Review: Life Itself

“No one knows where their story is going, nor who the heroes in it are going to be.”

So on a casual Thursday night I got a free screening to the movie Life Itself, created by Amazon Studios. I saw the trailer and thought this was my kind of movie. I was so excited that I would get to see it for free, plus I was able to drag my best friend along.

Going into this movie, I knew it was written by Dan Fogelman, the creator of This is Us, I knew I as in for drama and tears. But, I was okay with that, sometimes you need a good cry. I thought I knew exactly how this story was going to progress. However, much of the movie did not transpire the way I thought it would. This movie had two very good elements, the acting and the way the story was told.

The narrator of this story is unclear until the very end. They chose to tell the story in chapters, like a book, which I liked as it was unconventional. I like it when writers play with timelines, and this film does it well. One of the points of the whole movie, is that there are no reliable narrators when it comes to fiction. They put this thought in your head making you wonder how much of the story is true. It also makes you question who the heroes are and who the villains are. I love that it shows how people in life go though phases of making great choices and making horrible ones. We all have times where we feel like a hero and a villain.

The acting is very well executed. Oscar Issac, Oliva Wilde shine in their roles. Their chemistry on screen is magnetic. Mandy Patinkin is also in this film playing a dad/grandfather and he is so amazing. I adore the way he smiles and how wise he seems. He has some very wonderful moments in the movie that just tug on your heart. I really loved that they mix a lot of Spanish culture in the film, as half the movie takes place in Spain. It was fun to see Antonio Banderas on screen again, because I haven’t seen him in a while. The movie also stars some people I have never seen, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Laia Costa, Àlex Monner, all of whom lit up the screen.

One criticism I have for this movie is that the end seemed a little trite and corny. There is a beautiful scene between a mother and a son (I don’t want to spoil anything) where the mother, played by Alex Monner, tell her son the truth about life. She explains how we are all connected to the people that we love and interact with. She gives this phenomenal monologue, with the camera zoomed in so much you can see the specs of gold in her eyes. You feel everything she says as you catch yourself trying not to break out in a sob. One of my favorite parts is when she says that when you fall, you have to get right back up and keep running. A fact of life we are all aware of, but one we always forget. Now I said I had a criticism coming, and this is it, that scene was so beautiful and moving that the movie should have ended shortly after that, with those wise words still hanging in your brain. Instead, they beat the idea to the ground. They have another monologue by the movies actual narrator (you finally discover who had been telling the story the whole time) and she reiterates the previous monologue but not as well and it comes off as very cheesy. They went from realistic to over dramatic. The great part about the scene with Alex is that it feels real. What she says has a bit of darkness, mixed in with the hopeful message. It reminds you of thoughts you’ve had or conversations you have had with others. That’s why in that scene I couldn’t hold back the tears, and neither could anyone else cause sniffles echoed through that theater. So to have the end almost negate that, was very disappointing. It should have ended ten minutes before it did in my opinion.

That being said, it was still a good movie and I enjoyed it. There was a lot that I figured out, even though it was trying to be sneaky (however, I admit I am very good at that and other people may not be able to figure out the twist). There was also some shocking moments that did happen that I did not see coming, which is always refreshing. It does a good job of reminding us that no matter what life brings you, good or bad, it is always worth living. It is always worth loving others and connecting with humans, no matter how much they may hurt you. It’s a good message and it reminds me of the kind of story I would write. So, if you are bored and want to support a good indie film, you will be entertained for the hour and a half that you are there. But bring tissues.

Stay Excellent,
Megan