The Life Before Her EyesRated R
Running time: 1 hr 30 mins
Cast:
Uma Thurman
Evan Rachel Wood
Critical consensus:
** out of *****
(26% Fresh Rating!)
Matt's Take:
B-
Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:
***1/2 out of *****
Running time: 1 hr 30 mins
Cast:
Uma Thurman
Evan Rachel Wood
Critical consensus:
** out of *****
(26% Fresh Rating!)
Matt's Take:
B-
Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:
***1/2 out of *****
The premise:
A woman's survivor's guilt from a Columbine-like event twenty years ago causes her present-day idyllic life to fall apart.
MY REVIEW
A woman's survivor's guilt from a Columbine-like event twenty years ago causes her present-day idyllic life to fall apart.
MY REVIEW
The Life Before Her Eyes is a little known film that won't get any recognition or anything of the sort at years end. In fact, it wasn't exactly received well by the critics. I can understand why but at the same time, I relatively liked this somber little film. There was no moments of sheer brilliance, or nothing that just wowed me but still, it was good. I'd probably recommend it to anyone. It has an eerie opening few scenes, that lead up to a school shooting. The film from then on, is pretty dark and depressing. This isn't a story for people who like films with at least a few moments of happiness and a pretty, happy little ending. Its the sort of movie that will marginally captivate you and at times, make you think.
There are basically only two stars of the film, both playing the same character. Oscar nominee Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill)plays the older version. Her character is the one dealing with the post traumatic stress of the school shooting that are told happened 15 years ago. Thurman has always been one of those really good actresses who gets overshadowed by the bigger named ladies. Personally thinking, she should have been nominated for an Oscar for Kill Bill: Volume II, she was incredible in that film. Yet, she is overlooked time and time again. There really is no exception here. She's good in this film, maybe a little too dramatic at times, but her character suffered an awful tragedy, what do you expect. The other half, the younger one is played by Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee Evan Rachel Wood (Thirteen). This young actress has proved now that she can hold her own amongst the big guns, assuming she doesn't let Hollywood consume her and strip her youth away and turn her to drugs and alcolholism. Another fairly excellent here.
The biggest issue I have with the film is the big twist ending, and boy is there a twist. Not one you honestly can FULLY predict but I wounldn't question you if you claimed you did. The ending works, but also doesn't. I understand it completely now, in fact the title is a dead giveaway. It's just that the filmaking and primarily the editing confused me when the twist was revealed. The film before the twist now seems a little sloppy and lazily put together. Yes, I saw all the puzzle pieces, but those pieces were just so messy now that I think about it. At the same time, I loved the ending itself. It was creative and kind of different. Poetic almost. It's just sad this ending kind of tarnishes the rest of the film in a way.
Life Before Her Eyes is a good film, I just want to say that. It's one you definitely have to be in the mood for, but if you are, I suggest you watch it. It may be a little carelessly put together, but overall it works.
There are basically only two stars of the film, both playing the same character. Oscar nominee Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill)plays the older version. Her character is the one dealing with the post traumatic stress of the school shooting that are told happened 15 years ago. Thurman has always been one of those really good actresses who gets overshadowed by the bigger named ladies. Personally thinking, she should have been nominated for an Oscar for Kill Bill: Volume II, she was incredible in that film. Yet, she is overlooked time and time again. There really is no exception here. She's good in this film, maybe a little too dramatic at times, but her character suffered an awful tragedy, what do you expect. The other half, the younger one is played by Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee Evan Rachel Wood (Thirteen). This young actress has proved now that she can hold her own amongst the big guns, assuming she doesn't let Hollywood consume her and strip her youth away and turn her to drugs and alcolholism. Another fairly excellent here.
The biggest issue I have with the film is the big twist ending, and boy is there a twist. Not one you honestly can FULLY predict but I wounldn't question you if you claimed you did. The ending works, but also doesn't. I understand it completely now, in fact the title is a dead giveaway. It's just that the filmaking and primarily the editing confused me when the twist was revealed. The film before the twist now seems a little sloppy and lazily put together. Yes, I saw all the puzzle pieces, but those pieces were just so messy now that I think about it. At the same time, I loved the ending itself. It was creative and kind of different. Poetic almost. It's just sad this ending kind of tarnishes the rest of the film in a way.
Life Before Her Eyes is a good film, I just want to say that. It's one you definitely have to be in the mood for, but if you are, I suggest you watch it. It may be a little carelessly put together, but overall it works.
To view this films theatrical trailer, click this link: Life Before Her Eyes*This is the 88th new film I've seen and reviewed this year.
*This film is now on DVD.
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