Time Code

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Singleton</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="549" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="545"><div> Reel view into the future</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="604" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="281"><div> Alex: Stellan Skarsgard (<I><B>Deep Blue Sea)</B></I></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Lauren: Jeanne Tripplehorn (<I><B>Sliding Doors)</B></I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Rose: Salma Hayek (<I><B>Dogma</B></I>)</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Executive: Holly Hunter (<I>The Piano</I>)</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Director: Mike Figgis (<I>One Night Stand)</I></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="316"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="316" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>: "Time Code" is four different films made at exactly the same time, with characters whose stories intersect. The motion picture screen is divided into four equal sections, with a film in each, all running in synch, in real time. The overall story told here concerns the movie industry; an aspiring actress trying to do a screen audition, why films get made (or don't), and the pressure this puts on filmmakers and actors.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Story Line:</B> Rose (Salma Hayek) is about to drive away to a screening appointment when she realizes her car has a flat tire. Lauren (Jeanne Tripplehorn) is in her limo, waiting for Rose to ask for a ride. It at first appears that Lauren and Rose might be mother and daughter but it quickly becomes obvious that they are having a lovers quarrel.  </div> <bR> <div> In the story unfolding in another frame of the screen Emma (Saffron Burrows) is talking to her psychiatrist about her relationship with Alex (Stellan Skarsgard) and before long she leaves to meet him at his movie studio office.</div> <bR> <div> The two remaining portions of screen we see show us what is going on inside the studio in one and outside the studio in the other, as someone is about to enter.</div> <bR> <div> Being proficient at video games, which require you to be aware of what's going on in many areas at once, and asks you to think on multiple levels, would be good preparation for getting the most from a single viewing of "Time Code."</div> <div>  </div> <div> This "view from above" concept is fascinating. In one scene we are   inside the limo hearing a conversation as Rose prepares to leave and also outside the limo, from the viewpoint of the chauffeur, who is prepared to open the door as soon as he receives an indication from inside the car.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It</B>: Mike Figgis, the director, made the award winning "Leaving Las Vegas" with  Nicholas Cage. That film is the non-sugar-coated version of "<B>28 Days,</B>" starring Sandra Bullock, and portraying the affects of substance abuse. In "Leaving Las Vegas," Cage is a drunk who wants to drink himself to death.  In "Time Code," the actors don't think of themselves as having self destructive behavior, yet we know early in the film that when you are that close to the edge, the momentum will at some point take over. This hip and somewhat degenerate film could have been used in "28 Days" as part of the rehab program. </div> <bR> <div> Red Mullet, Inc is the name of the studio in the film, and in a management meeting, topics are discussed such as taking on creative projects like "Time Code." They also discuss the use of African-Americans other than as "window dressing" in films <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Verdana Greek" >¯</FONT> "more toward  hip-hop and black film noir"…whatever that means. During a meeting the concept for "Time Code" is pitched by a young man singing hip-hop, while being accompanied by a young woman singing  opera.</div> <bR> <div> Alex, is barely holding his own in the meeting, after using Rose for sex on the casting couch, in his cocaine-induced state of mind. He is not even able to introduce himself to the wannabe screenwriters making the pitch. Alex however, is the only one to really speak up and say what is on your mind as the movie viewer, which is "do you think anyone around this table has the slightest idea what you are talking about?". The filmmakers are hurt and thankful at the same time. Hurt because it means the project will be turned down and thankful because of a rare show of sincerity in Hollywood. To their surprise, Alex says "we'll do it because you can use us to make your crap and we'll use you to make some of ours."</div> <bR> <div> This is a movie you need to see a number of times to get what you missed in the three frames while you were focusing on the remaining one. Still, what Lauren does at the end is something that you could not miss and I will not spoil for you…so mum is the word.   </div> <bR> <div> Enjoyable and painful to watch, "Time Code" is aimed squarely at the "Gameboy" generation. The official web site has a sweepstakes. To join, you must have four movie tickets, not just the one you bought to see it the first time, attached to your entry. With the cutting edge timing of <B>"Run Lola Run"</B> turned up a few notches, "Time Code" will likely develop a cult following. </div> <bR> <div> It's admirable to see a complex story come together without any film editing. The music is hypnotic throughout and as the credits rolled at the end and the boilerplate paragraph came up about the characters and story not being real, I could not help but think, "I certainly hope not." With our copy cat mentality, someone will use the same technique again and it might have some long term potential with the right material. But this first time out, it probably needed this super edgy story to give it the fascinating look that makes it a film you will not soon forget. This may be a peek into the "reel world" of the future.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> R ( hard drug use; language; sexuality; violence)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> George O. Singleton © 2000</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <A HREF="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com"><U><U>George@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>