Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of Armageddon Time, we’re counting down our favorite movies with “Time” in the title! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
I have been waiting for the opportunity to talk about Netflix’s 2020 film, The Devil All the Time. The film is a period piece set in a time after World War II — it follows the lives of some truly compelling characters whose stories all converge around each other. One of the highlights of this film is Tom Holland, who plays Arvin. This is a performance that shows off his insane talent. If you only have seen him as Peter Parker in the MCU, Arvin will be quite jarring for you. Robert Pattinson also delivers one hell of a performance that solidified his casting as Batman for me, and it shows how much he has grown as an actor since his Twilight days. There are insanely talented actors in this film who also deliver excellent performances, including Sebastian Stan, Bill Skarsgård, Jason Clarke, Eliza Scanlen, and many others. The Devil All the Time seems to have largely flown under the radar, but it is truly a film you don’t want to miss. (Austen Terry)
When did we all realize Matthew McConaughey was a great actor? Some might say The Lincoln Lawyer, but there was a ‘90s film where he played a lawyer that told us that long before. A John Grisham novel… Joel Schumacher directing… A Time to Kill. This southern courtroom drama is thrilling, brash, and jam-packed with a stellar cast. The story surely gives the audience a scenario where it was a time to kill. A young Black girl rapped mercilessly. A vengeful father, played by Samuel L. Jackson. Only McConaughey is there to defend his actions. This is a compelling tale. Jackson delivers one of the most impactful lines in the history of cinema. There are riots, Klansmen, and arson all over the place. Is it over the top? Sure… but there are few courtroom dramas with this much drama and excitement. Schumacher’s flashy direction sets this apart from more tight-laced and subdued films with similar concepts. But most importantly… “FREE CARL LEE!” (Shane Conto)
Way before Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern, and Sam Neil were chasing and running from from Dinos, there existed a film that managed to not only incorporate the chilling existence of the jurassic age, but somehow work in the geopolitical and subtle classism of the current day all in a wonderful film: The Land Before Time. This is a jam everyone should be required to follow as Cera (Candace Hutson), Littlefoot (Gabriel Damon), and Ducky (Judith Barsi), navigate a journey way beyond their years to a new world. Which, speaking of, watching this as an adult versus watching way back when I was a child, is way more tear jerking than I remembered! I highly recommend a glass of wine, buckling in for a trip down memory lane, and enjoying every second of Ducky’s adorableness! (Matt Lawson)
1960’s The Time Machine, an adaptation of H.G Wells’s novella about a machine that can travel through time, paved the way for a lot of modern science fiction stories with the time travel logic used and lessons about humanity. I like the gradual introduction to the concept of traveling through time. It’s a lot like pressing the fast-forward button on life, and you can see things age before your eyes. Despite taking place entirely on earth, the story has the feel of a Star Trek episode, as the main character, H. George Wells (Rod Taylor) discovers that in the very distant future, the human race has become divided; some have given up trying to learn anything, while the rest live as cannibals underground. The effects seen when Taylor travels through time have aged extremely well. The stop-motion effects in this movie are better than some movies made 20 years later. It’s also interesting that George stops in two other periods before the distant future, and neither are good. Yet George maintains his faith in humanity and believes their failure is only due to them not learning anything. I also need to mention the performance of Alan Young as two characters in this; you feel his connection with George throughout the story as both his friend and as that friend’s son. (John Tillyard)
When About Time was initially released, the marketing focused on the rom-com angle, leaning into the connection between the creators of this and things like Love Actually and Notting Hill. What if Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) could use his family’s (well, at least the men) powers to time travel to get the girl? It’s probably why I didn’t get around to it earlier. The actual truth of the film is so much deeper than that — and much more devastating than the rom-com connections would lead audiences to believe. The exploration of time as a resource, specifically within the constraints this world’s rules place on it, allows for a powerful exploration of love, relationships, and family. Gleeson and Rachel McAdams are great together, but it’s Tim’s relationship with his father, played by Bill Nighy, that will Temple of Doom you. It’s a film that seems to grow in esteem more and more as time passes — and with good reason. (Jake Bourgeois)
One last hurrah for Daniel Craig as James Bond couldn’t have ended on a better note. No Time to Die has the most famous movie spy coming to terms with loss and face him with yet another challenging villain, portrayed by Rami Malek. And you can discuss whether Malek does a good job (I think he’s alright), but in his final film, I finally understood the love for Craig as Bond because his movies are more connected than before. And since Craig has always been an amazing actor, he sells those emotional moments and adds gravitas to his final James Bond performance. I also love that we get several action sequences, all taking place in different locations and terrains entirely (from the woods to a remote island), and each feeling unique. The supporting cast is also stellar; from Lashana Lynch and Jeffrey Wright, to Ana de Armas, they all do what they are supposed to, with one exception — I would love to see more of de Armas in this film. No Time to Die is a worthy Bond movie, one of the best of Craig’s era, and the perfect end for his tenure as 007; and that’s coming from someone who considered him the weakest Bond by far. This sentence alone should tell you how much I enjoyed this film. Also, the song by Billie Eilish slaps. (Luke Burian)
There are films that convey time frantically and within the moment, there is no other film that perfectly captures this like The Safdie Brothers Film, Good Time (2017). When a bank robbery goes awry and Connie’s brother Nick gets apprehended by the authorities, he must hustle with every fiber of his being to get him out of jail as soon as humanly possible. The way time is conveyed and the rapid succession of events taking place is jarring in the most satisfying way. The viewer can feel the desperation in Connie’s actions and shows the only likable trait that Connie has, the love and protection of his brother. Another aspect that builds tension is the overall atmosphere with the smokiness of the city paired with the neon lighting that is very reminiscent of Walter Hill’s style of filmmaking. The frenetic energy paired with the detailed city atmosphere helps shape this film into something so memorable. Good Time is relentless with its pacing and locks the viewer into each moment that takes place within the film. (Joe Vargas)
A perfect choice for a Best Ever Challenge about time, Once Upon a Time in America plays brilliantly with the concept, jumping between decades, and showcasing New York in the 1910s, 1930s and 1960s. It’s also likely the longest movie on this list by a wide margin, clocking in at 229 minutes, after Sergio Leone was pressured by distributors to reduce the original 269-minute cut. Be sure to avoid the American release, which butchers it down to 139 minutes and rearranges scenes into chronological order. Leone brings his trademark Spaghetti Western feel to 20th century New York, as young Jewish ghetto residents play the outlaw roles growing into influential gangsters during the rise of organized crime. The time jumps are utilized impactfully for storytelling, with one decade informing the other. Robert De Niro stars as Noodles, who first flees town, but then returns 35 years later. He is the standout of the movie, and James Woods also shines as his best friend Max, but the casting of the young roles is also crucial. The child actors are tasked with carrying much of the first half, and they live up to the challenge, highlighted by an outstanding career debut from Jennifer Connelly. This movie is not for the faint of heart, with many scenes being viscerally difficult to watch, but it is powerful. Leone’s final film has his typical flair for excellent cinematography, dynamic use of music, and inviting set design. The 229-minute runtime is indulgent, but it shines in those indulgences. (Jason Mack)
Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,tells the story of a fading actor and his stunt double, figuring out the ever-changing movie industry with Sharon Tate’s murder looming in the background. It’s Tarantino’s ode of the 1960s, the final moments of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The stellar cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt in his Academy Award-winning performance, and Margot Robbie as the tragically beautiful Sharon Tate. The intertwining stories of Rick Dalton (DiCaprio), Cliff Booth (Pitt), and Tate carry this movie. Even though we know what happens to the “real” people in this film, the audience gets a chance to explore their world. The story has us believing we knew what devastating direction Tarantino was going for. Still, in Tarantino style, he has us jolting out of our seats at the unexpected twist at the end. The film is nostalgia wrapped up in 161 minutes: the sounds, the cars, the clothes, and retro landmarks. Tarantino gives flowers to the world the director once knew and loved. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is an over-the-top, bloody, good “time” of a film, and I still wish the ending was real. (Chantal Ashford)
I’ve only seen a handful of westerns, but there’s something about Sergio Leone’s that stand out above the rest. He’s made some of the best westerns ever, and it’s hard to pick which one stands above the rest. I’m here to make the argument for Once Upon a Time in the West. It doesn’t have Clint Eastwood, perhaps at the very height of his powers, but Henry Fonda is fantastic. Charles Bronson, as Harmonica, does a great job of finding a way to get even with Fonda’s Frank. All of this with Cheyenne (Jason Robards) trying to clear his name from a killing he didn’t commit. Combine that with a complicated story and Leone’s expert direction, and you have a unique movie that has only gotten better with age. Showered with accolades of being one of the best movies ever created, this is another feather in Leone’s cap for being the master of making the epic western movie. (Mike Hilty)
Hot Tub Time Machine
It’s human nature to ruminate over past scenarios and wonder how life would change had you acted differently. Hot Tub Time Machine indulges that fantasy, by following a man, his nephew, and two friends as they time travel from 2010 to 1986. Along the way, the guys are forced to confront bullies, ex-girlfriends, and failed dreams — and they must decide whether to let things play out as they should, or give in to the temptation to act differently and permanently change the future. It embraces all the fun of time travel movies, like the danger of messing with the butterfly effect, and the confusion that happens when present day references are made in the past, without overdoing it or being too cheesy. Themes of personal growth, friendship, and family are seamlessly sprinkled into the hilarious plot. And the killer ‘80s soundtrack that includes David Bowie, Talking Heads, Salt N Pepa, and Mötley Crüe adds to the overall fun of Hot Tub Time Machine, which would be best enjoyed with a cold beer (or an energy drink with suspicious ingredients). (Diana Gebbia)
In Time
In Time, starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, with Cillian Murphy and Olivia Wilde, is sitting with a 37% Rotten Tomatoes critics score, and a 51% audience score, but a solid 6.7 on IMdB, and I have to ask, why have all of you slept on this perfectly fine movie? Set in the future where time is the new currency, you have a countdown on your arm, and as long as you have time, you live; if it reaches zero, you die. It’s perfect analogy for how much importance society places on money. It costs money in the world to live. This universe is just like, BAM, you know when you’re about to bite the big one, unless you get out there and earn your time. Go and read some other reviews on it. The “bad reviews” say it’s movie is fine. You know what? That’s all a movie needs to be. Just enjoy it. Fine is GOOD people. It’s out streaming on Amazon Prime and Hulu, so go watch it now. I have time. (Frank Kemp)
Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel
Chances are, if you’ve seen your share of time travel movies, you’ve generally overthought a few of them. What are the implications of the way time travel works? Or, how would certain branches of time have responded to the actions of character? Or, what happened to things the movie didn’t address directly and how would that have affected the plot? All very reasonable questions, and Frequently Asked Question About Time Travel does its best to load as many of those questions and ideas into one screenplay, which takes place in one pub in England, where three regulars find themselves thrown into an adventure through space-time. So what it has is a lot of ideas to play around with — what it does not have is the budget to really give those ideas scale. If you pull the trigger on watching it, do so with the understanding that it’s a movie whose execution is much more limited than its premise, and you may find yourself having a good time. (Chris Bakker)
The Time Traveler’s Wife
You want a simple love story about how the connection between two people can transcend time and space? Watch The Time Traveler’s Wife. Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana do a lot with a pretty dense script. The two show off an endearing chemistry as a husband and wife limited by his condition of unintentionally hopping through time. This unique premise also keeps the audience intrigued about the journey through time with our two protagonists. As we learn more about this time traveler’s condition, the world becomes full of rich detail that makes us want to stay and learn about others with his condition. Here’s hoping we eventually get that promised sequel! (Sam Nichols)