The time markers are subtle (smoking allowed in NYC bars still, brief mention of the year in the beginning, etc.) but they do not hit you in the face until the last 10 minutes (the interlude RE the brother sucide and his bday). Regardless, I cannot say this enough… the ending is horrific. For anyone who lost someone in 9/11… to go to see this movie thinking it's just going to be a mind numbing chick flick, and then to get smacked in the face with that ending… well, it's just aweful. There was literally a grown man sobbing behind me in the theater - his wife trying to console him saying “I had no idea, I swear”.