Film Review: About Time. Director: Richard Curtis.
Always making befitting choices and being in the right place at the right time is something a select few can do. We call them 'superheroes'. Most of us fall into traps. But, what if we had a chance or a super power to make things all right again? This is exactly what Tim Lake, a twenty one year old youngster based in Cornwall was told by his father when he was just about to set out to London for embarking upon a promising and thankless career as an Attorney at Law.
'About Time' is a romantic comedy film about Tim Lake and his quest for love when he comes to know that he can travel back in time. Tim is a good hearted, sweet, studious and well read person who has a strong family relationship and absolutely adores his younger sister. After stabilising in his ever so busy career as a lawyer, all he wants is one thing: to share his life with the right person. The one person he could love. The film is Tim's journey through life and his encounters with different kinds of women, a journey from infatuation with one to true love with another. The best part of the film is that this is only a tiny part, the film begins when he settles with his beloved, Mary.
Set in Cornwall and London, the film is very British. The sarcasm of the British, the caustic attitude of the legal fraternity and the hustle and bustle of people for everyday life where family is the only possible refuge for a person is accurately portrayed. As Tim travels back and forth in time, many a times to change certain reactions, avoid certain situations and bring out certain outcomes, he has many epiphanies.
It would be a white lie if someone would say that they would do anything to change all the goofy moments of their lives. Does not the essence of life lie in imperfections? The missed trains, someone's four year old child drawing on someone's passport when they just leaving for that overseas sojourn, the day they accidentally spill coffee on a white shirt, while looking back, all these moments seem priceless and wonderful, and there is nothing they would do to change it. It all falls in line with the old adage, "what we are in front of people are moments of clarity; what we are to ourselves: moments of divine embarrassment". There are no regrets and mistakes. There are just memories.
'About Time' is a wholly relatable film. We are all like Tim and Mary, traversing on the path of life, loving the people around us as much as we can, and mostly goofing up. The audience will also have the epiphanies that Tim had and realize what Tim realizes. The film is all about the subtle and continuous passage of time when you are with someone who suits you, and the rather reckless and cruel side of time until you find a person like that. The other good thing about this film is that it is devoid of drastic realizations and sudden romantic moments. 'About Time' does not span across periods like 'The Notebook', nor does it analyse the concept of love like in the famous Linklater 'Before' trilogy. 'About Time' is like life. It simply is.
In a way, the audience can connect some part of 'About Time' with the Hindi film 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' which released in the same year. As Tim makes certain decisions in a certain direction, he realizes that no matter what, somewhere something will always be unfinished, and despite this, love, family and life: all are beautiful.
The film is artistic in its aesthetic depiction of Cornwall and London, the frames are lush, arboreal and green. The fashion quotient of the film is great, and all the dresses worn by the leads are wearable and classy. The leads Domnhall Gleeson (Tim Lake), Rachel McAdams (Mary) and Bill Nighy (Dad) have given wonderful performances. Vanessa Kirby (Joanna) who also played Princess Margaret in 'The Crown' has a great comic role and embodies diversity in her acting skills. The subtle background music of the film and the songs used are divine and tasteful. The direction of the film is stunning, and the humor laden pensive script steals the show.
'About Time' is for all the living, breathing individuals who believe that the heart does not exist solely for the purpose of pumping blood, and for those who believe in and embody the supreme and the unfailing virtue of kindness. The ones who give everything with the same or more love than with which they received.
Overall, 'About Time' is a wonderful film, and a perfect one to begin New Year's with. It is sanguine, felicitous and blissful. It surely is a perspective driven film that would melt the audience's heart.
MY TAKE: 10/10.
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I have watched this movie few years ago. Can relate to your review. Amazingly portrayed !
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