Friday 11 December 2015

I've Just Seen: About Time (2013)

About Time (2013)

http://thefilmstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/About-Time-poster-303x450.jpg

Director: Richard Curtis

I generally enjoy Curtis' films, and About Time was no exception. Like any British filmmaker (or indeed any filmmaker from any country), he has a particular version of England that he portrays in his films: one populated by rather wealthy British men, who have relationships with beautiful Americans. This film adds a science-fiction element, as Tim learns that time-travel runs in his family (purely a male skill). Also, the central relationship is not the love between Tim and Mary, but between Tim and his father.

The time-travel is not the focus of the plot, as it is largely played for comedy, and the rules around it are vague (does he always appear in the same place when he travels?). The script moves a bit clumsily from focusing on Tim and Mary's relationship to Tim's relationship with his father, but the emotions are played at a good register: not saccharine. It could have been a bit shorter which would have made it more focused. The cast are all good, and play the passage of time well.

A sweet film, which is apparently Curtis' last as director.

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