Rated T – Timecrimes
For those that know me or give a couple shits, you know that I am a lover of film. One of my (oh-so-many) missions in life is to seek out amazing movies that Hollywood either ignores or simply remakes (and almost NEVER for the better), and bathe myself in their cinematic awesomeness. I would love the opportunity to share some of my favorites with you, so this week begins a series of recommendations. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these films, so feel free to use the comments below as a forum of discussion.
This weeks movie is TIMECRIMES
I recently saw this film at my neighborhood cult theatre that plays double features for $7.00. Timecrimes (yes, it’s one word) is one of those time travel movies that sits your brain down and hands it several pieces of a very webby puzzle. It’s a story that unfolds 4 different times, each revealing an extra layer of the characters most bizarre journey, which is to manipulate himself (his own physical other self) into doing things to his future selfs advantage. It asks a common question of most time travel stories, “can we fix the past?” But what Timecrimes does so successfully is tell a very suspenseful and engaging story on mere peanuts of a budget.
Now here’s where I will lose some people…it’s a foreign film. RUN!!! SUBTITLES!! NOOO!!! EYES…BLEEDING! The rest of you still with me? Great. The film was shot in Spain by filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo. I first saw his work in a series of short films. His storytelling and visual style struck an immediate chord in me, so I sought out Timecrimes when I heard it was released. This is the kind of film that will have you thinking for days. You’ll be clawing at loopholes but then later filling them in.
Sadly, I feel that it suffers from a very unfortunate title (as well as cover art). Timecrimes sounds like cheesy science fiction movie loaded with some amazingly awful CGI and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme (wait, that was Time Cop). And the artwork doesn’t give you much more to go on. Scissors, a clock, a man with his head wrapped? The movie is far to clever for both of these set backs. Ah well.
Timecrimes is currently available on DVD, so I highly recommend you rent it. If you enjoy movies that are different from the blockbuster fare and make you think as well as excite you, then check out this flick and tell me what you thought. But hurry! They are already REMAKING it in the States! God forbid we come up with something interesting on our own.
Much Love
Travis



















