Time Crimes (Nacho Vigalondo, Spain, 2008)

Introduced at the AFI festival as “the thinking person’s time travel movie”, Time Crimes is pure brilliance. It’s simple and complex all at the same time. People looking to fit Time Crimes into a certain genre, beware. This is one of those films that doesn’t fit a certain one category and can actually pull it off. It weaves in and out as a Sci-Fi, a thriller and a drama but also incorporates aspects of comedy and even a little romance.

Time Crimes has no extras and is comprised of, literally, a four-person cast. The plot relies mostly on the actions of the main character, Hector (Karra Elejade) and is very scarce in dialogue. Without giving too much away, Hector stumbles upon a naked girl and a dangerous man with a bandaged face. From there on everything is mysterious and Hector must fight to stay alive. Upon meeting a young scientist (played by none other than the writer and director Nacho Vigalondo), Hector keeps living the same day over but from different perspectives. Think of it as a more serious Groundhog’s Day.

As the film progresses, questions you didn’t even think of are answered in such a way it all just comes together. Right when it is about to be boring or relentless, a new element or twist is added that keeps you interested. So even though you aren’t always in the loop, you are eventually and boy, is it a fun, creepy ride along the way.

The mise-en-scene of this film plays a very important role. It is simple and limited, using nothing more than it needs to tell the story of time traveling Hector. The film takes place within four settings and each are dressed realistically and appropriately. Like I mentioned before, the cast is limited to only four characters with each actor doing a fantastic job in their respective role. The weakest link of the cast is actually Vigalondo, who perhaps was too ambitious in writing, directing and starring in his film. The lighting of the film is key. Depending on if it is light or dark outside, we are able to place Hector when and where he is as he time travels. All of the mise-en-scene plays into the “gun on the wall” theory. This theory refers to the idea that if a film shows a shot of a gun on the wall in the beginning that even if nothing is ever mentioned of the gun, the fact that it is shown means that it is important and will play a role later. From a table to a bicycle, every prop is used in this film.

Time Crimes has been on the festival circuit for awhile and is receiving high praises. It is a great film worth watching. United Artists supposedly bought the rights to Time Crimes and is in the process of an American remake of the film. I’m not sure if anything can beat the Spanish original though, and I’m fearful that they’re going to glam it up too much and spoil the simplistic nature of it. 


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