★★★☆☆

As someone who has spent countless hours in the kitchen, I can wholeheartedly appreciate the artistry that goes into cracking an egg perfectly, and Florence Pugh’s portrayal of Almut in “We Live in Time” is nothing short of masterful. Andrew Garfield, too, delivers a performance that is as endearing as it is poignant, making their on-screen partnership a joy to watch.

We Live in Time is in cinemas from New Year’s Day. Add it to your watchlist

A cast you want to spend time can be the saving grace of many a flawed romantic melodrama. While Brooklyn director John Crowley’s seventh feature is a considered and classy tear-jerker, it also arrives laden with overcooked metaphors (eggs are on the menu) and scrambled plot convolutions. But these excesses serve at least one welcome purpose: they make you appreciate how good Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield are in the lead roles.

As a devoted fan, I’d put it this way: In this captivating tale, I find myself rooting for Almut, skillfully portrayed by Pugh, and Tobias, played by Andrew. Their relationship is filled with unexpected twists, particularly in their kitchen dynamics – she, a master of culinary art who can effortlessly crack an egg to perfection; he, a Weetabix employee, seemingly well-versed in cereal box maneuvers. Love blooms between them, but it’s not without its ups and downs. They grapple with life-changing decisions about starting a family and tying the knot. However, their journey takes an unexpected turn when Almut is diagnosed and treated for ovarian cancer, only for the disease to return after they welcome their precious daughter into their lives.

Written by playwright and screenwriter Nick Payne, this simple plot thickens as events unfold. The narrative jumps around in time, requiring viewers to decipher the progression of Almut and Tobias’s journey based on visual clues at each moment. Under Crowley’s sophisticated guidance, Almut’s hairstyle serves as a consistent guide, while Tobias’s injuries provide additional hints due to the unique circumstances of their first encounter: a collision caused when Tobias steps out in his dressing gown from a hotel room to buy pens and gets hit by a car. Can you guess who was behind the wheel?

In Payne’s script, these series of events show a propensity for artificiality. This problem carries over to the dialogue, where it fluctuates from Tobias’s romantic confession reminiscent of Richard Curtis, to an argument where his speech structure becomes jumbled. When he tells Almut that their disagreement “hurts a lot,” it leaves one questioning the necessity for Payne’s unconventional approach, which results in this peculiar sentence construction that seems almost like something Yoda might say.

In part, Payne’s eccentricities are tolerated because of the strong performances by the main actors. Garfield’s quick emotional expressiveness immediately captivates audiences. Pugh’s character is pushed to her limits in various ways – terminal illness, figure skating, childbirth in a garage bathroom, and wrestling an octopus in a worldwide cooking competition. Supporting actors also shine. Grace Delaney melts hearts as the couple’s daughter, while Lee Braithwaite’s performance as Almut’s assistant chef hints at potential larger roles in the future.

While Payne’s approach of mixing past, present, and future seems puzzling, given the conventional romantic drama narrative that focuses on resolving emotional conflicts. However, his intentions become more understandable when Almut presents her choices following her cancer diagnosis. Essentially, she must decide between investing six months in an exciting endeavor she cherishes, like the international Bocuse d’Or chef championship, or enduring a year of treatment with uncertain outcomes. The question becomes about how this time will be remembered – by Almut herself or by those who care for her.

Read more film reviews:

Wicked review: Ariana Grande steals the show in bewitching blockbuster
Nosferatu review: This creepy and compelling new take on vampire myth is a thing of beauty
Gladiator II review: A sturdy sequel that revels in its more ludicrous qualities
Emilia Pérez review: A musical that redefines what’s possible in the genre
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl review — A banquet of jokes with storytelling as audacious as ever

Time is the crux of the matter for Payne, though it’s a pity the emotions at stake are rendered frustratingly elusive as a result of the choppy structure. The film is at its most absorbing when it’s at its most direct, like when Almut and Tobias argue passionately over ambition, marriage and parenthood. Gracefully scored by The National’s Bryce Dessner, We Live in Time is a thoughtful film for the heart, but it’s also an emotional film that seems suspiciously over-thought. If you come out of it knowing how best to crack an egg, you also learn the perils of overegging a tale.

2024-12-21 20:03

We Live in Time review: Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield thrive in thoughtful but overcooked weepie

★★★☆☆

Read More