Primer

Starring: Shane Curreth, David Sullivan
Directed by: Shane Curreth
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Thriller
2004

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Two friends (Shane Curreth, David Sullivan) build a time machine, which complicates their lives more than they could have expected.

Review:

Tim: Primer is a nearly incomprehensible, borderline brilliant time traveling drama/thriller that manages to overcome its overly technical dialogue to emerge as an intelligent, engaging film. This film is very, very different from most other movies, and I really appreciate the uniqueness of this film. It might have been better, but it is certainly different, and that is refreshing.

What I really like about this movie is that it is one of of the most realistic time-traveling movies out there. There is nothing glamorous or flashy about the invention of time travel. The way it happens in this film is exactly how you might expect the greatest invention in human history to happen- not by some stuffy, profit-focused corporation, but by individuals working tirelessly in their own time. It helps that writer/director Shane Curreth refused to dumb down the dialogue (and believe me, he could have). I have a hard time following anything that is said in this movie because it is so jargon-heavy. And yet, while I could only understand bits and pieces, I still managed to understand the point of the dialogue, and what was happening in the film. This makes the movie feel realistic- it is a challenge to keep up with these brilliant characters. This is a refreshingly different approach to a movie.

I also really enjoyed the plot. It is nearly incomprehensible the first time through (I highly recommend checking out Wikipedia for a great synopsis of the plot), but it is fascinating nonetheless. Our two characters jump back and forth through time in a surprisingly believable and logical sequence of events. This is just amazing to watch, although it certainly is a challenge to follow.

Primer is easy to criticize because it tends to make the audience feel a bit stupid- that is not necessarily a bad thing, though. This movie isn't pretentious (as some might claim). This film is just a fascinating, different look at time travel. It is sometimes a chore to get through, but it is completely worth it. This is an intelligent, unique movie, and I enjoyed it.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



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