James vs. His Future Self

James vs. His Future Self is a 2019 Canadian science fiction comedy film, directed by Jeremy Lalonde.[1] The film stars Jonas Chernick as James, a scientist researching time travel whose life is turned upside down when his older self (Daniel Stern) arrives from 17 years in the future to demand that he stop.[2] The cast also includes Cleopatra Coleman, Frances Conroy, Tara Spencer-Nairn and Tommie-Amber Pirie.[3]

James vs. His Future Self
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJeremy Lalonde
Produced by
Written byJeremy Lalonde
Jonas Chernick
Starring
Music byStephen Krecklo
Ian LeFeuvre
CinematographyScott McClellan
Edited byJeremy Lalonde
Production
company
  • Banana-Moon Sky Films
  • JoBro Productions & Film Finance
  • Neophyte Productions
Distributed byNorthern Banner Releasing
Gravitas Ventures
Release date
  • September 17, 2019 (2019-09-17) (Cinéfest)
  • May 1, 2020 (2020-05-01) (United States)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

The film was shot in Sudbury, Ontario, in 2018.[2] It premiered at the Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival on September 17, 2019,[4] and was selected as the opening gala film of the Edmonton International Film Festival the following week.[5] It was released on demand in the United States by Gravitas Ventures on May 1, 2020.[6]

Plot

James is a theoretical physicist who is obsessed with his research. His only friends are his sister Meridith and another scientist called Courtney. On his way to meet his sister he is captured by his uber driver who claims to be his future self and warns him against pursuing his research. James is skeptical of his claims and only becomes more convinced by the potential success of his work, and learns that his research supervisor Dr. Rowley will soon have has access to a particle accelerator that he needs to prove his theories. Future James "Jimmy" tries to warn James that his obsession will ruin his life, and tries to convince James to live more in the moment and warns him of the things he will regret not doing, and even teaches him to meditate.

Meredith is trying to get James to deal with the death of their parents fifteen years ago and thinks it is time to finally spread their ashes. Courtney is planning to leave to work at the large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland. Encouraged by Jimmy, James tries to change, but is still determined to pursue his research. Jimmy explains that the time travel only allows him to go back in time and that he must then patiently live out the time in isolation to return to his present. Jimmy says that if James had really changed he wouldn't still be there. James admits to his feelings for Courtney and asks her out on a date, but when she gives him inspiration for his research he is distracted and ruins the moment. He is unable to reconcile with Courtney and she gets ready to leave for Switzerland.

James becomes more determined to pursue his research and Dr. Rowley is about to announce her commitment to their new research project. Increasingly desperate Jimmy shoots her through the hand with a spear gun and hunts her through the lab. Instead of attending the big announcement James has gone to the lake to meditate. As James finally realizes he needs to change and before Jimmy can kill Dr. Rowley he fades away to dust.

James sits in a café with a puppy on his lap. Courtney joins him and eats a croissant and says "I can't believe you're here". The other patrons in the café are revealed to be all different versions of James, Courtney, and the dog, from different stages in time.

Cast

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 100% based on reviews from 16 critics.[7][8]

The film received four Canadian Screen Award nominations at the 8th Canadian Screen Awards in 2020, for Best Supporting Actor (Stern), Best Original Screenplay (Chernick, Lalonde), Best Original Score (Ian LeFeuvre and Stephen Krecklo) and Best Original Song (LeFeuvre for "Travel Through").[9]

References
  1. Daniel Mack, "JAMES VS HIS FUTURE SELF Trailer: Daniel Stern Stars in Canadian Timey Wimey Flick". Screen Anarchy, September 10, 2019.
  2. Lauren Malyk, "The Movie Network nabs LaLonde’s James Vs His Future Self". Playback, May 30, 2018.
  3. Andreas Wiseman, "Cleopatra Coleman, Daniel Stern, Jonas Chernick Lead Sci-Fi Comedy ‘James Vs His Future Self’". Deadline Hollywood, May 9, 2018.
  4. Mia Jensen, "'Cutting-edge, high-talent' films coming to Sudbury's Cinefest". Sudbury Star, August 22, 2019.
  5. Lauren Malyk, "Edmonton sets James Vs His Future Self as Opening Night Gala". Playback, August 19, 2019.
  6. Roeper, Richard (1 May 2020). "'James Vs. His Future Self': A funny time-travel tale that's serious about the science". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  7. "James VS His Future Self (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  8. "James vs. His Future Self". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  9. "Écrans canadiens : Song of Names, The Twentieth Century et Antigone en tête des nominations". Ici Radio-Canada, February 18, 2020.
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