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The Color of Time is a James Franco produced production that was collaborated with his NYU film students. It’s a project I would have failed the entire class for. The film depicts the life journey of Pulitzer prize-winning poet Ck Williams. The story chronicles Williams’ life  through blending together adaptations of 11 of his poems.  The film begins with Williams getting ready to read his compilation to a classroom of students in New York City. The poetic journey chronicles his close relationship with his mother, continuing by delving into his relationships, especially the one with his wife Catherine. It also explores his first sexual encounters. All of this takes place between the 1940’s and 1980’s. It’s a roller-coaster through time that few can keep up with.

 

This is a bad movie. From the opening scenes confusion ensues.  The film is all over the place, and lack any sort of continuity. Visually it attempt to go for the grainy 1970’s cinematic color and feel. Instead it ends up looking like footage shot on a cheap camera you would find in a pawn shop. The dialogue is vague, and most of time confusing. Loaded with poetic excerpts, it doesn’t hold to what’s portrayed on screen. This is the sort of film that has you wondering how it was ever released outside a classroom?

 

 

Acting is the strong point of this underwhelming film. James Franco is the lead, with Mila Kunis, and Jessica Chastain in supporting roles. Rounding out the cast are Zach Braff and Bruce Campbell. There is no shortage of talented big names, unfortunately the film script doesn’t allow them to showcase their talent. The amateur nature of this film shines in in the most noticeable ways. The actor that plays Franco as a young adult looks nothing like Franco. You would think James could have gotten his younger brother Dave to step into the role of playing the younger version of James? The script isn’t the only problem this project has, clearly this is an experimental film that had no direction. Color of Time boasts an ensemble of 11 writers and directors, or basically the entire classroom had their hands in this disaster. All those cooks in the kitchen can’t even come up with an appetizer. The movie is all over the place. Inconsistent and dull from beginning to end.

 

Color of money is 73 minutes of pure boredom. Nothing interesting or relevant happens in the film. The movie portrays Ck Williams as a weirdo. Not only does the story jump back between four decades with no consistency, but events depicted have little purpose to move the film along. I will be mindful that these are students that put this film together, however Franco had no business seeking distribution and taking it outside of class. Franco is straying away from what makes him a successful actor. Granted, he’s been known to partake in independent and experimental films, doing a few more movies like Color of Time can lead to speculation about his credibility as an artist. This is an awful film, that doesn’t deserve to be taken for anything more than just being a student film. Franco has a lot of guts to attach his name to this nonsense. The Color of Time, is a pure waste of time. Ck Williams must be rolling around in his grave.

 

The Color of Time- 2.5 out of 10! 

Waste of big name talent