There isn’t anything wrong with ARMAGEDDON TIME – it’s not a bad movie and didn’t feel like a waste of time, but I’m not fully satisfied. I watched it a few weeks before writing this review and compared to the other heavy hitters that have come out in the past two months; this film is ultimately forgettable.
To start with the good – ARMAGEDDON TIME boasts an impressive cast with powerful performances. Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, and Anthony Hopkins all shine in their roles. The semi-autobiographical story from writer/director/producer James Gray is solid, albeit occasionally skirting with fantasy. One of my favorite things about this movie; it felt instantly timeless. And that leads me to my biggest negative about the film.
ARMAGEDDON TIME didn’t feel like a unique story. I can’t put my finger on exactly why, but I thought I had seen it before. There have been many films I’ve seen recently that really captured a unique perspective, voice, or theme, but this didn’t have any of the above. Combined with a slice-of-life story and ambiguous ending, I can’t advise you to run to your theater to watch this movie.
ARMAGEDDON TIME is available on-demand.