Time travel films are always something the audiences love. It’s the thrill of the journey and the way time travel is shown which makes the film worth the watch. ‘57 Seconds’ comes with a promise of good time travel film. The film may not have done wonders at the ticket windows, but when it released on OTT, it ended up trending on top of G♍oogle Trends for quite a while. So, what is the fuss about this film all about? Let’s find out.
‘57 Seconds’: Story
A small-time blogger Franklin (Josh Hutcherson) thwarts an attack against Anton Burrell (Morgan Freeman), a visionary tech guru. When asked about what he wanted in exchange, Franklin asks for Burrell’s interview for his blog. However, soon afterwards, Franklin finds out that Burrell dropped his ring. After a bit, Franklin realises that the ring has powers to turn back time by 57 seconds. With this newfound power, Frankin now decides to take revenꦛge against a pharmaceutical company, who were responsible for the death of his twin sister. The rest of the story revolves around his conflict with what’s goodꦦ and what’s bad.
‘57 Seconds’: Performances
If you’re watching ‘57 Seconds’ thinking that it’s a Morgan Freeman film, then you will sadly be disappointed. Morgan Freeman is barely the🐈re is a few scenes. However, his towering presence shows off every time he is on screen. He makes the most of a character that’s half-baked and not written too well with a background or an inherent essence. It felt 🐈really bad to see Morgan Freeman try his level best to make the character come out with flying colours but sadly, it wasn’t just enough.
Josh Hutcherson tries to carry the film on his shoulders but the character doesn’t have too much depth for him t𝓡o portray it authentically. Add to that the act that he has to put up during or after the time travel is something that seems so fake.
None of the other 🙈supporting characters have a standout performance which is even a little bit noteworthy.
‘57 Seconds’: Script, Direction & Technical Aspects
Macon Blair and Rusty Cundieff’s screenplay based on E.C. Tubb’s short story actually has a very thrilling feel to it. Even though it’s quite predictable, ဣyet the way the time travel is written into the story is quite good. You actually start putting that into your own daily life and start imagining what if I get a second chance at rectifying my small mistakes here and there by going back in time 57 seconds.
But the novelty of the writing is killed by some pathetic direction by Rusty Cundieff. Right from the very start it opens up like B-Grade film and it keeps sinking further and further below. The visual effects of a plane crash, or even the time when people are experiencing the time travel is so terrible that you’re left wondering why are you even watching this film. The story’s predictability could have been very well hidden by some adept direction. Sadly, that didn’t happen. On the contrary, the way the actors are made to act or rather react to the time travel scene looks oh-so-fake. As the captain of the ship, Rusty Cundieff could have ꧋said no to so many things and changed the course of things in a much better way.
Andrew Strahorn’s cinematography is s🦂o sub-standard that you’re constantly getting the look and feel of a B-Grade film. The way the shots are taken, especially the flight sequence and the time travel bits are just too subpar.
The editing by John Quinn is probably the only gooꦆd thing about the film. He has managed to keep things in place quite nicely. He has been able to keep thꦆe story short so that you don’t have to bear the idiocy for too long. Also, he seems to be the only one who is trying to make the time travel sequences look a tad-bit watchable.
Nathan Furst’s music is forgettable. Actually, in a thriller movie based around time travel, you’re suppose♎♈d to have a good background score which makes you feel like you’re travelling right with the characters. Sadly, Nathan Furst’s music didn’t have much to offer.
‘57 Seconds’: Cast & Crew
Director: Rusty Cundieff
Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Morgan Freeman, Greg Germann, Lovie S⛄imone, Bevin Bru, Sammi Rotibi, Mark Jacobson, Griff Furst, D.A. Obahor, Jeff Chase, Aaron Jay Rome, Marcus Lyle Brown, Kenneth Kynt Bryan, Lucius Baston, Matthew Jayson Cwern
Available On: BookMyShow Stream, Amazon Prime Video
Duration: 1 Hour 39 Minutes
‘57 Seconds’: Can Kids Watch It?
Yes
Outlook’s Verdict
While I am a fan of time travel films, but ‘57 Seconds’ is something that’s nothing short of a B-Grade film which hasn’t been 🥀directed and shot well. Despite the story being predictable, there was certain element of surprise in the writing about how the time travel would be shown, but sadly it was all for a squan🍰dered opportunity. If you’re a fan of time travel films or even if you’re just feeling like watching it for Morgan Freeman, please Avoid. I am going with 0.5 stars.
