About Time

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Audience Member There could’ve been more to the movie plus for every action there’s a reaction so when he changes the past something bad happened to him in the future, plus you can’t go into the past anyway your molecules would disintegrate Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 12/19/24 Full Review Edward G Absolutely incredible. WOW. I will watch this movie regularly. It makes me a better person for days after watching it. A ready cure for taking the things in life for granted that we should be reminding ourselves every day to be grateful for; like breathing, sunshine, wind, birds, life, our creator, and so many more. An absolute triumph of the artform. An actual film more concerned with helping it's audience instead of the narcissistic, banal empty self-congratulating garbage passing off for art these days. About Time is appropriate for the title! In my top 5 of all time favorite movies. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/13/24 Full Review Nicole R One of my all-time favorite movies. Touching, heartwarming and so very different. A beauitful movie. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/10/24 Full Review Angela A I expected it to be a feel-good movie but it turns out to be this warm and a bit gloomy one that allows you to reflect about your life. I'll forever wish I could rewatch this for the first time again (as an ADHD-er I couldn't rewatch a fav movie because I hate knowing already) Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/03/24 Full Review Gabriel J The best film I've ever seen in my life. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/23/24 Full Review Julia H About Time is a 2013 romantic comedy that explores the relationship between Tim and Mary. This beautiful, heartwarming film incorporates time travel, which I think adds character to the movie. Tim is able to travel back in time to relive moments in his life. Despite the use of time travel, About Time is not a science fiction movie but rather, the film uses time travel as a way to teach Tim the importance of living in the moment. In fact, when Tim first learns that he has the ability to travel back in time, he expresses that he first wants to use it to find a girlfriend. This film can fit into a couple different sub-genres. Perhaps the most obvious is that it’s set in England, and it falls into the trope of the American girl and British man love story. As it is set in England, there are various references to this setting — such as a constant obsession with having tea and biscuits — that play into the glorification of the country. There are some romantic comedies that are set in England with an American protagonist and an English love interest. Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Love at First Sight are all set in England. About Time also embodies the sub-genre of rom-coms with fantastical or time-travel elements. Some examples of other movies that are in this subgenre include, Palm Springs, 13 Going on 30, and Midnight in Paris. While About Time is a part of these sub-genres, I believe that it is truly a unique rom-com in the sense that it really explores the lives of the couple. It doesn’t end with a first kiss or a stereotypical happy ending, but rather explores mundane life and all its challenges. Similar to many other rom-coms, the writing of the movie isn’t perfect. Especially with the time travel plot, the writing didn’t make complete sense. For example, it’s never explained why the men in Tim’s family can travel in time. While it doesn’t ultimately matter to the plot, it does make the audience wonder. The movie really shines when it comes to the cinematography and the music. About Time has one of my favorite movie soundtracks, and the use of the music adds a lot to the movie. For instance, when Tim and Mary first started dating, How Long Will I Love You plays as we see their relationship develop through snapshots of them going through the everyday routine of saying goodbye as they part for work, thus communicating the love between Tim and Mary. The cinematography in this same scene is also very effective. The montage of scenes is largely set in the tunnel of the Tube that splits into two platforms. The camera shows the hallway in full with Tim and Mary moving in opposite directions to catch their train. However, the camera pans in when they are together, signifying the constant reunification and separation that happens throughout the day that is typical for a couple. I consider the acting to be very good and it provides charm. Domhnall Gleeson had the challenging task of being both charismatic, but also endearingly awkward. With movies such as these where nothing really happens, it’s crucial to have a likable main character. Gleeson does a phenomenal job of balancing awkwardness with charisma through his delivery of dialogue and facial expressions. When Mary says to Tim that she has bad news, Tim responds with “You’re dying. . . I’m dying?” with a goofy, yet genuine facial expression. This line is both meant to be funny, but also achieves showing an awkward, endearing character. Charisma is such a nebulous idea that there is no way to teach it, but Gleeson clearly achieves it in About Time. I think there may be a couple reasons why this movie isn’t as popular as some other romantic comedies. I think sometimes it’s confusing to have a rom-com with time travel. Often the manipulation of time in rom-coms is about reliving a day. Second, the movie does not have the stereotypical ending where the guy gets the girl, and the audience doesn’t follow their lives afterwards. However, I love this movie for that very reason. For me, this movie is all about social significance. About Time teaches the audience to appreciate the beauty of mundane moments in life. One of Tim’s final quotes is: “We’re all traveling through time together. Every day of our lives. All we can do is do our best to relish this remarkable ride.” This is a lesson that can be hard to remember, but a very important one in a busy world. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/16/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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