In TimeOn release from 1st November
The new film by Andrew Niccol, writer of TheTruman Show and Gattaca, takes the phrase “time is money” literally. In the near future, when each person reaches 25, they stop ageing but are given only a year to live. The wealthy can buy themselves long lives; the poor must work to get enough time to stay alive. In Time centres on a young man, Will Salas, falsely accused of murder. To survive, Will must challenge the corrupt society around him.
All this may sound naff and “high concept,” but Niccol has good form balancing philosophical ideas with engaging storytelling. Pop star turned (surprisingly good) actor Justin Timberlake leads the strong cast, which also includes Amanda Seyfried and the reliably sinister Cillian Murphy. The talent is matched behind the camera, with Roger Deakins, the Coen brothers’ extraordinary cinematographer, on board.
In Time forms part of a small but welcome resurgence of brainy science fiction movies this year (Source Code, Super 8 and Contagion) which ask the big questions about human beings—with a few car chases and shootouts thrown in for good measure.
