With film audiences getting hungry for new cinematic techniques, it's hard for film-makers to satisfy them. Director Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas) does something completely innovative with his new film Timecode, that will have the audience glued to the screen for the full running time.

Timecode was shot on digital video and in real time with absolutely no cuts. The image is cut four ways on the screen so that in effect, the audience will be watching four different storylines simultaneously. Now obviously Timecode is more of an exercise in cinematic style as opposed to memorable screenwriting.

The film's actors also improvise much of the time and some of the players are not up to the challenge (most notably Jeanne Tripplehorn and Selma Hayek as lesbian lovers). There are, however, some standouts. Stellan Skarsgard (Good Will Hunting) gives a tour de force and Julian Sands (Warlock) is quietly hilarious as a massage therapist.

Figgis has created a compelling film experience. Even though the director would be focusing on one plotline at a given moment, I'd find my eyes wandering to a different portion of the screen. Many will argue that this film is simply style over substance. I say it's bold and audacious film-making at its very best. It's something new in a medium that seems to be constantly ripping itself off. Mike Figgis has made a darkly funny film in a way that audiences won't soon forget.