About Time
You know when someone asks you that question, “if you could have a super power, what would it be?” Now, I am no expert in superheroes and superpowers. I normally would answer by saying: “flying or be super strong”. However, after watching About Time I have changed my mind. I would choose the ability to travel in time (don’t know if that is technically defined as a super power). In the film this “gift” grants you the ability to go back in time (whichever you may choose) by simply going into a cupboard, clenching your fists and thinking of a particular memory. Once you do that a flashing light appears (well it does in the film) and then you step out of the cupboard and voila you have now travelled back in time. Well done. You are now basically able to re-experience the whole memory except that you can actually do things differently, which consequently means you can affect the future. Boy, would I have loved to have that power and be able to go back in time and do things differently. For example, going back to an interview where I may have told the interviewer that I am unable to start on a certain day as I have another interview. Or when I tell complete strangers where I live, because I talk too much and I over share (and I wonder why my parents still always warn me about speaking to strangers before I go out like anywhere). And that time…actually there are many things I wish I could have had another go at but I am not going to start listing.
Anyway, back to this film. It stars Rachel McAdams who I love so so so much and Domhnall Gleeson who is rather sweet and the smooth Billy Nighy. If you like romantic comedies as much as I do , then I am certain this will win a special place in your movieheart (new term that I have coined, it is a combination of movie and heart). The sci-fi aspect to it makes it somewhat more exciting, the writing is rather funny and the characters are likeable. The chemistry between McAdams (Mary) and Gleeson (Tim) is credible, but not incredible (nothing like Noah and Allie), but the father-son relationship between Gleeson and Nighy (James) is undeniable. Now, I warn you that this film is not just laughs and giggles. This, my friends, is a didactic film. Okay, maybe not in an intellectual capacity but more about personal life and of our attitude about life. And a didactic film is important according to Mr – he just won a Golden Globe- Leonardo - I will always love you- DiCaprio.
Tim the protagonist of the film may described as a nerdy hopeless romantic fella so I already love him. I mean he actually says, and I quote ,“for me it’s always been about love”. Immediately, we are led to believe that this just going to be about love, but this film is actually more than that. We watch Tim use time travelling as a means of self discovery and understanding of, well of life and what happens, what doesn’t happen, what you want to happen and what you hope will never happen and cant prevent from happening.
Whilst in theory time travelling may appear to be a gift, there are moments when it is more of a burden and the temptation to try and change things can actually do more harm than good. It is this notion of not messing around with the natural order of things because sometimes you just can’t.
The time scale of the film takes place over a few years so we are invited to see how Tim matures and progresses. We go through everything (well what everything is in cinema terms) with him, the heartaches , the beautiful, the sad, the funny , the angry and the sad moments. Tim’s voice over throughout helps get a bit closer to his thoughts and unveils the moralistic aspect of the film.
The characters themselves are somewhat interesting in the film, but in all honesty, I found the story and the concept itself more captivating. The characters portray human life. These characters could have been replaced, they could have been any odd person and I still would have felt the same I believe. I still would have felt as compelled by the story. After all ,we all go through a similar set of experiences (to an extent) in life but we all view and deal with these experiences in different ways. So, for this film I think the characters come secondary. Of course they are charming in their own human rights (not sure that made sense). I mean have I mentioned that I love McAdams?.
Ultimately, the film attempts to show us how to view life differently. It is trying to show us how to appreciate it more. About Time, is basically about that: time. This is in the sense of how we interact with it. The film promotes a pressing message I feel. It encourages us to appreciate moments in life, even the silly unimportant ones. To not take experiences in life for granted, to truly try and pay attention to what is going on in your life so special moments do not pass by. We do not have time machines nor are we able to travel in time so About Time teaches us to live each moment to the full, embracing it and appreciating it as there are no do overs. You cannot re-experience things all the time.
Okay, I am not saying the film is advising us to be all creepy and over analyse everything that happens to us during our daily lives. Nor is it asking us to be weirdos and when in company of others find a time to be silent and “take in” what is happening around us or take mental pictures of things. Duh there is facebook/instagram pictures for that. I mean cos come on there are some moments you will want to forget and get it over it with as fast as possible. I guess, profoundly it is just about not taking things, people and moments for granted.
This film is charming, touching but at the same time rather light-hearted with a rather sweet albeit cheesy message.
Muchos love to all.
Anyway, back to this film. It stars Rachel McAdams who I love so so so much and Domhnall Gleeson who is rather sweet and the smooth Billy Nighy. If you like romantic comedies as much as I do , then I am certain this will win a special place in your movieheart (new term that I have coined, it is a combination of movie and heart). The sci-fi aspect to it makes it somewhat more exciting, the writing is rather funny and the characters are likeable. The chemistry between McAdams (Mary) and Gleeson (Tim) is credible, but not incredible (nothing like Noah and Allie), but the father-son relationship between Gleeson and Nighy (James) is undeniable. Now, I warn you that this film is not just laughs and giggles. This, my friends, is a didactic film. Okay, maybe not in an intellectual capacity but more about personal life and of our attitude about life. And a didactic film is important according to Mr – he just won a Golden Globe- Leonardo - I will always love you- DiCaprio.
Tim the protagonist of the film may described as a nerdy hopeless romantic fella so I already love him. I mean he actually says, and I quote ,“for me it’s always been about love”. Immediately, we are led to believe that this just going to be about love, but this film is actually more than that. We watch Tim use time travelling as a means of self discovery and understanding of, well of life and what happens, what doesn’t happen, what you want to happen and what you hope will never happen and cant prevent from happening.
Whilst in theory time travelling may appear to be a gift, there are moments when it is more of a burden and the temptation to try and change things can actually do more harm than good. It is this notion of not messing around with the natural order of things because sometimes you just can’t.
The time scale of the film takes place over a few years so we are invited to see how Tim matures and progresses. We go through everything (well what everything is in cinema terms) with him, the heartaches , the beautiful, the sad, the funny , the angry and the sad moments. Tim’s voice over throughout helps get a bit closer to his thoughts and unveils the moralistic aspect of the film.
The characters themselves are somewhat interesting in the film, but in all honesty, I found the story and the concept itself more captivating. The characters portray human life. These characters could have been replaced, they could have been any odd person and I still would have felt the same I believe. I still would have felt as compelled by the story. After all ,we all go through a similar set of experiences (to an extent) in life but we all view and deal with these experiences in different ways. So, for this film I think the characters come secondary. Of course they are charming in their own human rights (not sure that made sense). I mean have I mentioned that I love McAdams?.
Ultimately, the film attempts to show us how to view life differently. It is trying to show us how to appreciate it more. About Time, is basically about that: time. This is in the sense of how we interact with it. The film promotes a pressing message I feel. It encourages us to appreciate moments in life, even the silly unimportant ones. To not take experiences in life for granted, to truly try and pay attention to what is going on in your life so special moments do not pass by. We do not have time machines nor are we able to travel in time so About Time teaches us to live each moment to the full, embracing it and appreciating it as there are no do overs. You cannot re-experience things all the time.
Okay, I am not saying the film is advising us to be all creepy and over analyse everything that happens to us during our daily lives. Nor is it asking us to be weirdos and when in company of others find a time to be silent and “take in” what is happening around us or take mental pictures of things. Duh there is facebook/instagram pictures for that. I mean cos come on there are some moments you will want to forget and get it over it with as fast as possible. I guess, profoundly it is just about not taking things, people and moments for granted.
This film is charming, touching but at the same time rather light-hearted with a rather sweet albeit cheesy message.
Muchos love to all.