A good fable that looks at the consequences of income equality

Rating: 7/10 (3 November 2013)

The movie "In Time", offers a unique look into human nature and the coarseness of humanity. The film starts off by offering a general explanation of how time can literally be bought and time is literally money. Justin Timberlake's character, Will Salas, learns this lesson the hard way when his mother does not have the means to purchase time. Salas comes into some "money" and from then on pursues a vendetta against the upper class. He comes into contact with Amanda Seyfried's character, Sylvia Weis, a girl from the right side of the tracks who is somewhat of a spoiled brat and is bored with her rich lifestyle.
The film has several common underlying themes including a look at income equality and how money is the difference between life and death. It is essentially a fable about the selfishness of humanity that means to show the path that we are headed down if the gap between the 99% and the 1% continues. In the film, each character must pay for and bank enough time within their time clock, which is embedded in their arms, in order to stay alive. The rich keeps getting richer and the poor keeps getting poorer. Will Salas is also relentless pursed by Cillian Murphy's character Raymond Leon. Leon is a timekeeper whose job it is to ensure that the poor keep a safe distance from the upper class. This is much like in real life where it seems the police are more at favor with the upper class. Many movies use the element of time to express a human need for immortality, but in this movie it is not about immortality; it is about just trying to stay alive.
Throughout the movie, you waste "time" by buying your basic needs. Coffee costs "time", the bar costs "time" etc. This provides an accurate look at the rising cost of living that we are experiencing in real life. For many, just buying basic items can make or break a person. The movie utilizes specific motifs to express the grim lives of the people who live in the "ghetto" and the people who are the upper class. One is the consistent use of the bodyguards, enshrouded in black, who are tasked to protect the rich. They drive bullet-proof heavy duty cars in order to ensure that the rich are protected. We also see the use of shiny, clean glass buildings in the better parts of town while in the poor parts of town we see drab, concrete buildings throughout. The relationship between Will Salas and Sylvia Weis is a pretty typical depiction of opposites attract.
But, what makes this movie great, is the music score that was used. The music used was a great choice. It helps to set up the mood and while the movie is set in the future, the music is reminiscent of the past and makes you connect more with the characters and their plights. The theme of the rich being separated from the poor as also been done in countless movies and more recently in the film "Elysium". Both "Elysium" and "In Time" take place in the future and we see that the rich inhabit the best areas.