- Actors: Jeanne Tripplehorn, Stellan Skarsgård, Salma Hayek, Xander Berkeley, Golden Brooks
- Directors: Mike Figgis
- Writers: Mike Figgis
- Producers: Mike Figgis, Annie Stewart, Dustin Bernard, Gary Marcus
- Format: NTSC
- Number of tapes: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: Columbia/Tristar Vid
- VHS Release Date: Mar 27 2001
- Run Time: 97 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00000F3XU
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #25,433 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
Timecode divides the screen into four parts and follows, in four uninterrupted shots, a series of overlapping stories. There's the wife (Saffron Burrows) of a movie producer (Stellan Skarskård) who's considering leaving him; the producer is having an affair with an aspiring actress (Salma Hayek); and the actress is the lover of a wealthy woman (Jeanne Tripplehorn), who jealously plants a bug in the actress's purse when the actress pretends to go to an audition. Meanwhile, the producer's partners and employees (Holly Hunter, Xander Berkeley, Steven Weber, and others) are trying to cope with the producer's increasing instability. There's a drug-dealing security guard; a dim massage therapist; a temperamental director who can't find the right actress; and assorted other Hollywood types who float in and out of the action. Earthquakes and aftershocks shake things up, a lot of cocaine is snorted, and there's some sex and some violence, all improvised by the actors around a story set up by the director, Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas).
The emotional effect of any story is muted by the constant distraction of trying to take in four screens at once, though at times the stories resonate off each other nicely. It's an interesting experiment, made possible by the portability and longer takes of digital cameras; anyone interested in how digital technology has affected filmmaking will want to see this novel film. --Bret Fetzer
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Watch it four times, and it might make sense
May 27 2003
Format:DVD
Timecode is a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood life - the business, the politics, the jealously, and even the drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll. Salma Hayek plays Rose, an aspiring actress who will do anything to get an audition - even if it means cheating on her jealous lover (Jeanne Tripplehorn) with a male film exec (Stellan Skarsgard).
But I said that Timecode is unique, right? Well, it is. It had no script - just a story, four digital videocams, and a bunch of actors who could improvise their way through 90 minutes of filming. The four cameras shot non-stop - no cuts, just one take. The entire film was shot 15 times - and the final one was released. No editing was required because viewers see the footage from all four cameras - simultaneously. The screen is divided into four quarters, and it's up to the viewer to decide which one to watch. Believe me - it's not exactly an easy task. Though you're often given audio hints (the sound of one quarter will dominate for a while), you'll still keep jumping from quarter to quarter, trying to figure out what's going on - and what you've missed. It's definitely not a movie to watch if you're not completely alert. It is, however, very interesting. And while I wouldn't say that this is one of my favorite movies, it's still an interesting experience. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, it's worth checking out.
If you happen to pick up a copy of the DVD, you'll find all kinds of goodies. The special features include the entire Version 1 of the film (and yes, it really is different) and an audio option that allows you to choose which dialogue you want to listen to. Perhaps, then, if you watch the entire movie four times, you'll be able to make sense of it all...
Clever, but also a bit narcissistic
Dec 11 2002
Format:DVD
Whatever. I mean, I appreciate the experimental nature of the film -- the screen split into four separate-but-interlocking screens, each shot in a continuously-running tracking shot, filmed on digital video. The "action" shifts from scene to improvised scene, and gradually we figure out how each of the characters know each other. Still... did the story really have to be set in (yawn) Hollywood? Can't modern filmmakers think of something else to make movies about? Couldn't the actors improv their way through somebody else's life, for once? Regardless, this is one of the better uses of DVD technology I've seen -- they kept the audio tracks intact on each camera's footage, so after you soak up the edited version of the film, you can go back and see (hear, actually...) what they had to work with... Rarely do we get such a clear-cut chance to get into the headspace of the director and editor, so that at least was kind of cool.
brilliant execution, lame story
Oct 2 2002
Format:DVD
Timecode is quite simply a well-executed but failed experiment.
The concept is brilliant, but it is not supported at all by a good plot. What we have is basically mindless hipster dross; jet-set stereotypes stabbing each other in the back with their cell phones, and not much else. And yet, I was entertained by the film on a technical level. Certainly worth a look, but I would love to see this idea done again, even by Figgis, with a more engrossing story.
The concept is brilliant, but it is not supported at all by a good plot. What we have is basically mindless hipster dross; jet-set stereotypes stabbing each other in the back with their cell phones, and not much else. And yet, I was entertained by the film on a technical level. Certainly worth a look, but I would love to see this idea done again, even by Figgis, with a more engrossing story.
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Most recent customer reviews
Blah
When I rented this, I was under the impression it was a good movie. Well, I was wrong. True, the four-screen idea is innovative and couldn't have been easy to do, so I'll give... Read more
Published on Aug 4 2002
Innovative, but more of an experiment than a movie
"Time Code" was directed by Mike Figgis, best known for "Leaving Las Vegas." I'm not a fan of his work, but was intrigued by the concept of this movie - it was filmed in one... Read more
Published on April 7 2002 by Westley
Wow
The best expression that I can utter about this film is Wow!
Four seemingly disparate storylines, filmed in real time merge into one compelling movie. Read more
Published on Mar 15 2002 by Frazzled Glispa
The Future...?
So you know by now that this is a film, shot on digital video, presented with the screen divided into quadrants with the action and focus shifting and flowing from one section to... Read more
Published on Feb 1 2002 by John P Wixted
One of the Best - One of the Worst
In terms of the "Art" of cinema, Timecode is probably one of the most important films to be presented in over a decade. Unfortunately, it is also a terrible movie. Read more
Published on Dec 11 2001 by Tom
BOLD, BUT DISAPPOINTING
Although the concept behind Timecode is highly unusual and creative, the technique of showing four different scenes at one time by dividing the screen into four windows is... Read more
Published on Oct 14 2001 by EriKa
Split screens, confusion, dizziness, great film!!!!
Time code opened my eyes & ears immediately when i heard it was going to be split into 4 separate screens. The way Mike Figgs came up with this idea is incredible! Read more
Published on Oct 11 2001 by Chris Bundoc
An innovative experiment wasted by a mundane plot
I greatly admired the technical feats in this bold experiment in film narrative, but at the end of it all, it feels like a wondrous opportunity wasted. Read more
Published on Oct 4 2001 by "snootchiebootchies"
A grand cinematic experiment in a time of me-too productions
True, Mike Figgis' great experiment is not an unqualified success, but it's so far from a failure that it deserves recognition. Read more
Published on Sep 6 2001 by Jeremy Heilman
Why not 9, 16, or even 64 simultaneous camera angles.
Brilliant? Innovative? Hardly..
Nothing more than a gimmick that wears off after a couple of minutes. Read more
Published on Sep 3 2001
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