We Live in Time
Review by Mark Woodring
I’m not normally into straight romance movies, which this one is, but I do love both Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, so… why not?
**NOTE: You can read Mark’s review below, then use the players to listen or watch as he and Ryan discuss the film further. Remember, though, you can listen to all our discussions of this and every other movie directly over on ACAST. Stay tuned.**
107 Minutes, Rated R
Written by Nick Payne
Directed by John Crowley
Synopsis:
An up-and-coming chef and a recent divorcée find their lives forever changed when a chance encounter brings them together, in a decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.
I am sooooo very glad I did not sleep on this movie. It gives me hope that, like the occasional musical does, that I might be becoming more open to genres I normal find myself being dragged in to seeing.
Actually, since I started doing this, I’ve found myself definitely more open to films I might otherwise have skipped as a “civilian.”
Make no mistake, though, movies like this are always, absolutely, 100 percent carried by their leads. Countless romances or even romantic comedies have been undone by the simple statement “there’s no chemistry between these two.”
Not the case here.
Sure, we get a classic rom-com “meet-cute” scenario (involving a visit to a hospital), but any comedy in We Live in Time comes from the natural progression of Tobias and Almut’s relationship.
Told in a mix of three (though some might say only two) timelines, We Live in Time is a exploration of those moments in which our lives change, for both good and ill. It’s about the time we spend by ourselves and with those we love. It beautifully encapsulates the choices we make about how to spend the time we have, how we balance and prioritize, and very much how moments — and strings of moments — can change what we though we knew about ourselves and our desires.
And it’s told within an absolutely convincing romance between two people who might otherwise never believed themselves capable, or even worthy, of having.
At our screening, we watched a live Q&A with Garfield and Pugh, and it was clear that the chemistry they displayed on-screen was a reflection of the chemistry and affection they share off it.
This was evidenced by their discussion of a certain scene was really difficult to film, which I won’t reveal here, but let’s just say that in any other movie, this scene might feel forced or otherwise out of place, but in We Live in Time, it feels absolutely earned, a natural result fit for the rest of the events — moments — which led up to it.
Beautiful filmmaking, wonderful direction, and absolutely stellar performances from these two make We Live in Time an absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking film; one which can legitimately be called a date movie.
We Live in Time hits theaters on October 18 and stars Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield, Lee Braithwaite, and Adam James.
And remember, if the BEST thing you can say about a movie is that it’s “visually stunning,” then they’ve done something wrong.
Please don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE, and FOLLOW us on:
- Facebook (@vsmoviepodcast)
- X (@vsmoviepodcast)
- Instagram (@visuallystunningmoviepodcast)
- Threads (@visuallystunningmoviepodcast)
- YouTube (@visuallystunningmoviepodcast)
- Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to our audio wherever you listen to podcasts (https://shows.acast.com/vsmoviepodcast)
And please, if you like what we do, consider helping us keep on entertaining you. You can use this handy link:
Or, you could check out the merch in Our Store:
Not only will you be helping us out if you pick up some merch, you get cool stuff to wear around (including the coveted WTFWT? logo!)