Genius concept falls into the gaping plot holes

Rating: 7/10 (3 February 2012)

I think In Time would have made a genius TV Series where they could have spent a lot of time making sure details were covered. Instead In Time takes an absolutely brilliant premise, a potentially strong social message, and delivers it to the specific teen genre and loses itself into some major plot holes. You could spend hours trolling the boards on IMDb to discover just how many plot holes the film has. A sci-fi movie/action movie is bound to have significant plot holes. It has to make you suspend belief and not even notice it but the problem with In Time is you do notice the plot holes. You will stop numerous times and think to yourself...wait that doesn't work...and why would that be the case. Fortunately for the movie the premise is just really cool and the world they create is significant enough that the film is redeemable and watchable. It disappoints me perhaps even more that the idea is so good but the delivery is flawed.
I adore Justin Timberlake. I think he has a BIG career ahead of him in film. He seems to absolutely shine in comedy (SNL, Friends With Benefits and even the deplorable Love Guru.) As an action star he is decent, his character is good, the film is sort of a futuristic Robin Hood story. He has solid chemistry on screen and carries the film well but sadly it won't be his break out role I think. Amanda Seyfried is bizarre in this movie. That's the only way I can describe her. She has a sexy vibe in the movie but her character is almost purposely robotic. She has this strange look about her and her behavior is robotic but its almost as though she is supposed to be that way. Cillian Murphy is a terrific villain and he is good in this movie but he isn't great. His villainous character almost feels like its held back in some way and he doesn't get to open up enough. He's a strong actor but the script seems to hold him back. Seyfriend and Timberlake's chemistry is okay but isn't as hot as they try to make it out to be. The lack of really strong chemistry between the lead cast holds back the film as well.
Writer and director Andrew Niccol has come up with a phenomenal take on sci-fi that also tells a very real version of the way the world is becoming. Unfortunately I think the studios expected him to dumb this down to get it into the minds of pre-teens and teens instead of making it a smart, savvy, thriller. All that complaining aside it isn't a bad movie. It has moments of being really entertaining, thrilling, some great car chases, and shoot outs and some unique style to it. It isn't beyond redemption, it simply doesn't live up to the original concept. 7.5/10