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Life Is Beautiful Review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

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

  • 3.0
    59

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Mixed or average reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 100

    out of 100

    Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

    A deeply moving blend of cold terror and rapturous hilarity. Lovingly crafted by Italy's top comedian and most popular filmmaker, it's that rare comedy that takes on a daring and ambitious subject and proves worthy of it.

    Read Full Review

  • 60

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

    While it's futile to pretend that Life Is Beautiful completely triumphs--it's simply too tough a concept to sustain--what is surprising about this unlikely film is that it succeeds as well as it does.

    Read Full Review

  • 67

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

    Starts out as sentimental whimsy and ends as sentimental kitsch.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    Variety

    Sluggish, uneven and lacking in rhythm, it nonetheless has enough pathos and winning humor.

    Read Full Review

  • 75

    out of 100

    ReelViews James Berardinelli

    It's the depiction of the love and sacrifice of a father for a son that makes Life is Beautiful worthwhile.

    Read Full Review

  • 80

    out of 100

    The New York Times Elvis Mitchell

    Benigni effectively creates a situation in which comedy is courage. And he draws from this an unpretentious, enormously likable film that plays with history both seriously and mischievously. Piety has no place here, nor do tears until the final reel. Life is Beautiful plays by its own rules

    Read Full Review

  • 88

    out of 100

    USA Today Mike Clark

    To see someone even attempt bittersweet treatment of this subject is surprising, but to largely pull it off is a major feat.

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  • 88

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    Finds the right notes to negotiate its delicate subject matter.

    Read Full Review

  • See all Life Is Beautiful reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

OK for kids 13+

Wrenching, Oscar-winning Holocaust fable.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie is set during the Holocaust. To protect his son, the main character leads him to believe they are participating in a contest. Spoiler: The child survives, but the father does not.

  • Families can talk about the historical framework of the movie as well as the challenges that parents face when they see their children learn about tragedy and unfairness.

What to watch for
  • violence false3

    Violence: Holocaust-related violence.

  • sex false0

    Sex: Not an issue

  • language false0

    Language: Not an issue

  • consumerism false0

    Consumerism: Not an issue

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue

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: 4.346
Read all reviews Write a review at Fandango
5

An awesome movie on a difficult subject by TheSimiValleyMovieMom
Life Is Beautiful is a tender, well produced movie that tackles a story where there is no beauty and no joy - the holocaust. In an attempt to protect his son, this father will go to great lengths to keep him from understanding all the horrors surrounding him. Realistic? Probably not, but at that time in his life-what did you he to lose? If you haven't seen this movie, you should. Bring a tissue because it is beautiful, and sad, and loving. Also-it may be subtitled. :-) If this one is subtitled, the words are few-you really don't need them.

5

Must Go
Nicely picturized movie... people of all ages will enjoy this movie... not boring at all...goes like a sweet memories of the life... Go & hv fun...

5

by teredesi

4

A movie of all emotions
A movie of all emotions Sekhar Kammula style movie.. Laugh - fun - silence - cry - happy ending

Read all Life Is Beautiful reviews at Fandango
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