“Time Out of Mind” was the second film during the Phoenix Film Society’s inaugural Summer Showcase on August 10 – 13th. The second film in the series, Time Out of Mind is now on home video.
Instinctively, we know to look out for each other. This is a fundamental truth of humanity. When our lives improve our tendency to watch out for each other diminishes. What happens when you lose everything and have to just survive?
Oren Moverman’s Time Out of Mind is a powerful exploration of homeless life in a system that is not equipped to help get people back on their feet. Actor – producer Richard Gere plays George, a homeless, mentally-ill man on the streets of New York City trying to rebuild his life and establish a relationship with his estranged daughter, Maggie (Jena Malone).
Moverman’s screenplay (based on a story by Moverman and Jeffrey Caine) is a journey rather than a story, compelling you to watch it unfold. Gere’s emotionally raw performance is supported by veteran Broadway stage actor Ben Vereen and Kyra Sedgewick in Oscar-worthy roles.
Bobby Bukowski’s cinematography, with its intentional camera movements and lens choices along with Felix Andrew’s dynamic sound design are viscerally a part of George’s journey. Instead of a traditional score, the movie makes use of several popular songs, helping to frame the emotion of the moment.
As compelling as Mind is, it is intentionally uncomfortable to watch. Moverman, smartly, requires us to look inside ourselves to see the journey through to its logical conclusion.