Set in modern-day America, A Wrinkle in Time poses many relatable elements for people of all ages.
With many aspects of the film to be proud of, director Ava DuVernay did a magnificent job of translating the Madeleine L’Engle novel into an enticing feature-length film.
The best part of the film is undoubtedly the emotion the actors and score are able to portray. With many people on the verge of tears in the theater (numerous times), 14-year-old Storm Reid is able to put on a performance everyone can understand and relate to.
Storm Reid plays Meg Murray, a troubled teenager who is struggling to get her life together due to the disappearance of scientist Alex Murray, her father.
The movie starts four years after the father’s disappearance. He was believed to have been lost in the universe due to a failed attempt at tech-less time travel known as “tessering.” Meg, who was believed to have such a bright future, begins to fall off the face of the earth and close her self off to the world as she tries to cope with the loss of her father.
Meg Murray is such a strong, relatable character because she is a teenage girl who goes through all the struggles that many children face today– including the loss of a loved one, trying to fit in, being bullied and looking after a younger sibling (Charles Wallace).
As Meg tries to adjust to her downward-spiraling life, brother Charles Wallace introduces her to a trio of inspiring women to help on the journey to find her father: Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling) & Mrs. Which (Reese Witherspoon).
The three help guide Meg, Charles Wallace and a new love interest through the universe as they learn to tesser and explore in the search for Alex Murray.
On the journey, A Wrinkle in Time uses a multitude of storytelling techniques to paint a picture for those in the theater, rather than the middle of the universe. The movie’s score has an underlying sense of hope and hurt throughout the film, and there are times when the audio just cuts out and viewers can only hear white noise– adding to the emotion of the film.
CGI in this film is outstanding. With something as intricate and whimsical as exploring the galaxy, DuVernay utilized every frame to create an encapsulating storyline. A Wrinkle in Time‘s plot is extremely abstract, allowing for anything to happen in the movie– allowing for illustration freedom.
Without giving away the storyline, the climax of the movie blindsides viewers while keeping one of the main messages of the movie alive: do not give up hope and realizing your self-worth. Meg Murray spends the whole film trying to grow as a person, and throughout the movie you will see a beautiful character transformation.
Overall, mind-blowing special effects, an emotional score put together by Ramin Djawadi, a relatable plot and ind-depth character transformations, A Wrinkle in Time is definitely worth your time.
While the movie may not be a classic, or award-winning for that matter, it premieres at a pivotal time in society where everyone is learning how to discover themselves and have an impact on the world.
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