Wilcox Theatres Movie Review: In Time

In a future where people stop aging at 25, but are engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Here, Will Salas finds himself accused of murder and on the run with a hostage – a connection that becomes an important part of the way against the system. Justin Timberlake stars as Will Salas, a man who is living in the “ghetto.”  He and the other residents of Dayton (presumably Ohio) live in a world where time is currency.  Salas works in a factory and helps to support him and his mother, played by Olivia Wilde (Remy “13” Hadley from House MD). The movie begins on Mrs. Salas’ (Wilde) 50th birthday.   She and her son share a small apartment in Dayton.  He jokes about her turning 25 for the 25th time.  They share some small talk about having to pay bills and such before Will heads out the door to work. The conversation that takes place in the apartment is designed to get you used to the idea that time is currency with Mrs. Salas telling Will that she has three months left on her clock, a clock which is prominently displayed on each person’s right arm, but won’t have much of that time left when she finishes paying the bills for the day.  The writers drive that point home as Mrs. Salas grabs her son’s hand and gives him five minutes so that he can have a good lunch.  They illustrate it even further in the very next scene as Will goes to get a cup of coffee before work.  We see the restaurants price board change from three minutes to four minutes for a cup.  Will complains but ultimately scans his wrist to pay for the cup of coffee. As the story develops, you realize that everyone in the town is desperately trying to earn more time without wasting much at all.  The people of the town hurry to wherever they go and, as precious seconds tick from their arm, don’t tend to be very patient when they are left to wait for anything. Will goes out to a bar after work.  That’s where he meets Henry Hamilton.  Hamilton (Matt Bomer) is a very wealthy man, which is obvious to everyone in the bar.  Most of the people in Dayton have less than a day left on their clock; Hamilton, who’s sleeves are rolled up to reveal his clock, has more than a century on his and he is constantly spending his time (money) by purchasing drinks for everyone in the bar. A group of thugs come into the bar and threaten to take Hamilton’s fortune from him.   Salas helps rescue the rich man from the thugs and the two escape to a warehouse where Hamilton tells Salas that he’s 105 years old and that he is weary.  The exchange between the two men reveals that Hamilton is a very rich man who hails from New Greenwich, the home of some of the richest people in the world.  “For a few to be immortal, many must die,” he tells Salas. That’s the point where the audience is clued in that the movie, though beautifully shot, well written and well acted – with pitch perfect performances delivered by Timberlake, his on-screen love interest, Amanda Seyfried & Cillian Murphy, who plays a cop known as a “time-keeper,” – that this movie is a harsh propaganda piece echoing the sentiments of the liberals around the country who are pushing the “Redistribution of Wealth” agenda. The movie is a futuristic version of Robin Hood with some shades of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet thrown in for good measure. I’m not saying that the movie is bad, as a matter of fact, it’s a perfectly enjoyable, action-packed adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  There are some great lessons to be taken away from the movie, no matter your political lean.  The OTHER message of the movie – besides the redistribution of wealth thing – is the simple thought that one’s life should not be wasted by simply protecting what you have; rather it should be relished and lived to the fullest – no matter how much you have, what part of town you live in or your station in life. We went to the late showing of the movie on Saturday night, which began at 9:40 pm, and there were about 20 other people in the theatre with us.  The staff at the concession stand was warm and inviting.  The young lady who prepared my popcorn was completely amazing. I’ve been going to movies by myself since I was 10 years old and in those thirty years, I believe that I’ve had two perfect orders of popcorn.  I like REALLY HEAVILY BUTTERED POPCORN!  The first one I got was at the old Meadowbrook Cinema 6 in Jackson.  The second was the order of popcorn I got last night!  WOW!!! Cristy and I got into our seats a little early and were thrilled to see that local businesses now have the opportunity to advertise on the screen before the movie.  There are still-shot ads and video ads available and from the information we got from owner David Wilcox, the options are very affordable. As a theatre experience, I would rate it a 9 on a scale of 1 – 10.  I would have liked for the volume to have been a little louder, but that’s because I’m a little hard of hearing.  Cristy thought the volume level was perfect. The one thing that I will point out – and this is one of the ways that I draw my opinion of a theatre, restaurant, store, etc.. – is that the bathrooms were brilliantly clean and pleasing to the olfactory senses. As far as the movie goes, Cristy and I both give it an 8 – even though neither of us believe in the political message that is sent by the film.  The film is solid and Timberlake really seemed to prove himself to us.  We both had serious questions about the former N’Sync guy.  I know the guy can sing and perform.  He’s been relatively good in the bit parts that I’ve seen him in, but I really wondered if he could carry a movie as the lead.  My questions were answered with a resounding YES! Head over to Wilcox Theatres to catch this film.  You’ll be glad you did. We should have some passes around here somewhere… Hmm… We’ll get back to you on Facebook about that!      ]]]]> ]]>