We Live in Time review: Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield glow in a rom-com reminiscent of the golden age
In just those seven words We Live in Time really does sell itself, but there's a whole lot more that needs to be said about one of the best rom-coms to grace the big screen in years.
I love and watch repeatedly When Harry Met Sally and How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days but it's come to a point where I'm turning round - to anyone who will listen - to scream dramatically, mimicking the fairy godmother at the start of 'I Need a Hero' in Shrek 2: "Where have all the good rom-coms gone?"
Thankfully, screenwriter Nick Payne must've heard my cries because We Live in Time is gigglingly, heart-achingly yet upliftingly beautiful.
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Written by Payne and directed by John Crowley, We Live in Time simmers and bubbles with spirit.
The script and creative direction captures the poignantly stilted nature of two people who've already spent much of their lives apart coming together through a chance encounter, then navigating blending their lives - a duo humorously also simply plagued by that classic British awkwardness too.
Almut (Pugh) and Tobias (Garfield) 'embark on a path challenged by the limits of time [and] they learn to cherish each moment of the unconventional route their love story has taken,' the synopsis reads.
And the viewer very much 'cherish[es] each moment' too, a smile beaming across my face within minutes of the film opening.
The very first seconds of interaction between Pugh and Garfield are enough to cement Almut and Tobias' relationship instantly, drawing viewers in and making us fall - and fall hard.
Pugh's Almut doesn’t conform to stereotypical conventions of a women so often seen in rom-coms - there's no half-written, wet-lettuce, desperate, lost woman here at all, Pugh capturing a balance of awkwardness but warmth shimmeringly.
It's also just joyful to see a woman presented as the more outgoing and confident one in a relationship when compared to the man.
Garfield's presentation of Tobias feels whole-heartedly considered down to the microscopic detail, the actor embodying a vivid portrayal of an anxious, yet determined, awkward but tender and heartwarmingly loving man.
But the film holds most of its power and artistic finesse in what's not said.
The non-verbal communication between Almut and Tobias is so pure, exquisitely performed by Pugh and Garfield - from the crinkle of a nose to rapid-blinking eyelids and eyes narrowing into a glare.
These moments being given space to breathe gives a glorious power to what’s not said, what can’t be said, what people are scared of saying, not knowing what to say and an overarching strong and heartfelt message about not always having the words to be able to make things okay.
When words do rear their head, well, the underlined scrawl in my notepad in capital letters says it all: "THE SCRIPT IS BLOODY BRILLIANT."
We Live in Time doesn't rely on overhyping or over-dramatisation, instead focusing on small relatable humors in order to achieve the 'com' to it's 'rom' - the comedic beats perfectly timed and executed.
And despite dealing with a heart-breaking theme - which it's likely most viewers will sadly relate to in some way or another - the script finds humor even in the darkest and most vulnerable of moments.
It also does so in a refreshing and masterful way, never crossing the line into insensitivity, instead offering genuinely constructive ways to tackle some of life's inevitable hurdles.
The script contains phrases many of us have unfortunately probably heard in our own lives making the characters' journeys even more affecting and raw - even with all the hop-scotching in time.
Spanning around 10 years, the film hops forward and back from moments just before Almut and Tobias meet.
In other films these leaps in chronological events end up confusing, however, in We Live in Time, they're clear-cut, smooth transitions and don't take away from the tugging at the heart you feel towards the couple - although I do question whether tears would've fully left my ducts had there been slightly less jumping.
The to-ing and fro-ing drips certain lines and pieces of information which prick your ears and allow you to jigsaw certain significances together all while being far from cheesy or predictable.
The pace of the whole film is egg-suisite - just go and book your tickets already - and perfectly baked at 1hr 44 minutes which emphasizes a message which seems at its core - We Live in Time is about quality not quantity.
If I were to tier the levels of a rom-com, the top tier would be walking out of the cinema screaming: "I want to tell everyone about this." It would prompt me to see life in a new light and a change would've been sparked within.
Second would be walking out in a daze, needing a second to adapt to the brightness of the real world after being successfully transported into the life of others.
And third or fourth or at the bottom? Well, walking out nonchalantly, feeling nice but it not taking long to ponder what I'm having for dinner.
We Live in Time lands between the first and second tiers. Unlike films such as The Notebook, Brokeback Mountain or About Time, it didn't quite push me over the edge - tears leapt to my eyes on four occasions of pure emotion but ultimately didn't fall.
But do we need to weep or sob our hearts out over rom-coms anymore? I remain torn.
Sure, cries can be therapeutic and rom-coms are typically a good film to choose if you need to be as cliché as possible and shovel spoonfuls of slightly salty Ben and Jerry's into your gob post break-up. However, given the film's dealing with one major topic in particular, it's only natural many viewers will be impacted and relate and through it's choice not to push viewers over the edge - while not losing any of its charm - We Live in Time could ultimately be considered kinder and more safe-guarded.
Ultimately, we don’t need to be triggered when so much of us are already going through similar experiences in real life. And despite the film's sadnesses, its message remains one of hope.
We Live in Time takes mundane activities and turns them into something beautiful - even down to as minute-a-detail as one character mirroring the body language of another - highlighting the fragility of life and importance of not taking any small facial expression, gesture or every-day activity for granted.
Cracking the lull in truly humorous and moving rom-coms, We Live in Time is tender, loving, soul-stirring and real. I drifted out of the theater more determined to try and make every moment count.
✬✬✬✬-and-a-half!
Topics: Andrew Garfield, Entertainment, Film and TV, Florence Pugh, Review, Reviews
Poppy Bilderbeck