9. The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009) – Directed by Robert Schwentke
The plot: In 2003, American writer Audrey Niffenegger debuted with one of my favorite books of, perhaps, all time: The Time Traveler’s Wife. It is beautiful and heartfelt love story about a librarian who struggles with a genetic disorder that causes him to unpredictably and involuntarily travel through time. His wife, an artist, has to deal with her husband’s absences and the complications that come with his time-traveling.
Why the adaptation works: Although the script does not stay perfectly true to Niffenegger’s novel, the very essence of the story does. “The Time Traveler’s Wife” is a love story and a great one at that. Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams convey the complicated, beautiful and epic love between Henry and Clare perfectly. However, Bana’s average portrayal of Henry is completely overshadowed by McAdams’ stunning performance. She is beautiful and passionate and incredibly true to the words that I have read so many times before.
Just like the novel, “The Time Traveler’s Wife” is a tear-jerker. A good one at that, but it lacks the depth of the relationship between Henry and Clare that is so present in the book.
