$5 old guy is the little boy who eventually accepts the artist as parent

You're wrong ;-)

an artist is hired by a dying rich old man, nothing happens in the movie, but the old man inspires the artist in the somewhat trippy ending

Not only are you most likely wrong, but YOU MISLED ME!!

I thought this was a time travel, sci-fi movie and I watched it with my friend who likes sci-fi. He did not appreciate it. It was this presumably silly comment of yours that led me to think this was a time travel mystery. I want that $5.00. Send it back in time to 1825, invest it in a company that makes copper wire.

I loved it, so it's not a total loss.

The title has nothing whatsoever to do with a time traveling "being", wherein a neglected son of a selfish artistic trust-fund baby travels back in time to be just as selfish and leave his family.

My unresolved question is...if he (Wim) made not enough money to feed his family before he "died", then how is it he lives in a nice big house with a servant/nurse by his side 24/7? I guess maybe he continued his life in some other capacity, or as an artist under the new name and made money, but that should have been explained. That's just a throw-away critique. In general, this was a very pleasant film experience.