Movie Review by Nigel A. Messenger
Starring: Roy Scheider, Dina Meyer, William McNamara, Henry Rollins, Adoni Maropis
Director: David Worth
Agent Clayton Pierce (William McNamara) accidentally uncovers a plot to sell a nuclear device to terrorists while working undercover on what he thinks is a drugs deal. Clayton has a photographic memory and is an extremely accomplished agent so when he starts to forget certain facts about his past he knows something is very wrong. He goes home to his wife Kate (Dina Meyer) only to find that they have been divorced for three years and he no longer lives at his wife’s address. Kate however helps him anyway and together they begin to realise that he has been drugged with a substance that will shortly wipe out his memory altogether. But who has drugged him? Was it one of the terrorists while working undercover or was it one of his trusted colleagues and why has he been attacked.
If you haven’t read the story outline before you watch TIME LAPSE the first fifteen minutes or so might seem confusing to say the least. It’s not helped by the fact that the story starts half way through with the opening scene and then jumps back several days earlier to show us how Clayton got to that point. The opening scene is then repeated at the half way point and the story continues.
It’s a nice touch but does add to the confusion until you get into the story. The gradual memory loss Clayton suffers is somewhat reminiscent of MOMENTO although that was an altogether different movie filmed from a unique perspective. Dina Meyer who plays Clayton’s wife Kate is particularly outstanding. She has previously been in the sci-fi blockbuster STARSHIP TROOPERS and I do hope we see more of her on screen in the future. Roy Scheider is…well…Roy Scheider, an always solid actor who you can’t help feel is being under-used if he’s not the lead character.
So if you’ve read this review then you’ll be fully equipped with the knowledge necessary to enjoy what is bound to be an underrated movie.
