Set in San Diego, “Time of Destiny” is an uncompelling and uninvolving multi-generational family melodrama about honor, camaraderie, and revenge. Written and produced by Anna Thomas and directed by Gregory Nava, the WWII tale centers on a strict and demanding Sicilian patriarch, who rules his emotionally wounded family with an iron fist. After his favored daughter secretly elopes, he hunts them down, packs up his daughter, and is eventually killed in a chase scene.
One of his scorned sons then pledges to revenge his father’s death by killing his new brother-in-law, whom he sees responsible. From that point on, it’s all downhilland predictable.
Reviews of “A Time of Destiny” were mixed, with some critics describing the film as “muscular and brave,” while others singling out its badly written script. The performance of William Hurt as the troubled, vengeful son is uncharacteristically over-the-top, and as his friend-rival, Timothy Hutton is not good either. The actors are either miscast or misled by helmer Nava, whose film represents a step down after the height of “El Norte,” several years back.