Amanda's Picks

I don’t know about you, but when I want to escape reality, I go to the movies. Since Emma and I had the rare Sunday with no obligations, there were finally films we wanted to see, and our movie theater has those lovely reclining, comfy seats, so we decided to take on a double feature.

 

 

We Live in Time may not be the best choice for lifting one’s spirits, but it’s a moving, emotional, exceptionally well-acted film. Londoners Tobias (Andrew Garfield) and Almut (Florence Pugh) meet the opposite of cute and pursue a relationship. Almut is an ambitious, independent restaurant owner/chef, more passionate about her career than Tobias, who works for Weetabix. Tobias wants kids, but Almut isn’t sure if she wants a family. Tobias has an ex-wife in another country. These are the least of their problems.

Pugh and Garfield are charismatic actors with extraordinary chemistry, an absolute must that manages to be lacking in so many romance movies. Almut and Tobias have normal families, decent jobs, a nice house, chickens and a sweet daughter. However, since We Live in Time uses non-linear storytelling to share their decade-long relationship, early on we learn that time may be one thing they don’t have. 

While I have at times been hopelessly lost watching movies that jump around in time (This means you, Inception), I managed to follow We Live in Time, mainly thanks to Pugh’s various hairstyles. I do quibble a bit with the decision not to age Garfield at all or alter his very impressive head of hair. 

If you didn’t deeply care about Almut and Tobias and believe their relationship, We Live in Time, might not work. Garfield’s sexy vulnerability and charm is irresistible and at times, heartbreaking. Pugh, who is always a stand-out, manages to be fierce and wounded in the same moment. The two of them work together to convey one of the most natural and believable relationships I’ve seen on screen in ages. There is some lovely humor in We Live in Time and a tour-de-force childbirth scene. But we can’t fool ourselves. This is a movie about how we choose to deal with pain and grief. Bring tissues. 

We Live in Time: 4.5 Stars out of 5

 

 

We chose The Wild Robot (G) to complete our double feature. The latest animated film from Dreamworks tells the story of a robot (Lupita Nyong’o) whose shipping container crashes on an island after a storm. Rozzum 7134 (Roz for short), who is programmed to serve, finds herself in a world without humans, so she attempts to use her robot skills to help the various animals. However, the animals are understandably wary of a giant metal robot smashing around the forest. 

Roz finds her purpose when she rescues the only surviving egg from a nest that she accidentally crushed. When the egg hatches, she names the adorable gosling, Brightbill. With the help of a fox named Fink (Pedro Pascal), Roz is determined to prepare Brightbill for the upcoming winter migration. Brightbill (Kit Connor) has a bit of an identity crisis, having a giant robot mom and all. 

There are plenty of adorable animals in The Wild Robot. Even the bear is a sweetheart. I especially enjoyed the possum mom who wasn’t so into parenting (Catherine O’Hara) and the beaver with attitude, voiced with haughty perfection by Matt Berry from What We Do in the Shadows. Ving Rhames, Bill Nighy, Mark Hamill and Stephanie Hsu also contribute. There are adorable otters and mischievous skunks, but also several instances of the animal food chain in action. 

While The Wild Robot didn’t move me as much as other animated films like Up, WALL-E and Inside Out, the story and Nyong’o kept me emotionally invested. Dreamworks and other animation studios still haven’t caught up with the level of humor and sophistication of Pixar’s screenplays. The Wild Robot delivers a sweet message, some sly tech humor and enough animal antics to please moviegoers of all ages. 

The Wild Robot: 4 Stars out of 5