We Live in Time movie review

MOVIE TITLE: We Live in Time

This touching drama is now playing in select theaters, on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, and Apple TV.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 48 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B+

IN A NUTSHELL:

The story is about an up-and-coming chef and a recent divorcee who find their lives forever changed when a chance encounter brings them together in a decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.

The film was directed by John Crowley, who previously worked with Andrew Garfield in the 2007 movie A Boy. Writing credits go to Nick Payne. Among the group of Executive Producers was actor Benedict Cumberbatch. The studio that presents this moving film is A24, known for its previous creative movies that don’t often look like the typical box office offerings. I really enjoyed it.

THINGS I LIKED:

All you have to see are the names Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield in order to want to watch this movie. They are both Oscar nominees and Marvel characters! (not in this movie) Their chemistry together was magnetic. Florence Pugh is one of the best actresses of her generation. In the movie, her character is 34, but in real life, she’s only 28! We can expect MANY more great films from her. One or both of them may be nominated for their great performances during the upcoming awards season.
Other standout cast members were Lee Braithwaite, Adam James, and Douglas Hodge. Everyone looked like “real” people and not actors reciting lines. The whole movie felt very authentic.
The emotional rollercoaster is raw and extremely effective.
I used to teach classes at the famous Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College, so it was fun to watch the cooking competitions and see all of the beautiful food. Florence Pugh’s character is a chef. You’ll learn the best way to crack an egg, among other things.
We see Florence Pugh’s pregnant body several times. It looked extremely real, even though she was really pregant at all! Incredible special effects, I guess! One of the most powerful scenes in the movie is when she gives birth at a very unconventional location. They practiced with a doll a few times for 2 days and then used a real-life newborn baby in the scene! Florence stated that filming this movie was one of the highlights of her career. Rumor has it that they both sat in silence after filming the last cut.
Fun fact: Florence Pugh had to miss the premiere because she had another filming commitment, so Andrew Garfield took a life-sized cutout of her to join him.
Be prepared: the ending is sad but sweet.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The nonlinear structure of the storytelling can be confusing and create a disjointed viewing. Some people won’t like it, but I thought it was an intriguing way to show the different “times” this couple lived in and how fickle time can be. It’s also an effective way to show fragments of memories.
Andrew Garfield’s character is so sweet, always doing kind things for Florence Pugh’s character, who is full of secrets and a snarky attitude. Granted, she was going through a lot!
Sometimes, the dialogue is spoken in whispers, making it hard to understand what is said.
A lot of people won’t be interested in watching such a devastatingly sad movie this is.
We learn that Andrew Garfield’s character works for Weetabix, a British cereal. It’s part of several conversations in Act 1 but then is never talked about again. I wonder how much Weetabix paid for that product placement.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be very bored.
We see a topless woman several times
We see a fully nude pregnant woman from the side
We see the naked bum of a man
A couple makes out in bed
We see a violent car accident
Some profanity and many F-bombs
We see a woman give birth
Lots of vomit

THEMES:

Relationships & Marriage
Cancer
Time
Leaving a legacy
Competition
Forgiveness
The Power of love
Love and loss
Cherishing every moment

FUNNY LINES:

“Who even are you?” – Almut (Florence Pugh)

INTERESTING LINES:

“It’s okay to not be okay.” – Dr. Kerri Weaver (Lucy Briers)
“I’m guilty of looking ahead instead of right in front of me, at you.” – Tobias (Andrew Garfield)