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The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)

Director: Vadim Perelman

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From Time Out New York

We can’t say we weren’t warned: With one character a professor of philosophy, another enrolled at a Catholic school and a lot of loose talk about “conscience,” The Life Before Her Eyes has the makings of a pretentious mess from the get-go. This waterlogged drama stars Uma Thurman as Diana, the survivor of a Columbine-style massacre 15 years earlier. Evan Rachel Wood plays the same character in the weeks leading up to the pivotal shootings. When she’s not getting stoned or skinny-dipping with older men, the young Diana hangs out with her best friend (Amurri), a demure Pentecostal.

Even as it leans hard on the classic virgin-whore combo, the movie unwisely invites comparison to Elephant on account of both its subject and its repetitive, flashback-laden narrative. But Gus Van Sant’s inspired formalism could hardly contrast more sharply with the tiresome gimmickry of Vadim Perelman (House of Sand and Fog). Building up to what’s supposed to be a serious moral dilemma, the noisy final act borders on incoherence. Still, The Life Before Her Eyes at least emboldens audiences to choose whether to be more appalled by the movie’s inane attempts at Christian allegory or its implication that life might not ultimately be worth living, at least if you happen to be a teenage slut.

Author: Joshua Land 2008-04-15 17:57:47

Time Out New York Issue 655: April 17 - 23, 2008

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User reviews of this film

  • Helen said...
    Posted on Jul 01 2008 07:07 I really really enjoyed this film and i thought it was very clever the way the film leaves clues to the ending. It was a different idea and i loved it.
    Report as inappropriate
  • Michelle said...
    Posted on Apr 17 2008 11:48 This is a horribly written review where the male critic has the audacity to call the lead female character ateenage slut."
    Considering that the character, Diana, is fighting that very sterotype and trying to find her purpose, it reflects particularly badly on the writer. This is a coming of age story where the teenage woman finds her goodness and even as she makes the ultimate sacrifice for a friend.
    It is heartbreaking. I also feel that the phrases "building up to what's supposed to be a moral dilemma and christian allegory have been borrowed from another review.
    This critic is a real ass.
    Report as inappropriate

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The Life Before Her Eyes

Cast & crew

Director: Vadim Perelman

Cast: Uma Thurman, Evan Rachel Wood, Eva Amurri, Oscar Isaac, James Urbaniak full cast

Rated: R

Duration: 90 mins

US Release: Apr 18 2008


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