Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Search cinema listings

Browse cinemas A-Z

Search 20,000 reviews

 

An Unfinished Life (2005)

Director: Lasse Hallström

Average user rating
No reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

After a good two years on the shelf, the last and least of Lasse Hallström’s four-film association with Miramax reaches the light of day. And thoroughly ordinary it is too, despite admittedly decent contributions from a top cast. Fleeing from an abusive boyfriend, Jennifer Lopez and her daughter seek refuge in the foothills of the Rockies with ornery Robert Redford, the father of her late husband, who’s long blamed her for the car crash which ended his son’s life. In fact, her arrival makes him extra ornery, though he still has time to tend the wounds of old pal Morgan Freeman, who’s had a serious run-in with a fugitive grizzly, and the presence of his granddaughter may yet bring a grudging smile.

So, everyone needs to move on, and move on they do in exactly the way you’d expect. It’s beyond predictable, yet not unpleasant to sit through as Hallström finds a comfortable ambling pace and has time for the lovely landscapes. Redford’s tougher than you expect, Lopez reasonable, Freeman the usual. It’s like a superior TV movie which suddenly wandered into cinemas.

Author: Trevor Johnston 2006-06-13 11:02:17

Time Out London Issue 1869: June 14-21 2006


  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend

What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields





Top Stories

Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'

Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'

Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him

Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?

Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?

How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains

Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'

Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'

We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon

A gateway to all things 'New Moon'

A gateway to all things 'New Moon'

In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.

London Children's Film Festival

London Children's Film Festival

Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival

The films that deserve a TV spin-off

The films that deserve a TV spin-off

With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’

Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'

Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'

Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations