Jeremy Snead made a movie that finally gets gaming culture right, and he did it with heart, humor, and Sean Astin!
There are movies about gamers, and then there are movies that actually get gaming culture. Matter of Time, directed by Jeremy Snead hits theaters nationwide on February 27th. It’s one of the most genuinely connected-to-the-culture films I've seen in a long time. It’s a love letter to gaming culture and the friendships that define us.
Sean Astin in Matter of Time
Snead, whose production company Media Juice Studios is responsible for some of the best gaming documentaries out there, including the acclaimed Playing With Power: The Nintendo Story, clearly brought that authenticity into narrative filmmaking. The result is a film that represents gaming culture in both a casual and professional way without ever feeling forced or performative. He and his cast understood the assignment.
Matter of Time follows the story of Charlie Fleck (Myles Erlick), a 29-year-old video game designer who discovers a device that allows him to stop time. You can let your imagination run with that premise and you won't be disappointed by where it goes.
Jamie Alexander in Matter of Time
At its core, Matter of Time is really about friendship, ambition, loss, and connection. The entire cast does a wonderful job of capturing those bonds authentically, and special love needs to go to the younger actors (Akina Wylie and Casey Siemer crushed it) in this film who do some serious emotional heavy lifting. These performances deserve to be recognized. Sean Astin steps into a wise sage role here that suits him beautifully, and it's super rad to see him share the screen with his daughter Ali Astin for the first time since the Lord of the Rings. Jamie Alexander rounds out the cast as a charismatic antagonist who makes every scene he’s in crackle with energy.
Matter of Time Directed by Jeremy Snead from Media Juice Studios
The Verdict
Matter of Time is a fun, heartfelt, and culturally authentic film that I think is going to resonate deeply with gamers and non-gamers alike. Jeremy Snead has made a confident and exciting leap from documentaries into narrative filmmaking, and I can't wait to see what he and Media Juice Studios do next.
This is a family friendly movie and I highly recommend seeing it in a theater with friends. Matter of Time opens in theaters on February 27th.