "In Time", a film that seeks to comment on discrepancies in wealth, society's obsession with youth and humanity's obsession with immortality through the lens of a dystopian future. So how is it, right? Well, first, the concept is a great one. In the near future (they never say exactly when, but clearly this has been going on for a while), through genetic engineering, everyone lives to 25, and from that point gets 1 year to live. "Time" has replaced money as the currency of choice, and while rich people live more or less forever, the poor scrap for minutes and hours, often dying extremely young. The population is separated into "zones" that are distinguished by their relative wealth or poverty, only of course, "wealth" is actually time. Good guy Will (Timberlake) who slaves away in a dead end job just to make it from day-to-day has a chance encounter with a drunken rich man who's decided he wants out, and chances onto a whole lot of extra "time". This catches the attention of the "time police" who are out to make sure that the system stays stable and time stays in the right hands. Will decides to take matters into his own hands and challenge the system, butting up against some very powerful people.
The concept allows for the cast to all be young and beautiful. Since no one ages past 25, all adults look exactly the same age, whether they're 28 or 105. As a result, the cast is all more or less the same age, and this results in some interesting interactions. The cast is solid, featuring lots of young, pretty people, and the film is very sleek and stylized, with everything shaped in some sort of neo classical high tech retro vibe. (If that makes sense) The settings and concepts and designs are reminiscent of other dystopian works, from Equilibrium and The Hunger Games series to 1984.
Timberlake can actually carry a flick, which I wasn't sure about, so good for him. He's strong but not great in the lead role, which is more or less your typical action hero role, strong guy of few words but heart of gold kind of thing. Olivia Wilde plays Timberlake's mother and is strong in her limited role. Cillian Murphy plays the "time keeper" who becomes obsessed with bringing fugitive Will to justice. Amanda Seyfried plays a wealthy heiress/hostage turned comrade in arms and Vincent (Pete from Mad Men) Kartheiser plays a wealthy magnate and Seyfried's father. Murphy is a highlight, for sure, and really jumps into his role with a lot of enthusiasm.
This film is good, but only good. The acting is solid, and I love the premise, but after a strong start it sort of devolves into your standard action flick. Maybe I'm doing the flick a disservice by expecting more than an action chase flick, but coming from the strong tradition of science fiction social commentary, I was hoping for less screeching tires and more thoughtful observation. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it would have been fun to see them do more with the premise. In addition, some of the characters could have used some more characterization and at a certain point the allegory simply became too heavy handed. I enjoyed it, had a good time, and it certainly looks great, including all the pretty people, but it could have been much more.
Good (and certainly a lot of fun), but not great. 6.8/10.
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