'In Time': The Reviews Are In!

Justin Timberlake's sci-fi thriller has audiences and critics divided.
By Kara Warner


Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried in "In Time"
Photo: 20th Century Fox

What do you get when you mix a futuristic, time-as-money/life-or-death premise; a cast of pretty young things, including Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Matt Bomer and Cillian Murphy; plus the sound sci-fi sensibilities of writer/director Andrew Niccol ("Gattaca," "The Truman Show") and appropriately stylized cinematography by Roger Deakins ("True Grit," "The Reader")? "In Time" is what, a complex, visually appealing sci-fi thriller that has audiences and critics somewhat divided. (The critical collective over at Rotten Tomatoes is at 36 percent rotten, while its audience rating sits at 76 percent fresh.)

Take a few moments to check out the film's ticking points, if you will, as we sift through the "In Time" reviews!

The Story
"The premise builds on the notion that time is money. In the movie's dystopian future, where today's cars have tomorrow's grilles, time has replaced money. People are born with genetic clocks that stop at the age of 25; after that they've got one year in which to beg, borrow, steal or even earn more time. If they don't, the digital clocks embedded in their forearms dwindle down to zero and they time out, i.e., die. That's clever, right? But then there are roving gangs called Minute Men (Teddy Boy types out of 'A Clockwork Orange') who steal time; the borderline-silly spectacle of almost everyone looking 25; the polemic element of social injustice (the richest of the rich can live forever because they've got eons socked away); and the action-adventure element, a clumsy amalgam of Robin Hood, 'Bonnie and Clyde,' 'The Avengers,' 'Les Misérables,' 'Dick Tracy' (for the color and graphics) and Mr. Niccol's earlier, and impressive, genetic-engineering opus 'Gattaca.' " — Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

The Sci-Fi Confusion/ High-Concept Factor
"For a movie about the importance of maximizing every second, 'In Time' ultimately grows repetitive and wears out its welcome. It's fast-paced and hugely stylish, though, with its great-looking cast and a mix of gleaming, futuristic visuals and grimy, industrial chic. And it's a welcome return to the kind of slick sci-fi Niccol made his name on in the mid-'90s with 'Gattaca' and 'The Truman Show' (which he wrote). But his high-concept premise raises several nagging questions. Why do all the inhabitants of this dystopian world (which happens to look just like downtown Los Angeles and Century City) stop aging at 25, then find themselves with only a year left unless they can buy themselves more? When did this start — what is the purpose? And if Justin Timberlake is so busy working in a factory just so he can afford to live one day to the next, where does he find time to go to the gym?" — Christy Lemire, The Associated Press

The Performances
"There are moguls who are mean and have more time than God, which they bank in banks. Chief among them is a calculatingly evil Philippe Weis ('Mad Men's' Vincent Kartheiser, well-turned-out here too), with daughter Sylvia (Seyfried) the apple of Daddy's eye — although whether he loves her or time more will be tested. There are regular bad guys, time thieves called Minutemen, led by Alex Pettyfer, who seems to be getting a little too comfortable in bad-guy roles ('Beastly,' 'Tormented'), as Fortis. Meanwhile, inflation is rampant; the class divide is growing ever wider; the world is ripe for an action hero. Cue Timberlake. 'In Time' was supposed to turn Timberlake into a superhero, though given the way he manages a fairly massive pop career with an increasingly impressive acting portfolio ('Social Network' most recently), that may not be necessary. He brings an interesting sensibility to his characters, Will included, that suggest a complex interior that 'In Time' never quite reveals. The same goes for Seyfried ('Mamma Mia!,' 'Red Riding Hood'), who can do a lot more than use those big eyes and sleek lines." — Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

The Final Word, Pro-Con-Pro Style
"There's plenty to enjoy about that genre standard, which, with the help of the cinematographer Roger Deakins (shooting in digital), Mr. Niccol transforms into a neonoir gaudily washed in green and gold. There's a memorable night scene when Will and Sylvia sprint across a succession of roofs pursued by Raymond, the camera racing parallel with the couple, the exuberance of their freedom and flight palpable. Here, as in other scenes where Mr. Niccol let his images do the talking, the movie works, despite its wavering tone and slow-and-go energy. But then the characters open their mouths and start going on about minutes and hours, clocks and watches, and their time running out and not having enough time and where's my time, don't waste my time, that time will get you killed, brother can you spare some time because, well, I'm all out." — Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

"One problem with 'In Time' is that it's more fun to describe than to sit through. Another is that Niccol's direction of his cast is spotty at best. Timberlake has the steely visage and stubbled cheeks for a rogue hero, but Seyfried, always a watchable presence, has trouble connecting with Sylvia's inner rebellious streak or, for that matter, lending urgency to her line readings. The film's crucial failing, though, is that Niccol's imagination is vigorously literary but not thrillingly cinematic. The movie exhausts its capital about halfway through — devolving, as the Timekeeper tracks the lovers on the run, into a series of car chases and foot races, none of them very spiffily executed. If you're like me, you will be captivated by the first hour and, after that, impatiently checking your watch." — Richard Corliss, Time

"Even if 'In Time' descends from its gripping and thought-provoking premise into a mediocre chase thriller before it's over, it's still pretty damn satisfying to watch in the current climate. Of course the contradictions of capitalism are just as present in eras of widespread affluence as in eras of recession or stagnation, but we see them a hell of a lot more clearly at the moment. Niccol is dramatizing the human costs of the concentration of wealth, expressed by Philippe in the film with the formula that some must die so others can live forever. Somewhere Marx quips that capital is immortal even if its possessors are not; this movie's imaginative leap is to conflate the two and build a world where even death, the great leveler in human affairs, can be bought off." — Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

Check out everything we've got on "In Time."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1673384/in-time-justin-timberlake-reviews.jhtml

Jill Arrington Jill Wagner Joanna Krupa Joanne Montanez Jodi Lyn OKeefe

Pet Tags

Man, I'm so irritated.

I just received four pets tags that I ordered for Bev and Mary Margaret (two for Brooklyn and two for LA) and they're all messed up. Not only did they leave off the "Margaret" on Mary Margaret's tags, but the text isn't centered correctly and runs off the right side on all four of them. (The last letter of the address is cut in half.) The tags themselves are also ugly. The edges aren't smoothed out... they look like someone just cut them from a piece of sheet metal and called it a day.

So anyway, I got them this morning on my way to Starbucks (yesterday's mail), so while I was there, I started drafting a strongly-worded letter in my head, like what I was going to say to these people when I sent them back.

And then I saw it.

In tiny print on the bottom of the invoice it said, "Our handicapped employees appreciate your order."

So now I can't send them back. If I did I'd be a total asshole.

I'm just going to order new ones from someplace else. Any recommendations?

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/5/8/pet-tags.html

Michelle Branch Michelle Malkin Michelle Obama Michelle Rodriguez Michelle Trachtenberg

Jason Voorhees Creeps Up On MTV's Killer Halloween

Terror of Camp Crystal Lake joins Freddy Krueger on our list of horror icons: Vote for the deadliest in our poll!
By Kevin P. Sullivan


Jason Voorhees from "Friday The 13th"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

MTV News kicked off our Killer Halloween with Freddy Krueger on Monday (October 24), but now it's time to take a look at one of his rivals: "Friday the 13th" terror Jason Voorhees. If you're just tuning in, each day we'll profile two of cinema's deadliest serial killers and ask you to help create the ultimate ranking. Each villain will be ranked from 1 to 5 on a number of deadly attributes, so check back all week for new profiles and new polls, and help decide on the deadliest of them all.

Head over to our Movies Blog poll to determine which horror icon has style to die for!

Jason Voorhees
Occupation: Mongoloid

Weapons: Machete, the teenage libido

Arch-Enemies: Swimming, campers, Freddy Kruger

Profile: You know the saying: Hell hath no fury like a mongoloid serial killer with mommy issues. Jason Voorhees has more than a few things he should discuss with a therapist. His mother, a cook at Camp Crystal Lake, lost her mind when Jason drowned and went on a murderous rampage, killing the canoodling counselors and Kevin Bacon in the process.

But Mrs. Voorhees met a very headless end, when one of the counselors decapitated her with a machete, thus handing the camp reigns over to her recently resurrected son, Jason. Wearing a hood over his head to mask his disfigurements, he laid low for a while, hiding out in the woods and a cabin near Crystal Lake. Jason eventually proved more than any sociopathic mother could have ever asked for, killing counselors left and right. He took up that iconic hockey mask in the third installment.

While Jason is known for his slow gait, Detroit Redwings mask and machete, he could just as well be known for his many, many resurrections. Campers at Crystal Lake need to learn a simple equation: dead Jason plus electricity equals alive and pissed-off Jason. After two official deaths, Jason earned supernatural powers of regeneration that made him virtually indestructible. His newfound powers allowed him to be frozen and, in turn, to travel 400 years into the future in "Jason X."

Jason's most recent resurrection came at the razor-sharp hands of Freddy Kruger, who pretended to be Mrs. Voorhees in order to revive Jason. The two eventually faced off, but neither emerged as the clear winner.

Check out everything we've got on "Friday the 13th."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Related Photos

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1673091/halloween-friday-the-13th-jason-voorhees.jhtml

Penélope Cruz

Ke$ha Wants 'Till The World Ends' Remix To 'Take Over Airwaves'

Singer says her collaboration with Britney Spears and Nicki Minaj made a 'supergroup of three hot, strong women.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias


Ke$ha
Photo: MTV News

Earlier this week, Britney Spears, Ke$ha and Nicki Minaj dropped their femme-fatale-friendly remix of the Spears club track "Till the World Ends." The already fun song got super-charged thanks to Minaj's cutting verses and Ke$ha's recognizable vocals.

"I'm a massive fan of both the ladies I share the track with," K told MTV News on Wednesday at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards. "I wrote 'TTWE' for Britney with [producers] Dr. Luke and Max [Martin] and she killed it and I loved it, but I just thought a supergroup of three hot, strong women could just take over the airwaves."

Ke$ha went on to give props to both the ladies. "I'm such a massive fan of Britney and I'm such a massive supporter of Nicki and a fan, and chicks sometimes don't team up. I don't know why, but I'm, like, huge on the girl power, so I just wanted to make a power girl track take over."



The remix quickly won praise from fans who seem to think the new features step up the song's game. "You know, with the three of us, I wasn't necessarily surprised [people like it] because I'm such a massive fan of Nicki Minaj and obviously with Britney I'm a fan of it, [taking] myself out of the equation," she said. "I'm just happy people like it."



So did Ke$ha (who once sang backup for Spears) feel any pressure writing a song for Britney? "There was no pressure. Writing for somebody else is really fun 'cause I consider myself a songwriter first and foremost," she explained. "So it was so much fun to put my brain in the sexy Britney Spears brain and express myself almost as if I were possessed by her."

Related Artists

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662875/kesha-britney-spears-til-the-world-ends-remix.jhtml

Krista Allen Kristanna Loken Kristen Bell Kristin Cavallari Kristin Kreuk

Gucci Mane Denied Early Release, Hit With Civil Suit

Rapper offered to perform at a women's shelter in exchange for a reduction in his sentence.
By Alvin Blanco


Gucci Mane
Photo: Warner Records

Any early welcome-home parties for Gucci Mane need to be put on hold. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the "Wasted" rapper's attempt to have his jail sentence reduced in half was denied Friday (October 28) by DeKalb State Court Judge Eleanor Ross.

Gucci (born Radric Davis) is currently serving a six-month sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of battery, two counts of reckless conduct and one count of disorderly conduct for pushing a woman out of a moving vehicle back in January.

After picking up a woman at the South Dekalb Mall under the pretense of going to breakfast, Gucci instead invited her to a tryst at a hotel. Gucci allegedly pushed the woman out of his Hummer when she refused his advances and asked to be driven back to the mall. Gucci wasn't arrested for the incident until April and was sentenced in September.

On Friday, Gucci's lawyer suggested that his client would hold a concert to benefit the DeKalb County Battered Women's Shelter in exchange for a reduction in his sentence. Judge Ross' response: "I don't think it would be appropriate to let him out just because he's a rapper."

That wasn't the end of Gucci's bad news for the day: Moments after having his motion for a reduced sentence denied, he learned that he was also facing a civil suit from the victim, who identified him by the tattoo of an ice-cream cone on his face.

In August, Gucci released Ferrari Boyz, a collaborative album with fellow 1017 Brick Squad member Waka Flocka Flame. Last week, Waka tweeted, "Gucci home," leading many to believe Gucci had been released early. Upon his actual release, Gucci will be required to complete 12 weeks of anger management courses and pay $5,091 to cover the victim's medical bills and a $3,000 fine.

Related Artists

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1673388/gucci-mane-denied-release-civil-suit.jhtml

Sara Spraker Sarah Gellman Sarah Michelle Gellar Sarah Mutch Jill Arrington

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'Rum Diary' A 'Love Letter To Hunter,' Johnny Depp Says

Aaron Eckhart and Giovanni Ribisi also talk about writer Hunter S. Thompson's impact on the film.
By Ahsika Sanders, with reporting by Kara Warner


Johnny Depp in "The Rum Diary"
Photo: FilmDistrict

From the first few moments of the trailer's island music, bright colors and eye-catching castmembers, "The Rum Diary" looks like a whimsical vacation to paradise realized onscreen.

Based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson during the author's own travels to Puerto Rico in the late '50s, the film casts "Pirates of the Caribbean" leading man Johnny Depp as the writer Paul Kemp, who struggles to find a balance between work, play and the island's increasingly tumultuous politics.

When MTV News caught up with the film's stars, they explained how the film is a fitting tribute to Thompson's final story, as well as to his legacy.

"The whole thing is really a love letter to Hunter," said Depp, whose friendship with Thompson led to the discovery of the late author's unpublished manuscript and eventually the idea to make it into a film. "The film from the very inception, opening that cardboard box and finding the manuscript to 'The Rum Diary' and saying to Hunter, 'What's wrong with you? Why don't you publish this?' and him saying, 'Well we should produce this,' the chain of events that happened over the years and then us trying ignorantly to drum up the money was just a very funny experience," Depp said of the story's journey from page to screen.

"Even though my partner is not right next to me, we're going to still produce this film together, and ultimately we did," Depp said of deciding to move forward with the production after Thompson's death in 2005. "Even if his presence, if he wasn't visible, we still produced the film together."

Aaron Eckhart stars alongside Depp in a second villainous role since his stint as Harvey "Two-Face" Dent in "The Dark Knight." Depp's love and passion for Thompson and his work made the film a more meaningful experience, Eckhart said.

"I think that Johnny has taken up the mantle and has preserved his legacy and is now offering all those people out there who have never heard of Hunter, an opportunity to be familiar with his work," he said. "Hunter was always there. He always had his chair, his empty chair on set with us, and Johnny and [director] Bruce [Robinson] had a ritual that they did every day ... but his spirit was always there."

"Avatar" bad guy Giovanni Ribisi added that, for him, the story was about "having a voice and maintaining your independence and your individuality" and that Thompson's perception of that ideal is universal and timely.

"I think Hunter S. Thompson was such a strong factor in a time in the '60s, he was almost the fulcrum for that [time], where people were waking up," he said. "It was about a rebellion against this capitalist structure and the mise en scene in the story. In the book you know where America is coming and really doing its thing to this beautiful culture Puerto Rico, that setting is just incredible. That for me is what it's about. I think, as much as I hate to say it, I think it's very apropos to today's psychology."

Check out everything we've got on "The Rum Diary."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1673375/rum-diary-johnny-depp.jhtml

Norah Jones Noureen DeWulf Olivia Munn Olivia Wilde Padma Lakshmi