Sunday, July 24, 2011

"The Time Traveler's Wife" [B]

This is a sad, mystifying, mesmerizing study of life, love, and loss. Henry is unstuck in time, a little like Billy Pilgrim in Slaughterhouse Five. While that story explores fate, free will, and war, this one leans more heavily on the themes of romance and relationships.

Languid is the best word for describing the pace of the writing, directing, and acting. It could only seem more lazy and hazy if it had all been filmed through a vaseline covered lens. Yet the plodding pace does meander somewhere and you do get caught up in the lives of the characters. But I think it misses the mark in not delving more deeply and sharply into why the characters are doing what they're doing. Why does Henry visit the little girl in the meadow? Why does she allow herself to get drawn to him so exclusively? Why do they make the choices they do? Yes, this film could have, and should have, gone more Vonnegut and explored more about fate and free will.

The Time Traveler's Wife (IMDb)

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