Race Through Time (The Man Who Used To Be Me) is a passable story with some pretty substantial plot holes, but solid performances and strong directing make this an enjoyable feature just the same. Rob Estes has a good handle on his character, a cop facing tragedy, and William Devane shines as his older self, who returns from the future to help him. Laurie Holden turns in a powerful performance as their wife, navigating a delicate balance in her relationships with both versions of her husband. Well worth a look.
5 Reviews
Fair Film completely ruined by a Ridiculous Sexist Oversight
LauraAS30 March 2004
This film has annoyed me so much I have to get this off my chest. Yes it's a fairly enjoyable in the time travel crime genre albeit not that original. However whilst one character ages sufficiently over 25 years as to be played by 2 actors.... The wife does not age at all....Still young blond and thin at the end. It completely invalidates the whole film and yet again perpetuates the myth that actresses can't be old on screen not to mention the insult to the viewers intelligence. Pathetic
Fair time travel yarn
Ged-1211 February 2001
This movie finally appeared on British Satellite under the title "Race Through Time" and is somewhat similar to the recent cinema release "Frequency". William Devane is the has been who travels back in time to solve the murder of his father, only to come face to face with his younger self. I like time travel films and this, although treading no new ground, is a good yarn.....best not to think too hard about any loose ends.
Almost unwatchable
TommyManetti12 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I was confused at many points by this film. The casting and production values of this film were so confusing that it wasn't until 45 minutes into the movie it became clear that the old man was supposed to be the same character as the young police officer from the beginning.
I did however, enjoy that the false name Sam used in the past was Tom. Even if it is a common name, it's always nifty to see it spoken up on the big screen.
Whilst I could not pay attention to long stretches of this story, both because of its poor plot and strange acting choices, I did notice that throughout the movie, the scientists kept insisting that Sam would suffer negative physical effects caused by remaining in the past, yet I saw no such matter. The stakes of this film, in large part, could not have been lower. The protagonists weren't even allowed to try and save sam's father, they were instead compelled to repair the relationships and credibility of a man who allowed his life to fall apart around him, disgraceful. Not an ethical use of time travel in my opinion.
Ultimately, my main problem with this movie is that I felt little to no sympathy for the main characters (or character should I say). I understand his grief, but while the younger Sam seems to be a gormless nitwit, the elder Sam has, 23 years later, lost all control of his senses (and is equally gormless). He doesn't seem to think through the consequences of any of his actions, and gleefully romances a woman who has no clue of his true identity, almost to the detriment of himself, in the past. As for the unlucky lady, whose romantic interest seems lacklustre despite the script's insistence on its existence, I think she would be better off not being a part of this indecipherable charade. She would, in fact, be better served in a different movie altogether.
Needless to say, this film will not be on my list for a rewatch any time soon.
I did however, enjoy that the false name Sam used in the past was Tom. Even if it is a common name, it's always nifty to see it spoken up on the big screen.
Whilst I could not pay attention to long stretches of this story, both because of its poor plot and strange acting choices, I did notice that throughout the movie, the scientists kept insisting that Sam would suffer negative physical effects caused by remaining in the past, yet I saw no such matter. The stakes of this film, in large part, could not have been lower. The protagonists weren't even allowed to try and save sam's father, they were instead compelled to repair the relationships and credibility of a man who allowed his life to fall apart around him, disgraceful. Not an ethical use of time travel in my opinion.
Ultimately, my main problem with this movie is that I felt little to no sympathy for the main characters (or character should I say). I understand his grief, but while the younger Sam seems to be a gormless nitwit, the elder Sam has, 23 years later, lost all control of his senses (and is equally gormless). He doesn't seem to think through the consequences of any of his actions, and gleefully romances a woman who has no clue of his true identity, almost to the detriment of himself, in the past. As for the unlucky lady, whose romantic interest seems lacklustre despite the script's insistence on its existence, I think she would be better off not being a part of this indecipherable charade. She would, in fact, be better served in a different movie altogether.
Needless to say, this film will not be on my list for a rewatch any time soon.
Not too bad
Kyosho17 September 2002
I saw this movie on the Sci-Fi channel a couple years ago when I was visiting my father. The plot isn't anything new. The special effects aren't that great. Even some of the acting isn't very good. For some reason though, I couldn't help liking this movie. In fact, everyone over at the time ended up watching it (about 10 people, 2 were neighbors that just dropped by and ended up staying to watch it). I really liked it, but it's not perfect.
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