The concept behind “In Time” is actually fairly interesting, and maybe that’s why I was willing to overlook some of the film’s shortcomings. In a dystopian ultra-classist 2169, people stop aging at 25, and living any longer than that requires you to literally buy time. Extra time seems to come from just one extra strong and special handshake.
Such a kind of transfer begs the question of why people don’t just go steal it from the rich people why they sleep. Or why people don’t just use tight grips or shake with superglue. Needless to say, the broad strokes of inspiration blinded writer/director Andrew Niccol to the many plot holes in this world.
Watching the movie from a post-Occupy world certainly highlights this extreme case of social inequity as the rich live forever and the poor die young. From my sociology classes in college, I can tell you that inequality is corrosive for society and poverty is quite literally a lethal force. “In Time” is very conscious of these things and holds an interesting mirror up to the audience watching the film.
Sadly, that mirror is fogged up by some sloppy storytelling and a plot that ultimately can’t sustain beyond the novelty of the “time as life” concept. The characterization is decent, but the cast of good looking actors who can still pass for 25 – including Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde, Matt Bomer, and Alex Pettyfer – don’t do much to elevate the material. The intelligence of the social commentary ultimately gives way to a fairly standard action film, but the themes raised in the beginning are enough to make me feel that “In Time” was not entirely wasted time. B- / 
Marshall and the Movies 
It’s a fun movie, it just has a bit too many plot-holes to really get by. But at least there’s enough to take your eyes off of those facts, and enjoy the finer things like JT’s acting, which isn’t half-bad. Nice review Marshall.
Ehh, on a recent rewatch, I thought JT was pretty laughable. Not channeling nearly enough Sean Parker!
I thought this was a pretty cool film. I liked that it was a disillusioned future sci film but done in a little different manner, not like circa Mad Max or Water World.
Yeah I totally admired the concept. I just wish it had stuck to social commentary. It falls victim to some horrible wordplay and cliched action film devices.
I like Niccol’s work. Enough that I’m almost willing to give The Host a shot despite it being a story from that horrible Twilight movie, just because he is directing and did the screenplay.
That being said, I was a bit disappointed in Niccols for In Time. Basically it’s just a reskinned remake of his first film Gattaca (which did this con ept infinitely better). I still moderately enjoyed In Time, but if this concept intrigues you, you’re much better off watching Gattaca.