The Life Before Her Eyes Movie Review
The Pairing of Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood Is Superb
Jun 14, 2009
The Life Before Her Eyes is a movie that will thrill you, move you and make you think without ever resorting to being pathetic. Directed by Vadim Perelman (The House of Sand and Fog), it is an atmospheric, visually stunning film with a great pace. It stars two magnificent actresses at different ages of the main character. It is a sort of a déjà vu to see Evan Rachel Wood, since her role in this movie is something between Thirteen, when it comes to the character she plays, and Across the Universe, visually speaking. Uma Thurman is on the top of her game, and it is nice to see a splendid movie in her opus amidst her low-energy efforts (My Super Ex-Girlfriend, The Accidental Husband).
What Is It About?
The beginning of the movie introduces Diana (Rachel Wood), a high school senior, as well as her best friend Maureen, her polar opposite. Diana is a rebel, happy to experiment with drugs, alcohol and boyfriends until school ends, when she feels her life will finally "begin". On the other hand, Maureen is a religious, quiet girl, perfectly content with her life as it is. As they are talking in the school bathroom, they hear shooting sounds and are soon confronted by a kid with a shotgun who has just killed a number of their classmates. The rest of the situation, as well as other details of young Diana's life are told as older Diana's (Thurman) flashbacks some fifteen years later.
Why It Should Be Seen
Although at first the plot seems confusing and the characters unmotivated, this is not the case. Throughout the film, small clues have been sprinkled, which will help you think in the right direction (that is, if you pick on them). If this movie is immersed in, not just on the surface, but deeply, when it comes to the choices of its main character, the final twist will not come as a big surprise. In fact, the twist comes off as rather unimportant. The movie manages to pose a lot of interesting questions concerning fulfilling one's potential, morally dubious things such as abortion or cheating, as well as the importance of trust and loyalty.
Although the movie has been received negatively by most critics, it is certainly one that should be invested in. It should be seen twice, because it takes a second viewing to realize the delicate points it makes along the way. Finally, seeing the two actresses light up the screen in ways so subtle, yet powerful, is truly a delight.
 |
