Whose Life Is It Anyway?

R

Released Dec 2, 1981

1 hr. 58 min.

Drama

List

70%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Ken Harrison (Richard Dreyfuss) is a well-known and respected sculptor, until a terrible car accident leaves him a paraplegic. His once positive outlook descends into depression as he comes to grips with the loss of his independence and his art. Even as he develops a relationship with Clare Scott (Christine Lahti), all he wants to do is end his life, but U.S. law forbids assisted suicide. Dr. Harrison (John Cassavetes) vows to keep Ken alive -- while Ken's lawyer fights for his right to die.

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Audience Member

Good storyline but it is sexist though with woman getting harassed 50% of the time. Has some cheesy acting (especially when they're speaking in medical terms). If you can get passed all that its pretty good.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Is That Richard Dreyfuss I Admire: Nothing Similar to "Jaws" and Other Films He's Mentioned As His Best. Honestly, The Very Best Dreyfuss Theatrical Performance. A Must Of His Career.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Well acted and a difficult subject, the film challenged me to think more deeply about an agonizing situation. I will certainly watch it more than once.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Was one of the films I found profoundly important when it came out in 81. We did not have the rules and regulations as we do today over handicapped persons, care of people in hospital making their own decisions about their care rather than physicians, and I loved this film. It truely supported persons being their own boss over their life. I am a nurse and let me tell you this movie did represent what did go on!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Honestyl, I think this movie is overrated. The subject matter and the way it is touched upon is very moving and Dreyfuss is giving an excellent performance. However, the other actors and actresses are rather mediocre and their characters aren't written too well. And my biggest complaint: About half an hour or maybe even more could be cut from the movie entirely, there are so many scenes that don't further the story. We know he loves his girlfriend and misses the good times they had together and he misses creating art with his hands. It is hinted at early on he says it again when the doctor proposes that he could become a writer instead. There's no need to add a 3 minutes and 30 seconds dream/flashback-scene to the movie. It could lose a lot of fat that makes it unnecessarily slow. Such scenes don't make us feel for him more, they are just repetitive. Overall, I recommend watching it because it does what it does well very well. But I don't think anyone needs to rewatch it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the rare instances where a good play was opened up on the screen and didn't suffer for the filmmakers having done so. Richard Dreyfuss gives a noteworthy performance.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

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John Badham

Director

Richard Dreyfuss

Ken Harrison

John Cassavetes

Dr. Michael Emerson

Christine Lahti

Dr. Clare Scott

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

[Whose Life Is It Anyway?] is an engrossing drama despite its grim subject.

Jul 25, 2019

Full Review

Bruce McCabe

Boston Globe

The inadequately and misleadingly titled Whose Life Is It Anyway? is a brilliant emotional exercise which ambitiously and heroically wrestles with the most emotional issue of all -- death.

Apr 28, 2018

Full Review

Larry Vitacco

Philadelphia Gay News

Who's Life is one of the year's best films, not to be missed.

Rated: 4/4

May 27, 2020

Full Review

Rick Chatenever

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Dreyfuss never seems to get far enough into his character to make his anguish -- or his decision to fight -- real.

Nov 20, 2019

Full Review

Diego Galán

El Pais (Spain)

Shallowness drowns the ambition of the project. [Full Review in Spanish]

Aug 26, 2019

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 4/5

Oct 6, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

Ken Harrison (Richard Dreyfuss) is a well-known and respected sculptor, until a terrible car accident leaves him a paraplegic. His once positive outlook descends into depression as he comes to grips with the loss of his independence and his art. Even as he develops a relationship with Clare Scott (Christine Lahti), all he wants to do is end his life, but U.S. law forbids assisted suicide. Dr. Harrison (John Cassavetes) vows to keep Ken alive -- while Ken's lawyer fights for his right to die.

Director: John Badham
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 2, 1981, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009

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