A dystopian sci-fi, In Time is about a society that has literally adopted the adage that 'time is money'. In this world, humans are implanted with a digital countdown timer that by default triggers death at the age of 26. This time is traded as currency for everything from cups of coffee to rent and can extend natural life to be infinite for the rich. We meet Will Salas, a time-poor twenty-something year old who manages to gamble his way to such wealth that the timekeepers suspect fraud. He is stripped of most of his time and exacts revenge by breaking into time banks and distributing it to the masses. Unfortunately, at times the acting and the dialogue is awkward and this compromises the "what-if" experiment and prevents any real moral lessons. The soundtrack is instrumental but includes orchestral as well as upbeat electronic pieces and this keeps the film on pace and fresh. Worth a watch on a Sunday afternoon.
7/10
A rom-com-esque oldie, this film follows Harold, a young man with an unusual fascination with death. One day, while attending the funeral of a complete stranger, he meets a like-minded yet almost elderly woman named Maude. The pair hit it off, despite any age gaps, and a quirky adventure ensues. A key driver here is a full album or two of Cat Stevens songs that are heavily woven into the story and make the film feel like a well put-together musical. These tunes guide the narrative and help to disguise any semblance of it being outdated. Combined, H&M is a worthwhile entry point to 1970s cinema and a likeable homage to Cat Stevens and, for that, it deserves a viewing or two.
7.5/10
