Review by John M. Delia, Jr.
Our life experiences influence what we do in our future and what our parents experience could also influence how we are as well. And, in tragedy and death we experience large amounts of loss that could also transfer to our unborn offspring. Lastly, we experience many ups and downs throughout our lifetime and how we react to those, good or bad, experiences make up who we are and how strong our will is to survive. Keep moving along knowing that there will be good life experiences, even though you will always have many hurdles to overcome as we see in Life Itself.
This is a story that is displayed in four parts. Each part depicts a different character or characters that have a role in the over-all picture. Starting not always in the beginning, not always at the end, and sometimes in the middle. Each character effects and influences all the other characters throughout the film and leads up to a final new story that explains the true meaning of Life Itself.
There are many interesting characters along the way, in life, and in this story. Will (Oscar Isaac) and Abby (Olivia Wilde) are very much in love since the day they met. They plan their life together facing things as they come. Javier (Sergio Peris-Mencheta) and Isabel (Laia Costa) live in a small town in Spain. Javier works for a very wealthy man, Mr. Saccione (Antonio Bandaeras), picking olives and enjoying his new life with Isabel. Dylan (Olivia Cooke), being raised by her grandfather Irwin (Mandy Patinkin), is a young girl getting ready to begin her life as an adult and trying to understand what her future will bring her. Lastly, there is Rodrigo (Alex Monner), who wants to experience life away from home and eventually find someone to love.
Writer and Director Dan Fogelman, develops a story about life and how each and every one we meet will effect who we are or who we eventually become. He presents shocking events that include violent, but emotional, images to express dramatic events on his main characters. These events lead up to other stories that explain the eventual conclusion to this far fetched but extreme reality to our lives.
I found the experience somewhat disappointing, because the director included scenes or references to events that were not necessary to express the point being made. It seemed as if he was trying to duplicate the same format presented in the film “Pulp Fictionâ€, to get some sort of reaction from the audience. Violent images and situations to describe a character’s past can affect how the person becomes in the future, but when you don’t use those items in the characters later personality it becomes noise. Another factor to consider is that the trailer. It portrays this film very differently from what it displays and can be hard at times for your emotions to give this story a chance. Finally, I did enjoy the deep meaningful message that was given throughout narrative.
Final Comment: I based my grade on the weak presentation of the storyline, the unnecessary use of some tactics, but liked theimportant message that was given throughout the story. (3 stars out of 5)
Additional Film Information
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Olivia Wilde, Annette Bening, Mandy Patinkin, Jean Smart, Olivia Cooke, Sergio Peris-Mancheta, Antonio Banderas, Laia Costa, Alex Monner, Adrian Marrero, and Samuel L Jackson.
Directed and written by: Dan Fogelman
Genre: Drama, Romance
MPAA Rating: Rated R for language, sexual references, some violent images, and brief drug use.
Running Time: 1 hour and 58 minutes.
Release Date:Â September 21, 2018
Distributed By: Stage 6 Films and Amazon Studios.
Released In: Standard