Who Plays Who?

Eric Bana Rachel McAdams Alex Ferris Brooklynn Proulx Tatum McCann Hailey McCann Michelle Nolden Arliss Howard Philip Craig Brian Bisson Maggie Castle Fiona Reid Jane McLean Ron Livingston Mario Tufino David Talbot

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Henry Clare Henry at Six Clare at Six and Eight Alba at Four and Five Alba at Nine and Ten Annette DeTamble Richard DeTamble Philip Abshire Mark Abshire Alicia Abshire Lucille Abshire Charisse Gomez Barber Pastor

What Do The Critics Say

"In a film era that thinks sentiment is a big silly joke, The Time Traveler's Wife may be as out of its time as poor Henry. But for viewers aching for a romantic drama that leaves them emotionally, honorably exhausted, this could prove a total immersion in star-crossed love, if not perfect synchronicity. Screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin has been down this post-mortem path before; he won an Oscar for "Ghost". McAdams is also a veteran of a decades-spanning romance." Richard Corllis TIME MAGAZINE "The story raises impossible questions. What does the future hold? What about a baby? Is death on the cards? There are many endings and beginnings throughout this intriguing film and McAdams and Bana make us care about all of them. Bana is very good and McAdams is lovely on screen; so vulnerable and real, never allowing her beauty to distance her from us." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE "A graceful, elegant love story, that carefully avoids quasi-science, time travelling philosophy or mills and boon style passionate embraces, focussing instead on the means by which two truly star crossed lovers cope with their unique lives together." Giles Hardie SYDNEY MORNING HERALD "The Time Traveler’s Wife is actually a movie of some substance. It is the film about disconnected love that "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" should have been." Kevin Maher UK TIMES "It takes, as its subjects, the sadness and grandeur of life and the mystery of time, and it offers a full experience to those who find its wavelength. I used to assume that Bana was just a handsome guy, which is reason enough that he should be in movies. But two weeks ago, "Funny People" proved he had something more going on, and now "The Time Traveler's Wife" defines what that something is. This is a guy who has an ability to open up, to be unguarded, to feel something without getting in his own way. Among actors, this ability is uncommon. Among male heartthrobs, it's almost unheard of. Mick LaSalle SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

"I’m over the moon about this movie, which smooths out the psychological dissonances in Audrey Niffenegger’s fine novel but is still an emotional workout. Gracefully directed by Robert Schwentke, the film has a perfect performance by Bana, rangy and haunted, never at home in his body. At age 40 or so, Henry leaps back in time and wins the heart of a girl named Clare, played by lovely Brooklynn Proulx, then Rachel McAdams. David Edelstein NEW YORK MOVIES " I was surprised at how smart, involving and Sci-Fi geeky cool this was. I really enjoyed myself. Usually, something like time travel is only explored in action or suspense films. So it was refreshing to see real people coping with a fantastic situation in realistic ways. Eric Bana is perfectly stoic and mysterious. Rachel McAdams is sweet and strong willed as Clare." Austin Kennedy SIN MAGAZINE "This is undoubtedly Bana's best American performance and you can genuinely believe in Bana and McAdams as lovers who give the story its emotion. It is gorgeously photographed by Florian Ballhaus and someone has been careful enough to include, at one point, a teary film clip from a Bette Davis weepie to remind us we're at the movies. This is undoubtedly Bana's best American performance and you can genuinely believe in Bana and McAdams as lovers who give the story its emotion." Des Partridge COURIER MAIL "A large part of the success of The Time Traveller's Wife can be attributed to McAdams. The Notebook star is luminous in the role of old-school romantic lead. Sure to hit the spot for anyone with an appetite for sweet, unselfconscious romantic fantasy." Vicky Roach DAILY TELEGRAPH "Bana brings just the right amount of humor to this dramatic role. This role is a mind bender when you think of all the layers, though there is something very calming about going on this journey with Bana. Rachel McAdams as Clare Abshire: Fetching. The look in Clare’s eyes when we first meet her is absolutely overwhelming. It’s kind of got a little of everything for a date movie. Guys get a new twist on time travel. Women get a romance." Jeff Bayer THE SCORECARD REVIEW

The Inside Story 2003 Biberach Film Festival Award winner Director Robert Schwentke ("Eierdiebe") asserts that its title notwithstanding, "The Time Traveller's Wife" is not a science fiction film. "It is an emotional journey about two people in a relationship, and the time travel is the catalyst for things that both strengthen and test their bond. You could argue that time travel is the thing that brought them together, but it ultimately causes all sorts of conflicts. So I saw it as an opportunity to make a great love story, but at the same time we were able to weave some undercurrents into the fabric of that relationship. That feels more truthful to me, especially in a story that starts out with two people who are given the incredible gift of finding the person with whom they belong. It’s important that at some point they earn it." The director’s outlook is shared by the film’s stars. Rachel McAdams, who plays Clare, observes, "A love story is more interesting when the two people are going through life’s ups and downs and their love must persevere. I think a love that can withstand the biggest obstacles is inspiring and the obstacle Clare and Henry face is certainly very challenging." Playing the role of Henry, Eric Bana ("Funny People") adds that the concept of time travel and the fact that Henry and Clare can be separated in an instant "is very difficult for them in terms of how much control they have over their own destinies. In any love story, you need things that dramatically drive and test the relationship, and our two characters obviously have plenty of that. But their relationship ultimately has enough building blocks that you believe they are truly in love. I think it’s a very intimate and moving story and it leaves you with a lot to think about." "The Time Traveller's Wife" began as the debut novel of artist and writer Audrey Niffenegger ("Jakob and the Angels"). Originally published in 2003, it became a runaway bestseller, with millions of copies sold worldwide. Producer Nick Wechsler recalls, "I read the book when it was in manuscript form and immediately thought it was beautifully written and had a very intriguing concept. It didn’t fit into any one genre; the foundation is a love story, but there is that science fiction-esque twist of time travel, which makes it unpredictable." "It was a very innovative way to tell a love story that is timeless in every sense of the word," producer Dede Gardner ("Year of the Dog") says. "We all felt that in reading the book, as well as in seeing the movie, there has to be a little leap of faith where you just accept Henry’s condition and what happens to him. It helps that you have in Clare a woman who believes it utterly; her faith in him and the situation is key to the rest of us going along. So it’s about faith and destiny and consequences. It’s about how hard love can be but also how completely magical and wonderful it can be." Oscar ® winning Screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin ("Ghost"), wrote the screenplay for "The Time Traveller's Wife". He revealed that he had become enthralled by Niffenegger’s book early on. "I read it even before it was published and was totally captivated by its vision and the breadth of its imagination. I thought the story was profoundly told and I wanted to help translate it to the screen, so I pursued this project with a vengeance." "Any time filmmakers approach adapting a book of substantial length into a movie, it’s a daunting task," Wechsler notes. "It’s not just the size, it’s the structure: staying faithful to the architecture of the book, but allowing for the screenwriter to bring his own creativity to the project. We struck gold with Bruce Joel Rubin." "The book is very complex and it was especially challenging to juggle all the different timeframes," says Rubin, who scripted, "The Last Mimzy". "I decided the love story would dictate the flow of the movie," Rubin said. " Scene by scene, the romance had its own journey through time, but as long as that journey made emotional sense, it never betrayed me." Two time ShoWest Award winner (2005 & '09) Rachel McAdams relates that she was first attracted to her role on the pages of the book. "I read the book a few years ago and thought it was such a beautiful love story, so when the movie came about I was very excited by the prospect of playing Clare. I was so intrigued by the character. I loved that she is an artist, and I also found her to be full of fascinating contradictions: she’s very wise and at the same time a bit naïve; she seeks out the extraordinary: she falls in love with a time traveler; but she also desperately wants something stable in her life. And I think that progresses as the story goes on. She’s committed to this man and everything that comes with him, but she’s struggling to make a home and have a normal marriage." Wechsler recalls that when the filmmakers met with McAdams, "She was incredibly insightful about Clare and we knew immediately that we wanted her for the role. Rachel also has this natural warmth and charisma that was so important for the part." "With Rachel," Schwentke notes, "there is something intangible that happens; she just glows. She’s so lovely; it takes your breath away. There is almost an alchemical reaction between her face and the camera." Chemistry was also key in the casting of Eric Bana to star opposite McAdams. "A love story obviously depends on the right two people; without the right chemistry it doesn’t work," Wechsler ("Requiem for a Dream" & "North Country") affirms. "After meeting with Eric, our instincts were that he and Rachel would be a great combination, and they were." "When I met Eric, I thought he was a great fit for the role of Henry," Schwentke states. "He is a terrific actor, and he is also a really good man. He’s honest and grounded and a great family man, and those are qualities I feel shine through in his performance and lend gravitas and pathos to Henry’s plight." 2000 and 2007 AFI Award winner Bana ("Chopper" & "Romulus, My Father") says that the opportunity to work with both McAdams ("Red Eye" & "State of Play") and Schwentke ("Tattoo") was part of what drew him to the project. "I’ve been a fan of Rachel’s and wanted to do a movie with her. I had also seen some of Robert’s work and thought he was a really interesting director, both visually and stylistically. We had a good chat about how we each saw the film and his interpretation of the material and I came away really excited about playing Henry." For the actor, the appeal of playing a time traveler was that the character is innately multi-faceted, appearing at various ages and shaped by his experiences, past, present and future. "It gave me room to make choices about what was right for the role at different times. We all change over time; none of us is the same person we were ten years ago." Because the romance between Clare and Henry does not progress along a linear timeline, Schwentke first engaged McAdams and Bana in a rehearsal period so they could break down the relationship between the characters at each stage. "Those weeks were spent examining each scene and translating the time travel into specific behaviors and everyday conflicts. So time travel is the crucible, but the emotional truth in the scenes is grounded and relatable. It was also a chance for all of us to become connected before our first day on the set," says Schwentke. Both Bana ("Munich") and McAdams ("The Notebook") appreciated the added time together. "I think rehearsal periods are a huge benefit," Bana states. Henry DeTamble's strange behavior, is initially cause for some suspicion from Clare Abshire's her closest friend, Gomez. Ron Livingston, who was cast as Larry Sokolov in "The Cooler", was cast as Gomez. "I’ve been a huge fan of Ron Livingston’s for a long time," Schwentke says, "so I was thrilled to cast him in the role of Gomez. I wanted someone who had dramatic chops, but at the same time possessed great comedic timing and that is Ron." "Ultimately, Gomez and Henry find common ground in how much they care for Clare. Henry needs someone to be there when he can’t, and Gomez is that guy. But Henry and Clare have a truly special relationship. Their fates are intertwined in a way that few people can understand," Livingstone offered. The unique circumstances of Clare and Henry’s love story are contrasted by the relatively routine relationship between Gomez and his wife. Jane McLean, who appeared alongside Clive Owen ("The Boys Are Back"), Paul Giamatti ("Sideways") and Silver Ribbon winner Monica Bellucci ("Remember Me") in "Shoot 'Em Up", was cast in the role of Gomez's wife , Charisse. She notes: "In many ways, Charisse’s life is the exact opposite of Clare’s. But I think Clare’s amazing relationship with this man who travels through time is so fascinating that it infuses a little bit of excitement into Charisse’s own life. And the other side of that is Charisse is the normal to Clare’s abnormal. So I think these two women add some balance to each other’s life." 2000 Western Heritage Bronze Wrangler Award winner Arliss Howard (TV'S "You Know My Name") was cast as Henry’s father, Richard. He has a difficult time accepting his son’s condition, not because of what Henry does but because of what he can’t do: save his mother, Richard’s wife, who died in a horrific car crash when Henry was six years old. "The fact that he can’t change anything constantly reminds him of how powerless he is in the situation,"says Gardner. "It’s far more terrible than frustration because it never permits time to heal your wounds. Worse, time perpetuates them because you keep going back." The film's cast features several talented young actors. Brooklynn Proulx plays the young Clare, who first encounters Henry in the meadow behind her house. Alex Ferris is seen as the young Henry. Sisters Hailey and Tatum McCann play Clare and Henry’s daughter Alba at ages ten and five, respectively. While the film is set in Chicago, and production did travel to the Windy City to film some exteriors and establishing shots, the majority of principal photography was accomplished in Toronto, Canada. In keeping with the elusive nature of time in the movie, production designer Jon Hutman says the settings needed to have a timeless feeling. "We wanted to create a sense of time being fluid, because that is Henry’s experience of time and consequently Clare’s experience of time and place. So there is a timeless quality to the movie; there is a flow to how their story unfolds. We mainly tried to capture three significant chapters in their lives." Much of the credit for the film must go to its director. Gardner who produced 2007's "A Mighty Heart" for Director Michael Winterbottom, remembers that when they were selecting a director to helm the film, "We felt that Robert had a special understanding of this story. He is incredibly precise but also very passionate, which is a combination that felt uniquely suited to this project. I mean, there is a scientific aspect to this story and then, on the other hand, it’s a romance with a beating heart that says science be damned." It’s great when you have an opportunity to direct actors you’ve always admired," Schwentke says. Synopsis

The day Henry saw Clare for the first time she had known him for years. Not that she knew it then. From the time she was a young girl, he had been her best friend, her confidant, her not so secret crush. Clare has been in love with Henry her entire life. Now grown up, Clare has finally caught up with Henry and introduces herself to the man she has loved all her life. She believes they are destined to be together, even though she never knows when they will be separated. Henry is a time traveler. He has a rare genetic anomaly that forces him to live his life in a shifting timeline, skipping back and forth through his lifespan with no control; never knowing when he will suddenly find himself in another place, another year. Anything can trigger his sudden disappearance. Despite the fact that Henry’s travels force them apart with no warning, Clare desperately tries to build a life with her one true love.

The Verdict "Australia's Eric Bana, who saved everyones arse in "Funny People" and the gorgeous Rachel McAdams, who melted our hearts in "The Notebook", ooze chemistry in Robert Schwentke's beautiful tale of "The Time Traveller's Wife", superbly adapted for the screen by the Oscar ® winning writer of "Ghost": Bruce Joel Rubin. A mixture of adventure, romance, comedy and a little SciFi, "The Time Traveller's Wife", which does have some tear inducing moments will delight lovers of all ages. It is beautifully shot; the cast is superb; the locations are rich and Mychael Danna's music adds the right touch. The perfect 'date flick' or for those who are unashamedly, 'romantics at heart'. Here's one example of how a good cast and a director in control, works so well. Easy to recommended. 4 STARS." The Production Team

Director Screenplay From the Producers Original Music Director of photography Film Editors Production Designer Art Direction Set Decoration Costume Design

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Robert Schwentke Bruce Joel Rubin Audrey Niffenegger Dede Gardner & Nick Wechsler Mychael Danna Florian Ballhaus Thom Noble/Jennifer L Smith/Tricia Wood Jon Hutman Peter Grundy Patricia Cuccia Julie Weiss

Run Time 107 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2009 - New Line Cinema - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2009 All Rights Reserved The Movie Pages - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.