The science fiction thriller, released in 2011, envisions a world where time is the ultimate currency, allowing the rich to achieve immortality.
In this dystopian future, Will Salas, portrayed by Justin Timberlake, lives paycheck to paycheck, or more accurately, day to day on his life clock.
His life takes a dramatic turn when he rescues Henry Hamilton (Matt Bomer) from would-be robbers, earning him a century’s worth of time. However, this generous gift quickly draws unwanted attention from the authorities, leading to false murder accusations against Will.
Fleeing from the law, Will takes a wealthy man’s daughter (Amanda Seyfried) hostage, setting the stage for a high-stakes adventure.
Cillian Murphy, known for his roles in “Peaky Blinders” and other films, shines as Raymond Leon, a timekeeper. His character enforces the harsh divisions between the social classes, ensuring the rich remain in power by controlling the poor’s access to time.
“In Time” presents a society where aging stops at 25, followed by just one more year of life unless one can afford to buy more time, a concept that has resonated with viewers. “Awesome movie. In a world where we already say ‘time is money’ this is a PERFECT analogy to make a point without being ‘direct’,” one viewer remarked.
Critics of societal inequality and the distribution of wealth find the film’s message increasingly relevant. “The rich buy a luxury life based on inheritance and luck and the slaves die with none of the elites giving a damn. All for their own profits.”
Despite its thought-provoking premise and a substantial box office success of $174 million against a $40 million budget, “In Time” received mixed reviews, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 37 percent and a 51 percent Audience Score. Critics pointed out the film’s reliance on clichés and a lack of originality in its later stages. “Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried lurch from car chases to shoot-outs, to a bloodless romantic interlude, while the script runs out of ideas around them, and eventually settles for a lazy Bonnie and Clyde-inspired final act.”
Yet, some acknowledged the film’s potential, suggesting that with more refinement, “In Time” could have been a classic. “The acting is solid, if not spectacular… with a little more care and attention, In Time could have been one for the ages.”
“In Time” is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
