Andrew Niccol thinks ahead, with a track record of socially-relevant films with entertaining through-lines. His latest film, In Time, only offers a fraction of the equation – entertainment. And while that is perfectly adequate in most cases, we expect more from Niccol. His Gattaca is a sophisticated sci-fi drama unlike any other film in the sci-fi genre, while Lord of War is a superb exploration of moral contradiction. Even Sim0ne, his weakest film, is a noble failure in terms of Hollywood satire. It’s ambitious and takes chances, something In Time never gets around to.
The biggest fumble is the mismanagement of a great premise. The idea of time being used as currency is immensely intriguing. How did we get to the point of making such a boneheaded decision? A character in the film mentions how this system would lead to overpopulation issues – which any sane person should figure be able to figure out in a matter of seconds – and yet the whole world abided by this system? Was there overpopulation to begin with, rationalizing the change in the first place?
Even in the opening exposition, this quibble is not commented on.
This is a type of film where other classic tales are intertwined. In short, Niccol made Robin Hood with a sci-fi twist. The film focuses on Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) sticking it to the rich, the people with all the time in the world and trying to give to the poor. Which, in this case, means literally redistributing time.
With a world as potentially grand as this, why tell the story with the littlest of stakes? Characters annoyingly discuss how Will is going to change the system and all that jazz, so why not show that? This is solely Los Angeles he’s shaking up – a small part of the world – so how is this going to make a great impact? Can Will inspire people in Paris or Africa to start robbing from the rich and spreading out the time?
To make matters worse, Timberlake’s Salas isn’t a captivating-enough lead. Niccol has crafted some dynamic protagonists in his career: the lovable Truman (Jim Carrey), the tragic dreamer Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) and the devil with a smile Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage). Salas is interchangeable with any bland action lead. He’s not as charming or sympathetic as he should be. In the end, the hero is overshadowed by the real star of the film, Timekeeper Raymond Leon (Cillian Murphy). Raymond is the character one would think Niccol would be more intrigued by, a morally-conflicted law enforcer. Leon doesn’t believe in this system, but he’s strongly protected it for 50 years.
One can’t deny the Andrew Niccol has a unique eye – with the help of Roger Deakins‘ gorgeous digital cinematography – and his ability to craft a good story, but it’s as if he chose the wrong tale to tell. In the end, In Time doesn’t live up to its concept or the talent involved.
In Time is now in wide release.