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The Life Before Her Eyes Review

Movies.com Critics

2.5

Dave White Profile

… a big M. Night Shyamalan-ish twist ending … Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 2.0
    38

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Generally unfavorable reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 20

    out of 100

    Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

    Consider this more a consumer warning than a movie review: The Life Before Her Eyes will draw you in, then intrigue you, then bore you, then bewilder you, then make you crazy with its incessant flashbacks and flash forwards, and finally leave you feeling like the victim of a fraud.

    Read Full Review

  • 33

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

    Perelman pays such cooing attention to surfaces that our response to violence carries no more importance than our response to the delicate jewelry around the adult Diana's neck.

    Read Full Review

  • 40

    out of 100

    The New York Times Stephen Holden

    Tidy, predictable, excruciatingly fussy in its details and lacking the tiniest glimmer of humor, The Life Before Her Eyes contradicts the director's claim in the production notes that the movie "is not a perfectly ordered experience with clear causes and effects."

    Read Full Review

  • 40

    out of 100

    Variety

    A femme-centric drama about the aftermath of a high school massacre, profoundly confusing "In Bloom" arrives at some very tenuous moral conclusions that might alienate much of its supposed target audience.

    Read Full Review

  • 60

    out of 100

    The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen

    Boasting two terrific performances by Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood as the adult and teenage versions of the same character.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times Carina Chocano

    Though atmospheric and occasionally suspenseful, its gimmickry keeps it from being transcendent.

    Read Full Review

  • See all The Life Before Her Eyes reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 16+

Disturbing school-shooting drama is a puzzler.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this R-rated drama, which may interest teens thanks to starlets Evan Rachel Wood and Eva Amurri, explores dark, disturbing themes. The story revolves around a woman still haunted by a mass shooting at her high school; scenes from the tragedy are shown repeatedly, with plenty of blood and gore and very realistic scenes of the teen gunman shooting at victims. A teen gets an abortion, and there's also a fair amount of swearing, some suggestive scenes (one involving a couple in a swimming pool), and some underage drinking and smoking.

  • Families can talk about the movie's sensitive subject matter. Why do you think filmmakers wanted to make a film about a school shooting? Do you think they intended for teens to see it? If so, what messages do you think they were trying to send? Families can also discuss the relationship between Diana and Maureen. How is their friendship portrayed? Is it realistic? What about their friendship makes the movie's final moments so harrowing and powerful?

The good stuff
  • message true0

    Messages: The film itself is ultimately quite moving, but the lead-up to the final moment includes a violent school shooting by a gunman who seems far from remorseful. Also, best friends say harsh things to each other, hurting each other's feelings and threatening their friendship. A teen gets an abortion.

What to watch for
  • violence false5

    Violence: The film deals with a Columbine-like mass shooting at a high school and shows how events unfold as the gunman goes on his rampage. There's plenty of bloodshed, as well as the disturbing sounds of people shrieking and dying. Some close-ups of the gunman pointing his weapon at victims' faces.

  • sex false3

    Sex: A teen couple is shown making out, and it's implied that they have sex -- the girl winds up pregnant. Two 17-year-old girls engage in frank discussions about boys and sex; one describes herself as a "whore" and seems to be acting out. She also jokes about seducing an older professor at a local college.

  • language false3

    Language: Language includes "s--t," "p---y," and "f--kheads."

  • consumerism false0

    Consumerism: Some signage (Brooks Pharmacy, Hillview High School), but nothing excessive.

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: A teen is shown smoking pot and cigarettes. Some are also shown drinking.

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

© Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 2.772
Read all reviews Write a review at Fandango
5

Cinematic Poetry by NeoOne
I'm not sure why anyone would be confused about this movie. Beautifully shot with great camera movement and shots. The acting is top notch from both Ms Thurman and Wood as well as Ms Amurri. Vadim Perelman's direction is excellent and proves to be one of the best in the biz, can't wait for his next "Atlas Shrugged" starring Angelina Jolie. He takes a simple concept and makes a great feature film. I don't want to say too much about the move because It would be very easy to give away what the move is about , but at the end just ask yourself what the name of the picture is and the light bulb should go on.

4

Excellent movie - Uma finally gets to truly act! by Films_Addiction
Independent film. Very good! Excellent cast. Excellent acting. Excellent direction. Story was very good with the perfect topic for today?s audience ? school shootings. I love Uma Thurman in this movie ? perfect opportunity to truly show her talent and she delivers. I loved the story ? what happens to survivors of a school shooting long after they grow up? Especially the ones who had to choose between themselves and their friends on who lived and who died ? which is the premise of this story. I loved this movie! I loved the ending! Go see it!

5

Great movie!!! by capn_oats89
I really enjoyed this movie. I thought Uma Thermon and Evan Rachel Wood both did a fantastic job. The movie really draws you in and the ending was fantastic as well!

3

The Life Before Her Eyes by movie_sungoddess
This is a good, but confusing movie. It left everyone in the audience confused. We had to talk amongst ourselves to figure it out. I would have been fine not seeing it.

3

The Life Before Her Eyes by Behind_the_scene
Interesting concept, but the surprise ending was signaled ahead of time. Photography was very artistic, but the short focus became tiresome after a while. Great job by all the actors.

5

by pinkflowers24

1

by DonnyLinger

Read all The Life Before Her Eyes reviews at Fandango
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