Review by Lars Lindahl
Directed by Mike Figgis Written by Mike Figgis
Starring Xander Berkely, Julian Sands, Salma Hayek, Golden Brooks, Steven Weber, Holly Hunter, Stellan Skarsgard, Alessandro Nivola, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Saffron Burrows, Kyle MacLachlan, Aimee Graham, Leslie Mann, and Viveka Davis.
Grade: **** (out of four)
Before I review Mike Figgis' extremely unique new film Time Code, it is necessary to list the reasons for why this is one of the most original films ever created.
1)Time Code is one of the first films to be entirely filmed using a digital video camera.
2)Time Code is shot in real time. It is filmed under one take lasting 93 minutes.
3)Time Code is filmed using four different cameras. Each camera follows certain characters around Los Angeles. To show all of the cameras, the screen is divided into four segments.
4)Time Code has no script. The actors improvised based on an outline written by Figgis.
5)Time Code was shot fifteen different times. Figgis then chose the take he was most pleased with (the fifteenth).
6)Time Code is synchronized to the second. Since the four cameras interact with each other (sometimes a character in the third quadrant calls another via cell phone in the first quadrant), the timing must be perfect for the film to make any sense.
7) Time Code's outline was written on a sheet of music paper, with four different lines, each line telling each camera where to go at every moment.
8)Time Code, in order to avoid confusing the audience contains a soundtrack in which three of the four segments are muted or at a low volume, while the fourth is at normal volume.
Despite the small errors in the film's plot, Time Code, receives a perfect score for its fabulous acting and overall creativity. Figgis' picture is certain to inspire future works and for this reason alone, it is recommended. It is always great to see big time directors and actors trying something complete different from the mainstream, and in the case of Time Code, it is even better to see them create a memorable film at the same time. Time Code is a different experience at the movie theater than most films. It took a while for me to adjust to its format almost like it is uncomfortable to sleep in a brand new bed or live in a new house. However, once I grew more accustomed to its layout, what seemed impossible to enjoy (four cameras on one screen; how would I understand what is going on? How would I be able to follow everything?) turned out to be a mesmerizing display. Time Code glued my eyes to the screen in fascination from the dazzling opening credits to the equally dazzling closing credits.
The film is an examination of Los Angeles at its most chaotic (every once in a while there is a brief earthquake that simultaneously shakes the four cameras and the myriad characters). More specifically, Time Code revolves around a small movie production company called Red Mullet. At Red Mullet, executives ponder upcoming movie ideas, beautiful women audition for film roles, and people gossip among many other things including sex and murder. With all of this occurring during a mere hour and a half, one can hardly imagine how crazy a day in this place must be or even a week. There are some flaws in the film including underdeveloped roles or cliched characters, but the outstanding acting covers the mistakes up very efficiently. It is important to realize that these actors were not given complete scripts but just outlines of who they are supposed to be. Figgis depended on the actors' charismatic qualities in real life to fill the roles in the film. All of the actors bring their talents into the ensemble cast including Salma Hayek and Jeanne Tripplehorn as a lesbian couple, Stellan Skarsgard as a sex and drug obsessed executive, and Saffron Burrows as his troubled wife. Other supporting actors bring a needed comedic aspect to the movie including Julian Sands, Allesandro Nivola, and Steven Weber.
Time Code's release in the year 2000 is a harbinger for new technological age in filmmaking. The use of digital video is expected to increase dramatically in future years in households and in movie studios. I really hope Time Code becomes the next Blair Witch Project and not just another limited release doomed for a short life in the movie theaters. This is a film you have to see on the big screen.
Lars Attacks! http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/larsattacks A teenager attacks a movie every week.
(c) 2000 Lars Lindahl
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