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Life

Play trailer 2:10 Poster for Life R 2015 1h 52m Biography History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
63% Tomatometer 60 Reviews 45% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In 1955, young photographer Dennis Stock (Robert Pattinson) develops a close bond with actor James Dean (Dane DeHaan) while shooting pictures of the rising Hollywood star.
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Life

Life

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Critics Consensus

Life may frustrate viewers seeking a James Dean biopic with its subject's intensity, but it remains a diverting, well-acted effort assembled with admirable craft and ambition.

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Critics Reviews

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Jessica Kiang The Playlist 12/05/2015
C+
Corbijn is great at taking real-life flesh and blood people and alchemically rendering them in striking 2-dimensional images that transcend and mythologize the reality, but "Life" shows him fall some way short of achieving the reverse. Go to Full Review
Liz Braun Toronto Sun 12/04/2015
3/5
Both Pattinson and DeHaan could have used more to do, but both actors put in performances that elevate the proceedings. Go to Full Review
Brad Wheeler Globe and Mail 12/04/2015
3/4
A moody, leisurely and occasionally frustrating piece of work ... Go to Full Review
Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com 10/09/2020
A disappointment considering Corbijn's abilities (particularly when compared to his first and best effort, 2007's Control, another portrait of a tragic artist). Go to Full Review
Danielle Davenport One Room With A View 05/16/2019
3/5
Anton Corbijn's snapshot of a photographer and his muse is cool and well made. Unfortunately, in comparison to its tremendous cast, Life is underwhelming. Go to Full Review
Alison Rowat The Herald (Scotland) 08/23/2018
3/5
The unexpected delight here is Pattinson, who takes the character of Stock and shows every side of him, the unflattering ones included, to the camera. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Harald B 06/16/2023 Could they not find someone who looked remotely like James Dean?. Making him act like a challenged or autistic person did not help either. See more Leaburn O 06/05/2023 As someone who knows little of James Dean except the legendary rebel persona, I found this an interesting portrait. I liked the photographer angle and thought the acting was decent. See more micha s 01/19/2023 DeHaan becomes Dean and along with an excellent supporting cast (Edgerton and the family in Indiana), these are what this film has going for it, and that's no small thing. It's unlikely that anyone would have been able to play this role credibly, so watching and listening to DeHaan is an absolute treat. See more 09/23/2021 I love these actors and I love Dean, but this was like watching grass grow. Pattinson gives the real performance here tho. He doesn't hide the awkwardness of Dennis Stock or the shame he carries around, something Dean doesn't really get in coming from such a loving family. But the whole film is a waiting game to see the final shots, which we only end up seeing a few of. Thanks, guys. The closing poetry was a beautiful touch, but worth the time invested? Meh. See more 05/15/2021 If you missed this, and don't like the ratings, give it a go. Sure, it's not perfect, but there's a lot of art in this that you need to watch carefully. Definitely mark this one for a reflective night in. See more 09/14/2020 The idea behind this film is pretty cool, it's ultimately rather dull. Robert Pattinson is good but Dane DeHaan seemed to lack the charisma and charm to nail James Dean. See more Read all reviews
Life

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1955, young photographer Dennis Stock (Robert Pattinson) develops a close bond with actor James Dean (Dane DeHaan) while shooting pictures of the rising Hollywood star.
Director
Anton Corbijn
Producer
Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Christina Piovesan, Benito Mueller, Wolfgang Mueller
Screenwriter
Luke Davies
Distributor
Cinedigm
Production Co
See-Saw Films
Rating
R (Some Sexuality/Nudity|Language)
Genre
Biography, History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 4, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 7, 2016
Runtime
1h 52m
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