The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

Director:

Robert Schwentke

Writers (WGA):

Bruce Joel Rubin (screenplay)
Audrey Niffenegger (novel)

Release Date:

14 August 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A romantic drama about a Chicago librarian with a gene that causes him to involuntarily time travel, and the complications it creates for his marriage. |

Plot Keywords:

Time Travel | Librarian | Premarital Sex | Film Clip | Widower

Cast

Michelle Nolden	...	Annette DeTamble
Alex Ferris	...	Henry at Six
Arliss Howard	...	Richard DeTamble
Eric Bana	...	Henry DeTamble
Katherine Trowell	...	Hospital Receptionist
Bart Bedford	...	Library Researcher
Esther Jun	...	Waitress
Matt Birman	...	Chicago Police #1
Craig Snoyer	...	Chicago Police #2
Rachel McAdams	...	Clare Abshire
Carly Street	...	Librarian
Romyen Tangsubutra	...	Thai Waiter
Brooklynn Proulx	...	Clare at Six and Eight
Jane McLean	...	Charisse
Ron Livingston	...	Gomez

Also Known As:

The Time Traveller's Wife (UK)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, brief disturbing images, nudity and sexuality.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44551) | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Ireland:15A | UK:12A | Argentina:13 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Iceland:12 | Japan:G | South Korea:12 | Mexico:B | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Sweden:7 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Adrien Brody was author's first choice for Henry.

Goofs:

Continuity: During one scene Henry talks to a young Claire in the meadow, she is wearing a dark purple t-shirt with a white pinafore dress. In some shots of Claire a white thread/piece of fluff is clearly visible on the dark background of her purple sleeve, it disappears and reappears between shots.

Quotes:

Clare Abshire: I wouldn't change one second of our life together.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: District 9/The Time Traveler's Wife/The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (#1.24)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Broken

Not The Book, But A Great Movie

8 times and counting. That's how many times I've read the book. The episodic structure of the novel is such that it's easy to dip in and out of, even if you're reading other things. You can quite easily spend an hour or a day with Henry and Claire whenever you wish.

When I found out that they were making a movie of the book, my initial reaction was how? There's far too much to cram into a two hour movie. Surely they'd be better making a mini- series?

The fact is, that they leave a lot of things out of the movie. Characters who you'd assume would be quite important are given very little screen time, or excised completely. Also, the ending of the novel isn't used, only the spirit of the ending. The book's ending was filmed, however, so maybe it'll turn up as a DVD extra for all the purists out there.

You know what though? The movie is great. It's perfectly cast, and instead of concentrating on every minute detail that made the book a joy to read, it concentrates solely on the boy- meets-girl-out-of-time concept, and plays out a love story over an evening-sized slice of time.

Lots of people have complained that their favourite part from the book isn't in it (Rachel's disastrous first date with another man and Henry's revenge for it, The Gomez situation, Ingrid, Christmas at Meadowlark etc) but really, there is enough in this movie to sustain it and to give any newcomers to the story a decent enough reason to run off and read the book to fill in the blanks. Those people especially are in for a treat, as while the movie does have it's moments of high drama, there is a noticeable lack of darkness, which the book has in spades. Also kudos must go to Bruce Joel Rubin for the writing of a brand new scene featuring a time travelling Henry and his mother on a subway train, which slotted in perfectly to the TTW world.

Rachel McAdams makes a stunning Claire, her scenes revolving around the pregnancy issues they have are completely believable and heartfelt. Early reports suggested Eric Bana wasn't up to snuff in his performance of Henry. I can only assume those reviewers had been watching a very rough cut, as I thought he was fantastic. Special mention also to Arliss Howard as Henry's dad, and Stephen Tobolowsky as Kendrick, who both go to demonstrate how scenes can be stolen with very limited screen time.

For everyone who's going in expecting the book, lower your expectations. It isn't the book. What it is, is a condensed version of the main love story from the book, played out perfectly with respect for the text. I enjoyed the movie immensely, and am looking forward to seeing it again. If I want the book, I'll read the book. My imagination is perfectly capable of providing me with the visuals I need. However, from now on, if I want to spend the evening with the DeTambles and let someone else do the work, I'll be watching the movie.