Title: We Live in Time
MPA Rating: R
Director: John Crowley
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh, Grace Delaney
Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins

What It Is: Tobias (Garfield) is just a regular guy working for a cereal company. When he gets hit by a car, the driver, Almut (Pugh), takes him to the hospital—unbeknownst to them, this would be their meet-cute. From there, we embark on their journey through life together. We witness Almut’s battle with cancer, their struggle to conceive, and their ultimate triumph. It’s a love so deep, a once-in-a-lifetime connection—an entire lifetime experienced in a single film.

What We Think: To see the film is to experience it. There’s something beautiful about being let in here. Crowley is always hit or miss—he’s made cinematic brilliance with Brooklyn, only to follow it up with the disappointment of The Goldfinch. Well, I’m happy to report that Crowley is doing fantastic work here, but man, is he helped by two incredible actors in his lead roles.

Garfield and Pugh have electric chemistry. They burn brightly and deliver a wonderful story of a life lived and a love deeply felt. The emotional journey this film takes you on, and the way Crowley once again attempts to put us through the wringer, is remarkable. This is a fantastic film. It is slightly hamstrung by some of the script’s loops, but overall, what a beautifully crafted, well-made picture.

Our Grade: B-, Beautiful work. As I sat there, tears were almost ready to fall—but it didn’t quite get me. I love feeling emotions; they’re usually what pull me through a film like this. But I wasn’t completely there with this one. I enjoyed it—it’s wonderfully acted and truly showcases the talent of its two leads. Crowley, for his part, lets the camera linger and stays out of the way, which is the best approach for a film like this. This is definitely one to check out. A24 has once again struck gold—or at the very least, silver.