Remember waking up to an amazing dream where you did surreal escapades. You don't really know how you got in the situation you are in, something Christopher Nolan's Inception taught us really well, and when you feel like something is missing when the adventure ends. Watching Andrew Niccol's 'In Time' is exactly the similar experience, albeit in year 2161.
The basic premise of the film is explained in a beginning narration by our lead actor that all humans have been genetically modified to stop againg at 25, but are engineered to live only one more year. A person could practically live forever if he earns time. Time is therefore now the currency everything is dealt in, and every service is also paid in Time. One dies as the time stops. So you have goons who kill others for their time, and people exploit each other while they barter food and travel rides.
Will Salas, played by Justin Timberlake, is a 28 year old factory worker living with his 50 year old single mother in the ghettos of Dayton. Each social class lives in different time zone, with the rich living in New Greenwich. In a turn of events a 105 year old stranger with more than a century in his clock reveals to will the inequality in the time system and the way to reach New Greenwich. He secretly gives his entire time to Will and dies before he could be saved. Charged with murder by stealing time and with abundant time in hand, Will decides to go for revenge for the inequality. At New Greenwich, he meets 27 year old Sylvia Weis, played by Amanda Seyfried, daughter of the richest man around. There is instant attraction followed by abduction to save his life. Now back in Dayton, both are left with few hours to live. How they survive their time, while becoming robin-hood to the poor and pain in the ass for the rich Dad and his army of Timekeepers is the story that follows.
The lead characters and their charisma is what keeps the film working for the audience. There are very few surprises but the thrill element of the film's basic premise is surely catching. Justin Timberlake plays the hot poker faced Will to hilt, and Amanda Seyfried does her bit of being the spoiled rich male fantasy who wants to do something fun and stupid in life to live life on the edge. Cinematography is eye-catching and the razor sharp editing of the film is its biggest strength. Had there been a solid story to answer the unanswered questions about the premise, the film could have been an amazing experience. But alas, what one takes away is a fantastic dream which got over before the actual climax.
Enjoy the fun ride while its lasts, but don't expect to take back home an experience. Like a morning dream, it thrills till it lasts and once over the thrills will be lost quite soon, leaving you with questions about the dream.
A generous 2.5 out of 5 rating is the real worth of 'In Time'. Watch it, enjoy it and move on.
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