Read User Reviews and Submit your own for Life Itself (2018)

7

Trineo99Nov 9, 2018

Now the acting in this film was marvelous. Oscar Isaac was the main stand out to me. He could easily switch from a romantic scene to a comedic scene to finally a depressing scene so well and you really feel for his character. And despiteNow the acting in this film was marvelous. Oscar Isaac was the main stand out to me. He could easily switch from a romantic scene to a comedic scene to finally a depressing scene so well and you really feel for his character. And despite Antonio Banderas’ old age, no offense, he also did a stellar performance. When I first found out that he was going to be in this film I thought, ‘Oh god no,’ but after seeing him in the film I now take that back. His character was one that I would love to have as a parent. The final person that I want to give a shout out to is Olivia Cooke. Her character was one that a lot of teenagers can probably relate to, or at least the ones who went through similar/the same experiences/situations like what she did. The humour in this film was definitely directed at younger people because my friend and I were laughing a lot when nobody else was, which can be both a good thing and a bad thing. In addition, the cinematography was stunning in this film, and each shot had great lighting . The final good thing I want to mention is how well the serious scenes were taken. Some films can’t do serious scenes without making a joke out of it or it being out of place but this film did them so well. This might have come from how the director and writer, Dan Fogelman, also created “This is Us,” so he knows how to do drama. Now for some of the bad things. The pacing in this seemed off, just by a bit. It felt like they would drag on too much of one person's story and then cut it short at some of the others. Now I understand that they probably wanted to keep it short, but maybe a longer movie would have helped it out a bit more. The movie was predictable as well. Sometimes, being predictable is fine but not when you’re trying to make your audience cry. In the end, “Life Itself” really depends on what you look for in a movie. If you like romcoms then you’ll like this movie, but if you don’t, you’ll probably won’t .… Expand

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6

DufreshestSep 27, 2018

Life Itself tries to be tricky by playing around with death and a theme the film reveals concerning unreliable narrators. I think the film gets better with time. The film seems to be saying without love, there is nothing, though if oneLife Itself tries to be tricky by playing around with death and a theme the film reveals concerning unreliable narrators. I think the film gets better with time. The film seems to be saying without love, there is nothing, though if one persists in their life, they will find everlasting love; Life Itself makes love the ever connecting fabric between the dead and the living.

I always like to remember as a part of the audience I am agreeing to view the content as-is in comparison to its full potential (which helps fulfill my critiquing) and if I want to view different forms of content then I should create or seek them. The film as-is is decent though leaves me as an audience member with the assignment of listening to Bob Dylan's return project to potentially fully grasp the essence of the film (if Bob Dylan really contributes to it as much as the film makes it seem). Life Itself is not meant to be a serious film (you have to experience the narrating for yourself) though deals with serious situations.

The film shows that dialogue really affects actors and must be written well for effective scenes in film. Life Itself is showing life without expectations and relays life as uncontrollable in a great mysteriousness. I mean, yeah… death is our only guarantee (as far as I think anyone knows so far, that's all anyone knows of life that really isn't life, it's post life?).
Overall Grade: C+

- K.D.

If you're into Poetry and other bits of creativity, check out my Instagram: @Dufreshest.… Expand

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6

JackusBlackusSep 28, 2018

In short, the film is watchable and even enjoyable in some respects due to good individual performances and good dialogue; however, I found it to difficult to remain engaged for several reasons.

First, the various stories seem unrelated withIn short, the film is watchable and even enjoyable in some respects due to good individual performances and good dialogue; however, I found it to difficult to remain engaged for several reasons.

First, the various stories seem unrelated with only minor interactions. The transitions are abrupt, ending one story and then moving onto the next. While the plot ties them all together in the end, waiting for it takes some effort.

Second, all of the stories are centered around tragedy and I just stopped caring at some point.

Third, with the amount of time spent on the "unreliable narrator" device in the beginning, I expected (or even hoped for) it to play a significant role in the movie, but it doesn't. Sure, there is a little twist in the end that ties it all together, but it is ineffective and unimportant.

Finally, the resolution at the end that ties everything together was a disappointment.… Expand

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9

craigmeaselOct 5, 2018

Life Itself centers on a couple (Oscar Isaac and Olivia Wilde) that lead a multi generational love story spanning both decades and continents, from the streets of New York to the Spanish countryside, and are all connected by a single event.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

RyanGimesonSep 27, 2018

I'm giving this a 10 because the performances and dialogue in this film are of consistently high quality, and because these low reviews are ridiculous. People keep saying their emotions feel fake; no they do not, and if you still don't buyI'm giving this a 10 because the performances and dialogue in this film are of consistently high quality, and because these low reviews are ridiculous. People keep saying their emotions feel fake; no they do not, and if you still don't buy the authenticity, that would be because they're actors playing characters, not real people. Seriously though Olivia Cooke is BRILLIANT in this same with Oscar Isaac and Antonio Banderas. I get it if this isn't ur thing the philosophical approach this film takes can be overbearing for some people but I thought it made for a well crafted screenplay complemented by gorgeous cinematography and stunningly real characters. A little predictable for sure, but it has a real, beating heart. I'm gonna remember this film for a while.… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

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3

tropicAcesSep 21, 2018

Emotionally manipulative yet completely deprived of any actual feelings, this film has dialogue that no human has ever even conceived of saying, such as “I love you but I may not be equipped to be loved this much”. Barf.

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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0

The3AcademySinsFeb 3, 2019

Life Itself is easily the worst movie of 2018. It is also one of the most offensive, insulting, and insipid movies I have ever had the misfortune of watching. Dan Fogleman's script is nothing short of emotionally manipulative drivel. I almostLife Itself is easily the worst movie of 2018. It is also one of the most offensive, insulting, and insipid movies I have ever had the misfortune of watching. Dan Fogleman's script is nothing short of emotionally manipulative drivel. I almost can't believe that he wrote and directed this hack-job.

The biggest problem with Life Itself is that it doesn't trust the audience to understand and make connections with the characters. It sets up contrived plot devices and tragedies with no originality and then has the balls to laud itself unironically as "unique and original." It has the unmitigated STONES to compare itself to Pulp Fiction. This movie is nothing like Pulp Fiction. If anything, Life Itself is a less-good rip-off of 500 Days of Summer and Manchester By The Sea, but it doesn't even understand how those two movies work.

The premise of Life Itself is that there are two families tied together by a single traumatic event. Characters are drowned in horrible tragedies, there is a Spanish sub-plot that feels tacked on, and the fact that the script tries to tie it all together at the end to make a profound statement is so degrading that the only real tragedy is that I wasted my time watching this movie at all. The movie's theme is "Life Itself is the ultimate unreliable narrator." The movie has no problem spoon-feeding you this theme and saying it out loud word-for-word multiple times during the movie. Talk about a stupid waste of a title-drop. I loved This Is Us, but now I am convinced that Dan Fogelman is a jack off.… Expand

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0

YeetusMcGeetusFeb 3, 2019

Yowza, was this movie rubbish. I feel sorry for Dan Fogelman. Was he drunk when he did this? I hated the narration. Totally took me out of the movie. It was like watching a ten car pileup.

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10

vlopagliucaDec 24, 2018

One of the best movies of 2018, for sure. I gave 10 for the acting, the stories and how the director could fixed all together to make all the connections. Great movie!

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1

joanalperinSep 21, 2018

Stage and Cinema Film Review: LIFE ITSELF (directed by Dan Fogelman)
by JOAN ALPERIN on SEPTEMBER 18, 2018
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE ITSELF Writer/director Dan Fogelman is currently represented on TV with his creation This Is Us, which followsStage and Cinema Film Review: LIFE ITSELF (directed by Dan Fogelman)
by JOAN ALPERIN on SEPTEMBER 18, 2018

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE ITSELF
Writer/director Dan Fogelman is currently represented on TV with his creation This Is Us, which follows two parents and their three children, born on the same day as their father. Now entering its third season, the NBC show takes place in the present but also utilizes flashbacks so we see how events in the past shape who the characters are today.

In Life Itself – which opens in cinemas this week — Fogelman uses a similar technique, but now weaves together a story that concerns multiple couples over numerous generations and how they are all connected by one event.

It begins with Will (excellent Oscar Isaac) and Abby (Olivia Wilde), who are first shown at a college party, where Will says he’s “just waiting for the right moment” to ask her out. “Because when I ask you out, there’s not going to be any turning back for me.” At one point, he becomes the narrator of his story informing us that “he loves her like a stalker.”
We then find a disheveled Will at the office of his shrink (Annette Bening), where he relates that it’s strange to think about how a completely random moment would shape an entire life. Then it’s back to Abby and Will, now madly in love, married and pregnant.

Fate will link them to Dylan (Olivia Cooke) a troubled young woman trying to find her way in the world, and her grandfather Irwin (Mandy Patinkin). Then it’s off to Spain where we meet a rich plantation owner, Mr. Saccione (the wonderful Antonio Banderas), his plantation manager Javier (Sergio Peris-Mencheta), and Javier’s wife Isabel (Laia Costa) and their son Rodrigo (Alex Monner). It’s their poignant story that will take one of them back to where the film began — the streets of New York City.

Spanning decades as well as continents, the film explores the human condition and all its complications: love, family, tragedy, joy, fate and — in the end — life itself. While some may see this tearjerker as manipulative, I absolutely loved every second of it, my favorite of the year so far.

Life Itself
Amazon Studios
U.S.A. | 117 minutes | rated R
in wide release September 21, 2018… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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9

GrumpyReviewerDec 10, 2018

The critics must be out of their minds... I have NO IDEA how someone can give this movie a poor score. Carrying that same amazing, haunting, beautiful, touching, moving DNA from 'This is Us', 'Life Itself' is a story that should not beThe critics must be out of their minds... I have NO IDEA how someone can give this movie a poor score. Carrying that same amazing, haunting, beautiful, touching, moving DNA from 'This is Us', 'Life Itself' is a story that should not be missed.

This movie is beautifully woven, bringing together different stories that, together, tell a tale that is bigger than all its individual parts. Life as the ultimate narrator and all of us as parts of an amazing story that is told through years, generations, through pain and love. First thing I did when I left the theater was to call my mom and tell her how much I love her and how much I appreciate the fact that I have her in my life. This movie has spoken to me and touched me, leaving me in a sore, yet peaceful catharsis.

DO NOT LISTEN TO THE CRITICS. Go watch this movie! It will destroy your heart, but I will be worth it in the end, I promise.… Expand