Movie Review: Time Code

Story: Forget the story - it is the weakest component of this very experimental film by musician, writer, producer, director (a man of an apparent need for control) Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas, The Loss of Sexual Innocence). He shakes the norm by visually altering what we are used to watching on the silver screen. Instead of one looming rectangle we have four quadrants with a different film on each one. This film(s) was digitally produced in one day using four cameras. (He claims it was in one take, but actually there were 19 takes - a very long day indeed.) You quickly adjust to the momentary visual chaos because he raises the volume on the quadrant we are supposed to focus. Not only does he break the visual norm but he decided to allow the actors to improvise most of the script (not a good idea). A talented cast very often flounders, but I was forgiving because it was a singular movie experience. Should you see it? I think creativity should be supported or else we end up seeing the same old thing constantly. So go! Have some fun.

Acting: I guess improv would be a more accurate description of what happens on screen. Jeanne Tripplehorn ('Basic Instinct' and some other bad movies) has the least dialogue but the most intriguing to watch. Salma Hayek ('Dogma' and other very bad movies) is simply awful. Her English is improving (she doesn't need subtitles anymore) but her acting is not. Stellan Skarsgaard ('Breaking the Waves,' 'Good Will Hunting') is also getting annoying and he gives me the creeps. Many small roles for credible actors including Holly Hunter, Steven Weber and Julian Sands.