Movie Review: In Time

Live forever or die trying.

Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) lives in a harsh world, where time is always running out. It’s the year 2161 and humans have genetically modified their bodies to stop aging at 25–which sounds great, except for the fact that in order to live past a quarter-century, you have to earn more “living time” (which is displayed electronically on your inner forearm). Or, you will be dead within the year.

The In Time world is divided into “time zones” with the rich, who stock-pile time and can basically live forever, occupying an area that those in the ghettos cannot afford to even visit. The poor people live day-to-day, working longer and longer hours in order to earn enough time currency to survive.

After Will intervenes in a bar fight on behalf of the stranger Henry Hamilton–who is there randomly flaunting his excess of time–he wakes up the next morning with more than century on his arm. Suddenly, Will has the means to enter elite society. But he’s not there to assimilate into the world of immortals.

With the (at first) reluctant help of Sylvia Weis (Amanda Seyfried)–heir to a wealthy time empire–Will sets out on a mission to spread time around, engaging in classic Robin Hood behaviour (you know, steal from the rich, give to the poor type thing). But his actions are creating more and more powerful enemies. Does Will have enough time left on his watch to the system?

Here’s the run down:

Action: A totally cool concept like this would be nothing without amazing action sequences. It’s nice to see Justin out of his comfort zone of comedy.

Drama: With death hanging so imminently over their heads at every moment, there is bound to be a good deal of drama. There is also an awful lot of running in this movie…

Romance: When there are seconds remaining on your clock, would you choose to save yourself, the one you love or vow to end life together? Justin and Amanda create a beautiful Romeo and Juliet-type bond, each belonging to a different world, which gets more and more complicated as the danger level keeps rising.