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Bookmark this pageSomewhere in Time (1980)
Director: Jeannot Szwarc
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Adapting his own novel Bid Time Return, and with characteristic indifference to current film taste, Richard Matheson has here provided one of the most idiosyncratic scripts of 1980, about a writer who wills himself back in time to the early 1900s in order to fall in love with a distinguished actress. In its unashamed romanticism, this is the kind of thing David O Selznick was producing in the 1940s; but scripts cannot make themselves, and Somewhere in Time is cursed with truly atrocious staging, plus Christopher Reeve looking awkwardly man-of-steelish as the hero. A few emotional echoes remain, and one climactic coup in which the hero is dragged forward in time; otherwise this must go down as a missed opportunity.Author: DP
User reviews of this film
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- Joy said...
- Posted on Jan 11 2010 16:58 This is my favorite move of ALL TIME! I have loved it since I was a young girl, and no other movie has knocked it off the top of my list. I recommend it to everyone I am able to. Not only does Christopher Reeve offer a stunning performance, but Jane Semour is simply spectacular. This is the movie that first introduced me to JS and her great acting, as well as the one that showed me CR had a sensitive side. The soundtrack is amazing. I have owned it first on cassette, then CD, and now have it in my MP4 collection. I do agree there are inconsistencies, but the whole premise assumed when watching any move is that you are suspending belief for the period of the film. Further, is that not why people are also able to be die-hard fans of, say, movies such as Die Hard and all of it's repetitive sequels? I highly recommend this classic, timeless romance.
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- kel said...
- Posted on Mar 06 2009 13:56 yep, best film EVER! Reeve & Seymour seem truly in love! amazing film and the soundtrack is sooo haunting. If you only ever watch one time travel film make it this one!
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- Anscombe said...
- Posted on Oct 01 2008 15:46 This film was heavily criticised on its release. And most of this criticism is justified. The film *is* ridiculous, and utterly manipulative - not a moment goes by when we are not told what to think and what to feel by the music and direction. It centres on a relationship between two people that we never get to know, and is, as the Time Out review notes, not very well staged. And yet. This is perhaps the most emotionally wrenching film I have ever seen. It manages, almost in spite of itself, to convey something profoundly intense and intensely profound about what it is to be in love. Every time I watch it I do not merely cry but weep from beginning to end, and often for several hours after. No other film has had this kind of effect on me. And in this I am not alone. The film is both utter rubbish and a transcendental masterpiece - one of the worst films I have seen, and one of the most remarkable films of all time.
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- Ray said...
- Posted on Sep 16 2008 14:40 Ok Ok dont usually like this kind of movie, must have been in a mushy mood... loved the screenplay loved the music loved the period loved the setting... can somebody tell me who owned the watch...?
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- mike said...
- Posted on Jan 01 2008 06:36 CHRISTOPHER Reeve's best performance
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- trans4 said...
- Posted on Dec 27 2007 23:52 I can see that the science in people may poo poo this film, but it is truly excellent in what it wants to achieve - being a love story. John Barry's soundtrack is magical and performances by all are moving (I think Reeves finest hour). Add to this a beautiful setting, a great sunday afternoon film for all!
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- DINA said...
- Posted on Sep 26 2007 14:16 BEST ROMATIC FILM OF ALL TIME, BAR NONE!! GOES AGAINS'T THE GRAIN AND IS ALL THE BETTER FOR IT. CAN'T HELP FEELING A REAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO LEADING ACTORS. BEST FILM OF THE EIGHTIES AND THAT IS SAYING SOMETHING!!!! JOHN BARRY'S SOUNDTRACK IS ALSO EXCEPTIONAL!
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Cast & crew
Director: Jeannot Szwarc
Producer: Stephen Deutsch
Cast: Christopher Reeve, Christopher Plummer, Jane Seymour, Teresa Wright, Bill Erwin, George Voskovec full cast
Duration: 104 mins
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