Sunday, February 2, 2014

About Time (2013) Review


ABOUT TIME
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Director: Richard Curtis
Actors : Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams

Whoever has watched Four Weddings and A Funeral and Love Actually can hardly miss About Time, another sweet, tender yet full-of-surprises love story.  



Before watching it, I only expected a romantic, light hearted movie without so much as twists and turns. But as I let my mind drift along the storyline, I discover that it is not a simple tale of how two singles meet and fall in love but rather a story about life. It takes me from surprise to surprise, both sweet and bitter. It is a time voyage, literally and figuratively. There are certain points in your life you have to make important decisions: It’s about time you declared your love to a girl; it’s about time you proposed to her, it’s about time you became a parent, it’s about time you let go of someone you love, it’s about time you started living everyday as if you've “deliberately come back to this one day, to enjoy it, as if it was the full final day”…

Tim’s time travels are usually the funny moments when he tried (over and over again) to “make it right”. But these hilarious situations also point out that he cannot use his magical ability to fix everything. There are always unexpected problems coming up because life is made that way. To sum up this idea, it is best to cite this sentence: “The real troubles in your life will always be things that never crossed your worried mind”.

Out of many humorous scenes in this movie, I particularly enjoy the part when Mary is confused about what to wear to an important party at work. That somehow shows the comedic but true nature of women - indecisive, overanxious and incomprehensible.  
What I also like about this movie is some sweet surprising details, like the proposal at an unexpected moment or the wedding music secretly picked by Mary.

Everything in this movie is so real, natural and spontaneous as the way life is. The clever direction, the immaculate acting, the well-written script and the wonderful music all help make About Time an unforgettable work of cinema.