This is a prime example of a film that will either alienate or entrance...or possibly both at the same time. My suggestion for best getting something out of this collage of words and images is to just abandon all preconceptions and allow it to seduce you.First simply savor the absolutely stunning beauty of the photography...the incandescence of the closeups and exquisite portraits of potentially mundane locals are among the most beautiful images that I have ever seen...And as the visual glow seduces you ...let the deceptively simple words gradually intertwine with the photography till the entire film becomes a rather entrancing collage of one creative human's voyage through life.I am saddened that so few audiences seem willing to give up a few moments of their lives to open themselves to one of the loveliest and most perceptive little films in recent memory...Give it (and yourself) a chance.

Not on Poe that is and something that might have helped me (maybe others too?) to figure out what it (the movie) was trying to do here. As it is and without any knowledge going into this, I had no clue what to expect. It is clear that everything is kinda connected, but I'm pretty sure the poems themselves make much more sense and are a lot more gripping than the way the movie portray the stories.The acting cast on hand is good, but feel as disconnected as the rest of the movie most of the time. Maybe if you have read the poems it'll be easier and more enjoyable or maybe this will float your boat no matter what. But I reckon a majority will find this "boring" (or annoying, depending on your mood maybe both). As it is, this slow paced drama is just above the water ...

The different parts of C.K. Williams' life told through his poems. His childhood, his teens, college years, to when he meets and marries his wife, Catherine (Mila Kunis) and the birth of his children. The film is narrated by different versions of Williams (Franco, Hopper, March, Unger), depicting the different aspects of Williams through the years.Williams is not a household name, and probably not even well-known to many academics. Although he has won the Pulitzer Prize and countless other awards for his poetry and translations of classic literature, his field of study earns accolades but little notice. Maybe this is proper, or maybe it says something about the appreciation of the arts.Anyway, "Color of Time" (which has also been shown under the titles "Tar" and "Forever Love") was written and directed by twelve New York University film students. Much like the poetry it brings to life, there are numerous segments from the various writers and directors, and not all of them necessarily go together as a coherent narrative.This film is bound to get bad reviews. Not because it is a bad film, but because it may not be evident to viewers what to expect. A casual viewer will walk through Family Video and see James Franco, Mila Kunis and Jessica Chastain, perhaps assuming this is some sort of romantic comedy. It is not. At all. This is poetry put to film, a moving form of art. Judging it by any other standard would be wrong, though inevitably it will be judged by its entertainment value -- something it does not claim to have.Franco is, of course, very appropriately cast. One suspects that when he was asked to play Williams, he jumped at the chance. His career is littered with portrayals of great writers, making him something of a go-to guy in that niche market. Bruce Campbell has a nice cameo as, appropriately enough, a Detroit native. Not sure how he got involved...Anyway, this is a great film if watched by the right people, those who love art and poetry. This is, in the end, an "art film" in the best sense of the (often derided) term. See it to understand a poet as told by a poet... and perhaps while you are at it, go pick up one of Williams' books from your local library.

Often times when I decide on a movie to watch, I only look to see who is in it and look at the poster since I fear all the good bits will be in the trailer. After all, most movies nowadays do feel a bit oversold due to how good their trailers are. But with James Franco, Mila Kunis, Jessica Chastain and Zach Braff, my hopes were high to the point I didn't even read the synopsis. I jumped in expecting a quirky tale and a fun ride.Characters & StoryImagine you are in college and your slightly accomplished "Introduction to Poetry" teacher had the lesson plan based off all his work. And rather than lead the class through a spirited journey filled with discussion and awe, instead he decides to focus on stroking his own ego as he speaks in a monotone voice. That is the general feel as we follow C.K. Williams (James Franco) through his life. PraiseHonestly, outside of watching C.K. Williams with wife Catherine (Mila Kunis), or his younger self with Irene (Danika Yarosh), in which we are presented these cute romantic little stories, there isn't much to praise.CriticismTo start off, the use of C.K. Williams' poetry for the narrative I think was a bad move since, for me, his poetry is that boring stuff you are force fed throughout your academic career. It is the type of writing people with doctorates in English find deep and amazing, or something which touched them on some deep level, and yet as you sit in class and listen to them read, you simply don't get it.What doesn't help though is that we go back and forth from the older Williams (Franco) to his younger versions and the film's tone very much reminded me of the feeling you would have if you were tipsy or high. Everything feels muddled and lacking of any type of excitement and, while you can recognize something is happening, nothing is said or done to snap you out of this daze. This is despite the sounds of children laughing, Kunis and Franco portraying what looks like a cute relationship, and surely being part of a film of someone who perhaps might actually be interesting. Though you would never guess watching this.Overall: Skip ItSomehow, despite barely being over an hour, this movie felt so long. Which truly is a testament to how bad this movie is. And I don't really fault the actors involved, per se, but just looking at the plethora of writers and directors involved on IMDb, you can definitely tell that there may have been too many cooks in the kitchen with this one. Though this film making me sleepier than drinking all night is the main reason this is being labeled "Skip It." For unless you are the type who likes background noise while you sleep, I don't see why you would waste your time on this film.