The Motel Life

Name: The Motel Life
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: November 8, 2013
Duration: 85 min
Rating: 61

2013

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

See All

7.2

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.2	Your Score
7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Motel Life

Now Playing: The Motel Life

Movie Details & Credits

| Release Date: November 8, 2013 | R

Summary: Based on the popular novel by Willy Vlautin, The Motel Life is a searing and profound examination of brotherhood set in the timeless Sierra Nevadan frontier. Frank (Emile Hirsch) and Jerry Lee Flannigan (Stephen Dorff) work odd jobs, drink hard, and drift from motel to motel. Their only escape is through Frankâ

Director: Alan Polsky and Gabe Polsky

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 85 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Sheila O'Malley

Nov 8, 2013

The directors and the cast, through a miracle of tone, mood, and emotion, have made a film that feels true, that is sweet and sharp and unbearable. Every frame feels right, every choice feels thought-out, considered. All adds up to a heartbreaking whole. Read full review

Empire David Hughes

Mar 31, 2014

Powerful, moving and melancholy. A low-key treat. Read full review

Stephanie Merry

Nov 7, 2013

For all its melancholy and grey, snowy landscape, The Motel Life never feels totally hopeless, thanks in large part to colorful ancillary characters (not to mention occasional trips into Frank’s mind). Read full review

Kerry Lengel

Nov 8, 2013

The false notes are outnumbered by those that ring achingly true. Read full review

Sheri Linden

Nov 7, 2013

The feature spikes its lonesome mood with shots of dry humor, animated sequences and flashbacks — at times overplaying its hand, even as Emile Hirsch and Stephen Dorff wordlessly convey all that needs to be said. Read full review

Mike D'Angelo

Nov 6, 2013

What is successful, and suggests a promising future for the Polsky brothers as directors, is the film’s central relationship, which never feels less than genuine. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Nov 7, 2013

As good as The Motel Life is for the actors, that's how bad it is for the viewer. Read full review

SEE ALL 19 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

jadesmetacritic

Jun 24, 2014

A tragic story of two brothers - drunk, drifting along, and determined to distract themselves from their lives, both present and past. The animation, making the harsh realities of these men almost dream-like, brings to life this drunken journey in an icy and isolating environment.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

saturos8

Feb 25, 2014

A really great performance from the actors! Emile Hirsch and Kris Kristofferson jump off the screen with their powerful performances. Not to mention the visuals are gorgeous. A really strong directorial debut from the Polsky Brothers. I look forward to seeing what else they come out with inA really great performance from the actors! Emile Hirsch and Kris Kristofferson jump off the screen with their powerful performances. Not to mention the visuals are gorgeous. A really strong directorial debut from the Polsky Brothers. I look forward to seeing what else they come out with in the future!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LeZee

Dec 24, 2016

The story of two orphan and strongly bonded brothers.

I have been set eye on this for some time, but only now I been able to see it. It was not as good as I expected, but an okay film. The story of two brothers who were orphaned at very young age and since then they have never been partedThe story of two orphan and strongly bonded brothers.

I have been set eye on this for some time, but only now I been able to see it. It was not as good as I expected, but an okay film. The story of two brothers who were orphaned at very young age and since then they have never been parted as they promised to their mother. Now grown up to adult, one of them commits an accident and decides to run away with it. When the law makes the progress on the case that leads to them, what's now and how they fight it was focused in the rest.

Very ordinary screenplay. Feels like a bit realistic, but there's nothing much happening at all. Thanks to those additional animations which actually lifted the film a bit. I loved those sequences over the real film. So this for the first directional film for the Polsky brothers and they were okay. I liked the cast of the brothers. apart from them there's no one that impressive. The romance was very weak, though only the ending was high.

I don't know the novel, it was based on, but the film lacked some good scenes or the events. Not just one or two, but in many parts the film should have been better. They should have altered the storyline from the original source. Especially the fate of amputated brother was too intentional as story wanted to end other way around. It was all the sudden and ruined the rhythm. The film is not good for everyone's viewing, so I suggest you be a careful if you want to try it.

5/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 3 REVIEWS