About Time

Starring: Rachel McAdams, Domhnall Gleeson, Bill Nighy, Lydia Wilson, Tom Hollander, Margot Robbie

Year: 2013

I LOVE THIS MOVIE!! Ya sure, it's about time travel. Yes, the men of this particular family can travel back in time. But believe me when I say, it's not at all science fiction. There are no special affects. No "beam me up Scotties".

"About Time" is a love story. But not just a romantic love story between Mary (McAdams) and Tim (Gleeson). It goes much deeper. It's also a family's love story. The close relationship between Tim (Gleeson) and his little sister Kit Kat (Wilson). And the very close and beautiful relationship between Tim and his dad (Nighy).

This movie truly warms the heart in so many ways.

At the age of twenty-one, Tim's father shares a family secret, that he too learned of when he was twenty-one. The secret...that all the men in the family can travel in time. Not travel forwards in time. But rather have the choice to go back in time to change certain moments. Certain actions. For the better. And in order to do so, they don't twitch their noses (older audience will understand) or wave a wand (younger), but just simply find a dark space, clench their fists and close their eyes. I know. It still sounds a bit hokey-pokey, sci-fi-ish. But I promise it is not. Not at all.

It's about appreciating your life; reflecting on the good things in your life and living each day as it should be lived. Not wishing you could go back and change it in any way. Just living each day, so that at the end of the day, when you recap the moments of your day, you wouldn't change a thing.

Fun Facts: One day Richard Curtis (one of my favourite film writers and the writer of this film) asked a friend "What would you do if it were your last day?" They each pondered the question. They concluded that a person couldn't really change who they are. Because no matter what, who you truly are deep inside, never changes. But a person could think of what is most important and live that day filled with love and passion for what really matters. With no regrets. And end each day with a full and satisfied heart. And just like that, the premise of this story was born. Another fun fact - as I have mentioned in a previous post (Notting Hill) - in most films Curtis writes, he refers to an unfortunate person as Bernard. Look for it in this one too!

I could go on and on about this film. It warms the heart, feeds the soul. It's romantic, inspiring, funny and thought-provoking. And yes, it has some teary moments too - I won't deny that. But so worth the tears. You will fall in love with each and every character, including sweet, quiet Uncle Desmond. And it's got a beautiful soundtrack too. My two favourites (if I have to limit it to two - which I clearly don't since I can set my own rules lol), would be "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds and "How Long Will I Love You" by Jon Boden & Sam Sweeney. Which actually leads to another fun fact. Curtis heard the song "The Luckiest" years prior to even writing About Time, but always knew he wanted to include it in one of his movies one day. He certainly waited for the right one.

If you have never seen this movie, please promise you will. And if you have seen it, but it's been a while, please make time to watch it again. It will most definitely leave an imprint on your heart.

Favourite Lines:

*We're all travelling through time together every day of our lives. All we can do is do our best to relish this remarkable ride.

* I just try to live every day as if I've deliberately come back to this one day to enjoy it as if it was the full final day of my extraordinary life.

*All time travelling in the world, can't make someone love you.

*Live life as if there were no second chances.

*My Son. My Dad.

From one movie "buff" to another....get that popcorn popped, the lights dimmed and the movie rolling.