Released this past Friday was a pleasantly surprising spin on the story of a young man who discovers an ability to travel in time. Upon his 21st birthday, Tim’s (Domnhall Gleeson, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2”) father, played by Bill Nighy (“Love Actually”), sits his son down and explains that part of the male family heritage is the capability to change one’s past experiences. Initially, Tim uses his skill in the pursuit of love, but gradually learns that not everything can be manipulated to his will. Through the trials and tribulations of family, friends and work, Tim learns to grow into himself and, as a result of his ability, becomes a better example for those around him.
At first glance, “About Time” has all the ingredients for a Nicholas Sparks book: the passionate love, a special yet hidden talent and many potential targets for a cry-worthy death. Yet, this movie proves to be about so much more. The film begins with a heartwarming description of Tim’s family, followed by his first experiences with time travel. For Tim, his life and his time travel seem to work to ensure that he finds the woman he will love forever. As “About Time” demonstrates though, time travel will not create love between two people who do not have it. Tim pursues his sister’s friend over one summer, but as he discovers, there is no love between them and not even time travel will change that.
Throughout the movie, there are a wide variety of interesting cinematographic choices that supplement the movie’s theme of choosing to be the best you can be each day. Most intriguing is the scene in which Tim chooses to live a regular day with the stresses of life, then go back and relive it. The second time around, Tim grabs life by the horns, appreciates the little things and becomes a more pleasant person. One example depicted is Tim’s rush to lunch—in the first day, the camera stays fixed behind the cashier’s back, only showing his hustle to return to work and get food; the second time, the camera shows the cashier’s face, which highlights the fact that in this version, Tim is acknowledging those around them and giving them a better life, in addition to his own. This simple perspective change is revolutionary for the audience, making them stop and think of the last time they paid attention to someone inconspicuous.
The phenomenal social commentary that dissipates throughout the film is new and revolutionary in this age of cinema. “About Time” is not a blockbuster franchise, set on scoring the highest sales each weekend, but rather a film that reaches out into the heart and soul of every audience member. Each character is well-formed and likeable, lending more difficulty to the trials that each is forced to face in their plot line. Tim’s family could very well be transposed on to that of an audience member, their same experiences shared in the reality of the world. This film is absolutely brilliant in a myriad of ways, and best of all, manages to maintain its true message.
“About Time” is definitely one of the more thought-provoking movies of the 2013 season, drifting away from its blockbuster companions in its sincerity and thoughtful themes. With an additional stunning cast to implement the vastly developed characters and beautiful direction and cinematography, the film conveys its message in not only an easy and understandable way, but one that is compelling and applicable for all viewers.
