Life as a House (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
Sometimes the acting in a particular film can be so brilliant that it elevates the quality of what would be an average picture. Nothing in the script is overly unique; even falling prey to some melodrama. Such a film is this one, 'Life as a House', directed by Irwin Winkler. When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he assumes custody of his troubled teenage son. And when I say troubled, I mean: drug abuse, prostitution, & the like. Wanting to avoid his father at all costs, the knowledge of the cancer 'could' make him change his life. This is a full-on tear-jerker; but a film that shouldn't be missed.
Things are not going well for George (Kevin Kline). Divorced after 6 yrs. of marriage to Robin (Kristin Scott Thomas), & estranged from his rebellious son, Sam, (Hayden Christensen), George lives in a run-down house which overlooks the ocean. Next, he discovers that he's lost his job as an architect. And finally, a biggee ... he learns that he has terminal cancer. Hell bent on making a difference (out of the 4 remaining months of his life), he decides to spend his last summer with his son, tearing down the house, & building a new one. Sam is miserable at this prospect; wanting to drink & drug it up instead of performing manual labor with pops.
For one reason or another, he hates his father (could be divorce-related). Donning black dyed-hair, make-up, & body piercings, George orders Sam (as any frustrated father would) to assume some responsibility over his own life & change for-the-better. You can imagine how well 'that' goes over with Sam. This all may sound trite, but how it's handled onscreen btwn. the 2 actors is electrifying & highly emotional. Furious at his situation, Sam runs away (only next door) to pretty teenager, Alyssa (Jena Malone). Over the course of the summer, George has to tear down/building of the new house, learn how to control and connect with his son, deal with intermittent visits from his ex-wife, handle a sexpot neighbor (Mary Steenburgen), & figure out how to break the news of his cancer.
Though there 'are' some genuinely funny moments throughout the film, everything culminates in an overly sentimental climax (but one that felt necessary). Life as a House is one of those movies that (if it strikes when you're in the proper mood) can make you re-evaluate your own life; it's THAT potent. The movie succeeds in making us care about the characters, their fragmented relationships, their reconnections, & all their circumstances. Overall (sans some contrivances, obvious plot elements, & a stock villain), I feel that this film offers a real life view of what happens to children when families split up.
The acting is rich, down-to-Earth, & realistically portrayed. Kevin Kline not only looks like Hell, but as George, you really feel like he's trying to get out of Hell (emotionally); fighting for his family. He's exceptional, here. Kristen Scott Thomas is also wonderful; bringing a suppressed passion & humanity to a fairly conflicted role. And Hayden Christensen (the next Anakin Skywalker) is fantastic as the misanthropic wild child whose heart finally heals. Though the script has its flaws, it nails several things: the demolition/rebuilding of the house is quite cinematic. The ex-husband/ex-wife/son interactions ring true. And the relationship btwn. Sam & Alyssa is well developed. The film does way more things right than it does wrong. Life as a House makes for an affecting & compelling family drama.
Things are not going well for George (Kevin Kline). Divorced after 6 yrs. of marriage to Robin (Kristin Scott Thomas), & estranged from his rebellious son, Sam, (Hayden Christensen), George lives in a run-down house which overlooks the ocean. Next, he discovers that he's lost his job as an architect. And finally, a biggee ... he learns that he has terminal cancer. Hell bent on making a difference (out of the 4 remaining months of his life), he decides to spend his last summer with his son, tearing down the house, & building a new one. Sam is miserable at this prospect; wanting to drink & drug it up instead of performing manual labor with pops.
For one reason or another, he hates his father (could be divorce-related). Donning black dyed-hair, make-up, & body piercings, George orders Sam (as any frustrated father would) to assume some responsibility over his own life & change for-the-better. You can imagine how well 'that' goes over with Sam. This all may sound trite, but how it's handled onscreen btwn. the 2 actors is electrifying & highly emotional. Furious at his situation, Sam runs away (only next door) to pretty teenager, Alyssa (Jena Malone). Over the course of the summer, George has to tear down/building of the new house, learn how to control and connect with his son, deal with intermittent visits from his ex-wife, handle a sexpot neighbor (Mary Steenburgen), & figure out how to break the news of his cancer.
Though there 'are' some genuinely funny moments throughout the film, everything culminates in an overly sentimental climax (but one that felt necessary). Life as a House is one of those movies that (if it strikes when you're in the proper mood) can make you re-evaluate your own life; it's THAT potent. The movie succeeds in making us care about the characters, their fragmented relationships, their reconnections, & all their circumstances. Overall (sans some contrivances, obvious plot elements, & a stock villain), I feel that this film offers a real life view of what happens to children when families split up.
The acting is rich, down-to-Earth, & realistically portrayed. Kevin Kline not only looks like Hell, but as George, you really feel like he's trying to get out of Hell (emotionally); fighting for his family. He's exceptional, here. Kristen Scott Thomas is also wonderful; bringing a suppressed passion & humanity to a fairly conflicted role. And Hayden Christensen (the next Anakin Skywalker) is fantastic as the misanthropic wild child whose heart finally heals. Though the script has its flaws, it nails several things: the demolition/rebuilding of the house is quite cinematic. The ex-husband/ex-wife/son interactions ring true. And the relationship btwn. Sam & Alyssa is well developed. The film does way more things right than it does wrong. Life as a House makes for an affecting & compelling family drama.