Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh shine and carry “We Live in Time”, a romantic drama built upon and sustained by the sparkling chemistry of its two leads. The film is directed by John Crowley and is more in sync with his terrific “Brooklyn” (2015) than his lesser “The Goldfinch” (2019). Despite being low on theatrics, it’s still a little soapy around the edges. Yet Crowley and screenwriter Nick Payne succeed in telling a modern love story with an earnest classical tenor.

“We Live in Time” is very much an actor’s movie, and no matter where the story goes, it’s Garfield and Pugh who keep its gears turning. There’s nothing here we haven’t seen before and it’s a testament to their acting savvy that we care for their characters as much as we do. It’s fair to say that without them “We Live in Time” could easily fall apart and be tossed in a pile with so many other movies of its kind.

Crowley begins his film by telling us exactly where it’s going. We’re introduced to Almut (Pugh) and Tobias (Garfield), a young couple who we see fall in love, have a child, and receive tragic news, all in the first few minutes. The bad news is that Almut has stage 3 ovarian cancer. From there the movie bounces back-and-forth between different points in their relationship, often with no discernible rhythm. It’s a choice that feels unnecessary, but at the same time helps divert our attention away from the conventional aspects of the story.

We do learn quite a bit about the two characters. Almut is an accomplished chef and restaurant owner. Tobias is an IT technician for Weetabix (a British breakfast cereal – I had to look it up). Both have their own strengths, quirks, and insecurities. But they share a connection that’s evident from the first moment they meet. And that happens after Tobias wanders into the street and is struck by Almut’s car. After he heals up, Tobias visits Almut’s restaurant. They begin dating and after a short time-hop they move in together.

Further down their timeline we see the couple deciding to have a child, struggling to get pregnant, and finally giving birth to their darling daughter Ella. And even further down we watch Almut and Tobias forced to make some painful decisions following her cancer diagnosis. As the movie oscillates between the different stages of their relationship, Pugh and Garfield navigate the small intimacies and seismic shifts with an artful precision.

Crowley’s choice to reveal his hand early is a bold one, but it does shortchange some of the drama. And when you peel back the nonlinear devices you find the makings of a pretty standard tearjerker. Yet the movie works because Crowley knows what he has in Garfield and Pugh. And Payne’s script provides plenty of serious-minded and grounded material for the actors to work with.

Reactions to “We Live in Time” are sure to vary. Some may have a hard time getting past its obvious conventions. Others may dismiss it for its delicacy and unwillingness to run its audience through the emotional wringer. But it doesn’t take much effort to look beyond those complaints to see an empathetic and authentic drama that explores life, death, and the intrinsic value of human connection. “We Live in Time” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS