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Movie Review: The Time Traveler’s Wife

Ilan Mester — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:01:59 +0000

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At points, “The Time Traveler’s Wife” sheds new light into the romantic drama genre. But at others, it just gets old and fails the test of time.

The film – based on the hit novel by Audrey Niffenegger of the same title – revolves around Henry DeTamble (played by Eric Bana), a Chicago librarian with “Chrono Displacement” disorder, a condition which allows him to randomly disappear into both the past and the future without warning (otherwise known as time traveling). He tries to build a life with the woman of his dreams, a young artist named Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams), but their relationship is tested when the couple is forced to part ways for long periods of time due to his condition.

We first meet Henry as a little kid who’s assured by an older version of himself, after going through a car accident that everything is going to “be okay.” Fast forward a few decades later and a 30 something Henry is greeted by Clare whose known him since the age of six – the problem is, he doesn’t have a clue who she is.

You see, for Henry it’s only years later when he first encounters Clare as a child while he’s in his 40’s and gets transported naked into the past. Apparently the clothes come off when you’ve time travelled, which seems like a cheep excuse to show Bana’s behind every 10 minutes, however, this detail is actually in the book and it gets his character into loads of trouble throughout the story.

When they first meet, Clare trusts him and throws Henry a blanket to cover himself with. He continues to visit her throughout her childhood and their bond eventually grows from friendship to love as Claire gets older.

But most of the film takes place in “real time,” when their timelines converge “naturally.” Although Clare has been in love with Henry since she first met him as a little girl, she has to make him fall in love with her as an adult when Henry meets her for the first time at the library (and when you have someone like McAdams playing Clare, that isn’t hard to do).

What’s hard to deal with is the constant instability and the fact that Clare can never rely on Henry as he can involuntarily disappear just like that. Her hubby isn’t always there for her during New Year’s or other significant dates because he can suddenly poof (with no date of return). This understandably becomes the main source of conflict throughout the film. Unfortunately, it becomes old by the second half hour.

But I will say that when it comes to romance, “The Time Traveler’s Wife” is quite original. While most films have supporting characters who give the main couple a run for their money, in this one, Henry’s main competition is himself.

“I’m competing against myself,” Henry tells Clare. Because she originally met an older Henry, he feels that he’s somehow competing with himself which is quite entertaining. What’s also unique about this film, of course, is the time traveling, but most importantly, fusing science fiction with romance.

The meetings between Henry and the six-year-old Clare are incredibly engaging and the fact that the two aren’t always at the same point in their lives keeps the movie somewhat fresh.

That being said, there are plenty of supporting characters in this film that could have helped keep it fresh, like Henry’s mom, his dad, Clare’s best friend Charisse and Henry’s doctor. But some of them become nothing more than props in this movie. It would have been interesting to develop those characters to add some more depth to the film.

“The Time Traveler’s Wife” is also somewhat jumpy as a movie (which makes sense, after all, the main character can’t control his apparitions) but this makes it nonetheless confusing at times.

So what makes it worth seeing? Rachel McAdams, who’s more than proven she can carry a romantic drama with movies like “The Notebook,” is a driving force in this film, as is Bana. Those who read the book may want to decide for themselves if “The Time Traveler’s wife” is worth the travel to the theatres.

Robert Pattinson To Star In Remember Me

Eva Lam — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:27:53 +0000

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Young love isn’t going to get any easier for “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson – at least, not in his next movie.

The 22-year-old actor has been cast in Summit Entertainment’s “Remember Me,” a romantic drama about a young couple who must overcome a succession of family tragedies that complicate their relationship.

Not much else is known about the plot, but Summit co-chairman and CEO Patrick Wachsberger has described the film as this generation’s “Love Story,” reports ScreenDaily.com. “Love Story,” of course, is the classic 1970 romance starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal that featured the famous line “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

Pattinson’s love interest in the film, which was previously titled “Memoirs,” has yet to be cast.

Allen Coulter, an Emmy-winning director whose credits include “The Sopranos” and “Damages,” will direct, while “Rachel Getting Married” screenwriter Jenny Lumet is working on a draft of the screenplay.

“Remember Me” will shot this summer in New York between production on the “Twilight” sequels “New Moon” and “Eclipse.” The second and third installments of Stephanie Meyer’s hit series continue to follow the tumultuous relationship between the vampire Edward (Pattinson) and the human teen Bella (Kristen Stewart).

Pattinson will next appear in the Salvador Dali biopic “Little Ashes,” which was shot before “Twilight.” The movie hits theatres in May.

Robert Pattinson Could Star In Romantic Drama

Ilan Mester — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:28:08 +0000

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Robert Pattinson is up for the lead role in Summit Entertainment’s latest romantic drama “Memoirs,” according to MTV News.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Memoirs” tells the story of two lovers and their threatened relationship caused by family tragedies. Their love is put to the test by their struggle to cope with these tragedies.

The original script was penned by Will Fetters, but it is currently being rewritten by “Rachel Getting Married” screenwriter Jenny Lumet, according to MTV News.

Pattinson was supposed to co-star alongside Rosario Dawson in “Parts Per Billion” but was forced to drop out due to his “New Moon” commitments.

It will probably be easier for the actor to work around his “New Moon” schedule to film “Memoirs” because they’re both Summit Entertainment films.

In the meantime, fans can catch Pattinson in the upcoming Salvador Dalí biopic “Little Ashes,” on May 8 with limited release, and in “How To Be,” which is being screened at festivals.