October 18, 2024
FILM: WE LIVE IN TIME
DIRECTED BY: JOHN CROWLEY
STARRING: FLORENCE PUGH, ANDREW GARFIELD
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
I’m not usually drawn to movies focusing on characters with cancer. So, when the opportunity to see We Live in Time before its wide release arrived I was a bit reluctant at first. But I’m glad I did as the film eschews some of the typical tropes associated with illness dramas. There are a number of elements that make the film worth seeing, including well-developed central characters and terrific performances from its two lead actors.
Florence Pugh plays Almut who, in one of the early scenes, learns that the cancer she previously had has returned. She’s in a committed relationship with Tobias, played by Andrew Garfield. The reactions they first have after hearing this news are a bit calmer and collected than one might expect and that’s actually a plus for the film. These are adults who have been down this road before and now must make some new significant life choices.
From this point the narrative moves back and forth in time from when the characters first met to the present day’s circumstances. I’ll admit, this chronology is somewhat hard to follow. Tobias doesn’t change physically during the few years that transpire and the only other visual cue we have to go on is Almut’s changing hair (essentially she has bangs in the past.) I struggled with this for a while and wondered what director John Crowley (Brooklyn, The Goldfinch) was trying to accomplish using this approach. In truth, it was hard to discern what exactly the film was trying to say for roughly half of its running time and why certain scenes were presented when they were. However, there are a few key character motivations, which I won’t reveal much about here, that ultimately become clearer and more emotionally affecting by Crowley’s structural choice.
The characters each have their own significant backgrounds that play into why they have the needs they have at this point in their lives. These details are slowly revealed throughout the film. We learn pretty early on that Almut is a chef and looking towards a major competition involving food preparation. Tobias wants to have children. Between the two, it is very refreshing to see the ambition in Almut. She is never portrayed as a cancer victim. Rather she fights for her life goals and as such her determination is rather inspiring.
None of this would work without the towering performances by Pugh and Garfield. Based on classes I have taught, I have found that Pugh is a popular actress among young people. I believe it is her relatable and subtle performances that allow her to click so well. Especially here, she presents a maturity and toughness that really captures the spirit of her characters. While she has at least one highly emotional scene, the wow factor in her performance is how controlled she is for much of this film. Garfield is similarly effective as Tobias. The actor has a sweet and soft side that works quite well with the character. We know that he is struggling internally with what Almut is going through by the look in his eyes, which are often on the verge of tearing up. He also has a couple of powerful scenes that are never overdone and quite warranted given what Tobias is dealing with. Both actors are very appealing in general and because they are featured in almost every scene together I think the film has a chance to be a big hit.
This is the rare adult drama being released wide to theaters these days. I applaud that big time. It explores some familiar themes but never falls to the level of a standard Hallmark film. These are strong characters with some tough situations presented to them and some great actors to bring it all to life.
We Live In Time opens in theaters wide today.
FILM: WE LIVE IN TIME
DIRECTED BY: JOHN CROWLEY
STARRING: FLORENCE PUGH, ANDREW GARFIELD
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
I’m not usually drawn to movies focusing on characters with cancer. So, when the opportunity to see We Live in Time before its wide release arrived I was a bit reluctant at first. But I’m glad I did as the film eschews some of the typical tropes associated with illness dramas. There are a number of elements that make the film worth seeing, including well-developed central characters and terrific performances from its two lead actors.
Florence Pugh plays Almut who, in one of the early scenes, learns that the cancer she previously had has returned. She’s in a committed relationship with Tobias, played by Andrew Garfield. The reactions they first have after hearing this news are a bit calmer and collected than one might expect and that’s actually a plus for the film. These are adults who have been down this road before and now must make some new significant life choices.
From this point the narrative moves back and forth in time from when the characters first met to the present day’s circumstances. I’ll admit, this chronology is somewhat hard to follow. Tobias doesn’t change physically during the few years that transpire and the only other visual cue we have to go on is Almut’s changing hair (essentially she has bangs in the past.) I struggled with this for a while and wondered what director John Crowley (Brooklyn, The Goldfinch) was trying to accomplish using this approach. In truth, it was hard to discern what exactly the film was trying to say for roughly half of its running time and why certain scenes were presented when they were. However, there are a few key character motivations, which I won’t reveal much about here, that ultimately become clearer and more emotionally affecting by Crowley’s structural choice.
The characters each have their own significant backgrounds that play into why they have the needs they have at this point in their lives. These details are slowly revealed throughout the film. We learn pretty early on that Almut is a chef and looking towards a major competition involving food preparation. Tobias wants to have children. Between the two, it is very refreshing to see the ambition in Almut. She is never portrayed as a cancer victim. Rather she fights for her life goals and as such her determination is rather inspiring.
None of this would work without the towering performances by Pugh and Garfield. Based on classes I have taught, I have found that Pugh is a popular actress among young people. I believe it is her relatable and subtle performances that allow her to click so well. Especially here, she presents a maturity and toughness that really captures the spirit of her characters. While she has at least one highly emotional scene, the wow factor in her performance is how controlled she is for much of this film. Garfield is similarly effective as Tobias. The actor has a sweet and soft side that works quite well with the character. We know that he is struggling internally with what Almut is going through by the look in his eyes, which are often on the verge of tearing up. He also has a couple of powerful scenes that are never overdone and quite warranted given what Tobias is dealing with. Both actors are very appealing in general and because they are featured in almost every scene together I think the film has a chance to be a big hit.
This is the rare adult drama being released wide to theaters these days. I applaud that big time. It explores some familiar themes but never falls to the level of a standard Hallmark film. These are strong characters with some tough situations presented to them and some great actors to bring it all to life.
We Live In Time opens in theaters wide today.