Needle in a Timestack

It's not as bad as the critics bang on, but it's not something you need to see twice either. The cast was good and it was reasonably well shot - particularly the clever way the futuristic component was treated without the need for elaborate effects. However, it has one those endings that is utterly unsatisfying. The writing left a bit to be desired, loads of cliches. Not to mention the holes in the whole time travel plot.

It was watchable, but beyond that a very flawed movie. It's probably the slowest film I've ever watched, it just never got going. Time travel always has its problems but a sci-fi film should at least try to mitigate the worst contradictions - this film didn't bother. The idea that anyone with enough money would be allowed to pop down the local time-travel centre and go back to any place, any time, unsupervised and change the past and therefore the present, is frankly ridiculous. "It's illegal to change the past", yeah, but since the film also makes a big thing about forgetting your memories a few seconds after a time change, who is going to know something illegal has been done, how and who did it? It would simply not be allowed. On top of that I agree with the critic's review about it being about men owning women. Whilst the two men fight like rutting boars over prize no.1 and dumping the loser with wooden-spoon girl (despite her coming over as a better catch), prize no.1 - Janine - comes across as a bit dim, dismissing the idea that someone who has tried to change time already won't do it again and wipe out her happy life, whilst confessing feelings for her ex to her terrified (and insecure) partner. A dark ending could've made the film something special, I half expected it when Nick was sat in the diner with his sister having lost everything, that would have been thought provoking, but of course we had to have the fairytale ending and I'm starting to wonder whether 2 stars is too generous.

Slow. Pedantic Time trave I love but went for slick and artsy but no tension The story needs tension. The cast is too good for this.

I think it was a good love story, the main character, could've been casted better with Idris Elba or Daniel Kaluuya. Either way, powerful performances!

1.5 out of 5 stars. Interesting concept with a romantic story and sci fi mixed. About time phases and shifts that can change at any given moment. The plot is horrible. The script and direction fails with the idea of changing the past and changing the future. The acting is decent. The film is boring.

Not sure why the critics had their underwear in a bunch, as this is a good movie. The time-travel is incidental to the romance/drama. Perhaps some were looking for another Tenet or End Game. Nevertheless, it is well-acted and really explores those what-ifs we all pursue mentally against a backdrop of how much in our lives is truly driven by fate. No spoilers from this quarter. Watching without reading any reviews is certainly the way to go here.

Time travel movie with talented actors, that talks about the beginning of relationships can be fickle, and it takes a commitment of people to maintain it. However, it has a subtle tone of manipulation. Where any relationship, minus one (sister/brother), one party for their own benefit under the guise of "I want you to be happy" will change the past.

Time travel movies are hard for me to endure anyway - but this one is a drudge of jumping back into the past to affect the future. Odom Jr. is just so dang serious it's painful.

Two black leads is one reason for the lower than deserved ratings. The only issue I had with the story is being confused about if we want the main protagonist to be with the woman he supposedly loves—which is kind of the #1 rule in romance. But given this is also ACI-if/fantasy, confusion is a common trope. This movie's twists and turns were worth the pay off IMO. And society still can't handle the centering of black people in a narrative and having their needs be paramount. Hopefully we'll get there one day.

I disagree with the critic reviews. I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Leslie Odom Jr's performance was outstanding! His portrayal of Nick's full range of emotions from bliss to grief brought the hazards and threats of time travel to life. He is able to communicate so much through his expressions without saying a word. Cynthia Erivo delivers as a loving wife and accomplished women. Who wouldn't absolutely adore her character Janine! Erivo and Odom's onscreen chemistry is magical. Jaydon Wong as the supportive sister is consistently powerful. Admittedly, sci-fi time travel films will always have some outlier flaw that leave its viewers wondering. However, John Ridley's stylish time travel sci fi story kept my attention, made me care about the characters and their fate. The soundtrack and the diverse casting was also amazing!