Film Lesson 3: Time Travel

Let’s not travel back (or forward) in time in our minds.
Let’s live every day as if we’ve traveled back (or forward) in time to that
specific day to enjoy all of the ordinary and extraordinary moments it presents.

Want to pack as much into the stream of life as possible? Want to live, laugh and love large? Want to live a life truly fulfilled? Watch “About Time” today, and you’ll be on your way.

I’ve seen “About Time” (2013) twice with my loved ones. We just purchased the critically lauded flick on Blu-ray because it’s witty, moving and, ultimately, life-changing.

At the age of 21, Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers he can time travel. Tim’s father (Bill Nighy) tells him the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. Tim can’t change history, but he can change what happens and has happened in his own life.

So as not to spoil the story, I’ll refrain from sharing details such as the method of time travel or any of the film’s brilliantly humorous and touching moments.

I’ll simply leave you with this gem by Tim that’s all About Time:

“And in the end, I think I’ve learned the final lesson from my travels in time. And I’ve even gone one step further than my father did. The truth is, I now don’t travel back at all — not even for the day. I just try to live every day as if I’ve deliberately come back to this one day, to enjoy it, as if it was the full final day of my extraordinary, ordinary life. … We’re all traveling through time together, every day of our lives. All we can do is do our best to relish this remarkable ride.”

Time-travel flick picks

1. “Click” (2006) — Michael Newman (Adam Sandler) — a workaholic whose “intelligent universal remote”
fast-forwards through his life so he can climb the corporate ladder faster — sharing a key life lesson: “Family, family … Family comes first.”

2. “Back to the Future” trilogy (1985, 1989, 1990) — Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox): “Hey, Doc, we better back up. We don’t have enough road to get up to 88 [miles per hour].” Dr. Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd): “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”

3. “Groundhog Day” (1993) — Rita (Andie MacDowell), as Phil Connors (Bill Murray) kisses her over and over, after discovering he has finally passed Groundhog Day: “Phil, why weren’t you like this last night? You just fell asleep.” Phil: “It was the end of a VERY long day.”

4. “Austin Powers” trilogy (1997, 1999, 2002) —
Number Two (Robert Wagner): “Why not use your knowledge of the future to play the stock markets? We could make trillions.” Dr. Evil (Mike Myers):  “Why make a trillion when we could make … billions?”

5. “Planet of the Apes” (1968) — George Taylor (Charlton Heston): “The men who sent us on this journey are long since dead and gone. You who are reading me now are a different breed —
I hope a better one. … Tell me, though. Does man, that marvel of the universe, that glorious paradox who sent me to the stars, still make war against his brother?”
You can reach Whitford at mwhitford@northcoastmedia.net or 216-607-3766.