A rehash of rehashed hash.

Rating: 5/10 (17 January 2012)

Spending my hard earned money at the movies is usually not my first choice for entertainment. Especially with some of the turkeys that Hollywood is prone to produce. That being said, I actually had the opportunity to see In Time at a discount theater (it was a friend's choice for his birthday). There was a part of me that really wanted to enjoy this film simply because of the occasion.
I must admit, I really knew very little about it going into the theater. Which was a good thing. Had I known it was Justin Timberlake who had the lead role, I might have lobbied hard for Puss In Boots or some other mindless offering. At least with a movie like that you know what you are getting into. That being said, I was actually quite surprised at Timberlake's performance. Ah, the joys of living with no expectations...
*** Spoiler Alert *** The one thing I couldn't help shake throughout the movie was this nasty relationship Hollywood has with Big Business being the bad guy. In this story, like SOOO many stories you'll see in the theaters, Big Business is the monster, and the poverty stricken and the down trodden are the poor, helpless, mindless masses that need a savior. Listen, I have a heart, I feel the need... but I also have a brain and I know when I'm being spoon fed this pabulum... yet again.
Everyone knows for a good plot you need a villain and a hero. Whether it's a love story or a spy remake, there will always be the good guy and the bad. But for the life of me, I can't understand why the rich and powerful, (i.e. Hollywood), love making the rich and powerful the bad guys ALL THE TIME.
I will say there was one very insightful moment in the movie ***Spoiler Again *** where as soon as all the people that live in the ghetto get all the time they need... they all stop working! There was actually a voice over commentary about the "Factories lying dormant" or something to that effect. This is one of the things my brain can't shut off. No matter how hard I try, I can't turn this off. I would love to see a movie at face value and walk away thinking, I just spent 15 - 30 dollars and I'm in a better mood, or more relaxed, or filled with energy, or whatever. Nevertheless there is one redeeming aspect to this movie which I will get into shortly.
But here the truth sneaks out. Hollywood's socialistic movers and shakers let their diamond studded, silken slips show - if but for a moment. THE POINT: If the president or king promises free housing, free health care, free food stamps, free clothing, and jobs for everybody... the question is, What do we need JOBS for? If you are getting everything you need, what more do you need to do? You get the point, right? I just thought it was a very INSIGHTFUL point that the factories were all shut down once the "redistribution" of time commenced.
Oh well. I suppose if you want to see the exciting gymnastics of a chase seen or the heady dialogue of a seasoned actor, you are just going to have to kiss a lot of frogs as a movie goer.(Sorry frogs, I didn't mean to compare you so harshly!) It's a shame too. Because there are so many good stories that have yet to be told. Why is it that Hollywood gets it wrong with the majority of Americans TIME AND TIME AGAIN?! I just don't get it. They just love catering to the left, or to the mindless, (which are not mutually exclusive), and when the movie fails to bring in the gross revenues they anticipate, they scratch their heads as if to say, "Gee, I didn't see that coming."
To end it on a brighter note, the movie did offer one unbending nugget of truth that we all must yield to... Time Is Short. We must all be aware of the fact that our time is limited- and we should make every effort in this life to live honorably and with gusto! I certainly don't have a hard time with that.