Somewhere in Time

Starring: Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, Christopher Plummer, Teresa Wright, Bill Erwin, George Voskovec, William H. Macy
Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
2003

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A man (Christopher Reeve) uses hypnosis to travel back in time to meet an actress (Jane Seymour) who he fell in love with, after seeing her picture.

Review:

Tim: I really enjoyed Somewhere in Time, but when you sit down to try and explain it, it seems a bit silly. Why did I like this movie as much as I did? Like so much in the film, it will remain a mystery. I'm still convinced this is a solid, effective romance, even though I acknowledge it requires a good deal of suspended disbelief. I'm confident in the movie, even though it might be a bit hard to explain it.

I do believe there's something effective about time traveling romances (a subgenre with not a lot of films, but some truly effective ones). The world itself can sometimes conspire to keep two people apart, so the idea of fighting time itself is quite an intriguing one. There's nothing like time to separate two lovers to tug at the heartstrings. This movie definitely plays into that. The movie spends a lot of time showing the journey of our hero back in time. I thought it was interesting that he spends much of the movie just looking for this actress. When they finally are united, it takes on increased significance.

Now, I have to admit, the time traveling aspect of the film is a bit wonky. They at least tried to explain it with some level of science, but ultimately, it doesn't make a great deal of sense. Just by meditating, you can will your corporeal form back through time, to a precise date that's in your mind. I definitely respect the power of the mind, but this is pushing it a bit too far. Here's the interesting thing- Jeannot Szwarc's film builds up to this point so that when the scene actually occurs, you're invested enough that you're hoping it works, and spending far less energy on the ridiculousness of the whole thing. In hindsight, yes, it's illogical and completely unscientific. But, in the context of the film, you so want this character to travel back in time and find this woman that your investment in the story allows you to forgive some of these issues. It's quite remarkable, really.

The movie is greatly helped by the cast. Christopher Reeve is quite good in the lead role. I was struck by the awfulness of his tragedy all over again. Reeve had this wonderful naive, boyish quality to him that contrasted with his physicality. He's never intimidating and the earnestness he brings to this role is endearing. He sets the audience at ease and his comedic timing was effective enough so that you find it very easy to root for him. I thought Jane Seymour was good, too, although her performance felt a bit uneven. They do make a good pair and it's easy to connect with them. Christopher Plummer adds a nice antagonistic performance, too. Plummer is such a good actor and he knows exactly what the role called for. He never allows his performance to become one-dimensional. He's never "the bad guy", but feels like a complex human whose own motivations are misaligned from the protagonists. He definitely makes the movie better. Side note, I was surprised to see William H. Macy was in the cast- I didn't even recognize him here.

The film itself can be a bit melodramatic, but it's mostly in service to the story. It's quite interesting- we see a man discover a portrait of an actress from many years ago. He's compelled to meet her at any cost, which includes finding a professor who believes time travel is possible. He learns the basics from him, invests the time and energy necessary, and finds a way to send himself back in time. There, he meets the woman, has to see if she feels about him the way he feels about her, and navigate her manager, who is threatened by the sudden appearance of this unknown man. He also has to navigate a decade in which he's totally unfamiliar. It's all quite an intriguing story. It requires you to suspend your disbelief and just go with the story, but it's absolutely worth it to do that.

The film itself is well crafted. The cinematography is good, the music is quite exceptional. From a technical standpoint, the movie works well. The film was nominated for 1 Academy Award, for Best Costume Design. I'm not sure it was good enough to win, so I agree with the Academy's decision. But still, it did receive a nomination.

Somewhere in Time has some flaws, but it's still an exceptionally well made movie. I really enjoyed the journey, the characters, and the surprising nature of the conclusion. It's the kind of movie that sticks with you. It's not surprising to me that there's a small contingent of raving fans who adore this film. I can see why it would inspire that level of praise. I might not have loved everything about it, so I don't belong in their ranks, but this is a thoroughly entertaining romance and one I truly enjoyed.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Time Traveler's Wife