Life of Riley

Name: Life of Riley
Genre: Comedy
Released: October 24, 2014
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 70

2014

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Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 4 Ratings

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Life Of Riley (US)

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Movie Details & Credits

Kino Lorber | Release Date: October 24, 2014 | Not Rated

Summary: In the English countryside, the life of three couples is disturbed by a character we shall constantly hear about but never see: the enigmatic George Riley. When general practitioner Dr. Colin inadvertently tells his wife Kathryn that his patient George Riley does not have more than a few months to live, he doesn't know that Riley wasIn the English countryside, the life of three couples is disturbed by a character we shall constantly hear about but never see: the enigmatic George Riley. When general practitioner Dr. Colin inadvertently tells his wife Kathryn that his patient George Riley does not have more than a few months to live, he doesn't know that Riley was Kathryn's first love. Both spouses, who are rehearsing a play with their local amateur theatre company, convince George to join them. It allows George, among other things, to play strong love scenes with Tamara, who is married to Jack, his best friend, a rich businessman and unfaithful husband. A tearful Jack tries to persuade Monica, George's wife who left him to be with Simeon the farmer, to go back to her husband in order to support him during his last months. George has a strange seductive power over Monica, Tamara and Kathryn, which highly upsets those men sharing their lives with the three women. Which one will George Riley take on holidays in Tenerife with him? [Kino Lorber]… Expand

Director: Alain Resnais

Genre(s): Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 108 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

RogerEbert.com Glenn Kenny

Oct 24, 2014

Everything in Life of Riley, Resnais makes plain, is a contrivance. Much of the joy and beauty of the movie comes from letting the levels of contrivance fall into place, as with some Rube Goldberg contraption, creating a parallel abstract narrative to the more conventional semi-farcical one unfolding on screen. Read full review

Chuck Bowen

Sep 2, 2014

Alain Resnais's overpoweringly beautiful final film dares to push through the ghosts that inhabit the present, standing between the pessimism of an ill-spent past and the optimism of an undefined future. Read full review

Empire David Parkinson

Mar 2, 2015

A final opportunity to see a master at work in this mischievously melancholic delight. Read full review

Farran Smith Nehme

Oct 22, 2014

Filmed on abstract sets, it’s full of playful touches, such as lines delivered in front of a screen that looks like a comic-strip panel, and glimpses of a mole puppet popping out from a fake lawn. Read full review

Patrick Gamble

Mar 5, 2015

A postmodern experiment in both form and function, Life of Riley's rigidity can at times feel like its restricting its actors, leaving them unable to treads the boards with the same authority they would on the stage. Read full review

Stephen Holden

Oct 23, 2014

Life of Riley is neither especially profound nor riotously funny. An element of caricature is palpable in the performances but restrained. Read full review

Mike D'Angelo

Oct 21, 2014

Where You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet added layers of meta-reflection to plays (by Jean Anouilh) that are terrific in their own right, Life Of Riley struggles in vain to find cinematic value in one of Alan Ayckbourn’s lesser efforts. Read full review

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DawdlingPoet

Nov 28, 2021

One of the first things I noticed with this film was the bright and vivid colours and the artificial seeming sets. It comes across like a play within a play, with the first scene featuring two characters struggling with their lines and most scenes featuring a backdrop with a disguisedOne of the first things I noticed with this film was the bright and vivid colours and the artificial seeming sets. It comes across like a play within a play, with the first scene featuring two characters struggling with their lines and most scenes featuring a backdrop with a disguised curtain, so it appears as if people are walking back into the house when they turn around and walk through the curtains. It has a certain cartoon type feel to it, with other scenes/shots showing the character with an apparently drawn background of black lines on a white background for example.

The plot revolves around fairly well off people having to come to terms with a relatives impending demise. It'd be fair to say it features familial bickering. I suppose with the heavy emphasis on dialogue, it could seem a little dull but at least the quirky idents in between scenes (showing where the next setting is based, such as in France or England, or in another building) are nice. The characters are somewhat quirky but it'd be fair to say its not exactly an exciting, action-packed sort of a film, so that may be worth bearing in mind. Its about family gossip and jealousy. The music played ocassionally (very ocassionally) is surprisingly jolly and upbeat sounding, adding again to the quirkiness of the film.

I noted scenes of male characters opening up to each other about things, which was quite refreshing to see. There is also (slight) mockery, backstabbing and bickering. Its relatively interesting to see how people respond to finding out secrets, the proverbial 'dirty washing' hanging out for those to see. Its a slow burner but it's ok. Miles from fascinating but mildly intriguing at best, I'd say. I particularly liked the male character who waits for the other character to walk away before swearing and letting out his anger briefly. There is a glimmer of amusement present but it certainly won't appeal to everyone. If it sounds of interest, then give it a watch I say.… Expand

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