Customer Reviews

Life [VHS]

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Yes, this movie has plenty of funny moments, but there is a very real and sometimes rather touching story that takes precedence over everything that happens. You can't get through the most serious of situations without the palliative of laughter now and again, and Life actually does tell a serious story. Eddie Murphy proves once again that he is a great actor, and Martin Lawrence was surprisingly good as the more serious of two men sentenced to life in prison for a murder they didn't commit. One night in 1932, fate brought Rayford Gibson (Murphy), a smooth-talking hustler with big dreams, and Claude Banks (Lawrence) a respectable fellow about to start a good job, together in a New York nightclub. For entirely different reasons, both guys have to face the displeasure of the club owner's wrath; and so it is that Gibson and Banks end up going on a bootlegging run to Mississippi. One dead man later, and both men are sentenced to life in prison for murder. Since Banks blames Gibson for getting him into all this mess, there relationship varies in quality as the years go by, but gradually a real friendship develops between them. They try to escape several times but end up spending basically their whole lives in prison. Along the way, we meet with several sub-plots involving some of their fellow inmates, but the movie never strays far from the lives of Gibson and Banks. The passage of time is marked by clips of historical events, and some excellent makeup works makes both men look old and worn out as they advance into their senior years.

This is not a prison story of hopelessness, however. While no pardon ever comes their way, justice has a way of willing out eventually, and the final ten minutes of the film are just terrific. Since the story does take place in Mississippi in 1932 and beyond, race plays a major part in the film, but it does not define the movie by any means. There are a number of funny scenes, especially those involving pie and cornbread, and Eddie Murphy will definitely make you laugh - Martin Lawrence sort of plays the heavy here to Murphy's periodic antics. Some familiar faces pop up in the movie: Rick James plays the New York club owner, Bernie Mac has a relatively minor role, and Heavy D plays a small but important part. Wyclef Jean contributes an original score for the film. The whole cast is excellent, and a very good script keeps the film on pace and lively.

This isn't Stir Crazy; there are plenty of laughs, but I wouldn't call this a comedy - Life the movie is funny in the way life itself can sometimes be - laughter can get us through the hard times, but it doesn't hide the fact that the hard times are there. This movie really deserves more attention than it has received; with its serious underlying quality, it ranks among Eddie Murphy's most impressive films.

I've seen "Life" twice thus far, and I must concede that it has to be one of the best films to ever cast Eddie Murphy. He and Martin Lawrence are just as emotionally poignant as they are downright hysterical in this memorable comedy/drama of two Prohibition-era guys from Harlem NYC who inadvertently become framed for murder in the Deep South while on a bootlegging run for the local crime boss they each owe debts to back home. They are soon enough sentenced to life imprisonment in a Mississippi chain gang where they share a "Felix and Oscar"-esque relationship that spans 65 years through thick and thin times (including numerous escape attempts). However in the end, they literally become friends for life as they come to terms with their imprisonment. The make-up done by 6-time Oscar winner Rick Baker to transform Murphy & Lawrence from young to old over the course of so many years is the true showstopper of "Life". I wouldn't be the least surprised if Mr. Baker garners Oscar #7 come 2000; he and Murphy have been quite a dynamic duo since "Coming to America". A definite must-see!

I did enjoy this movie, even as I enjoyed Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy's more popular and critically acclaimed work. They are a pair of convicts, one of whom caught up after being "along for the ride", but jailed nonetheless for life in the South some fifty years ago. They do persevere after, through and despite any number of bad (some unbelievable) circumstances. Life in prison makes them close.

It is very different from my other favorite prison movie, Cool Hand Luke. Like C.H.L., the brutality of prison life is left mercifully for other films. There is one scene common to both, though, with the prisoners resolving their issue boxing in the prison yard with typical results.

As they age, their mutual disappointment makes their friendship ebb and flow from like to dislike and back (of course). Conservative Lawrence (yeah, him) not only blames the typically hustling Murphy for getting him into the situation in the first place. Murphy wants more assertiveness from his sidekick, vowing not to die having given up hope like his Father. As we know they must though, they find some hope, some enjoyment, and even some meaning in their circumstance.

Another reviewer hit the nail on the head: this movie was erroneously marketed. The trailers show hilarity, and lead one to think this is a true comedy. Those expecting just that may be disappointed (unless they go straight to the hilarious outtakes). But it is much much more.

Fantastic ending. Worth the price itself.

If you're expecting a staight-up comedy movie, then you probably will be disappointed. This movie mixes drama and comedy in the most perfect way. Anyone that says this movie is not good, obviously missed the whole point of the movie. The movie takes place during the 1930's...the set and costumes were great. I feel that the chemistry between Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence was superb. Kudos to Rick James as his roll of 'Spanky'...he played the role well.

This movie is perhaps Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence's Sistine Chapel. That is a bold statement but this movie is so funny and such a good, well made movie. There are endless funny moments in this movie. I might be being biased because I love timeline movies a lot (ex. FORREST GUMP). This movie will also make you cry from sadness and laughter. I laughed out loud many times and (ALMOST) cried from emotion.

The movie has an all-star cast as well which can sometimes be disastrous (ex.NOTHING BUT TROUBLE). It hits every angle possible and could not have been done any better for what it was. And that is one great, funny movie that is one of my all-time favorites.

Definitely a wonderful movie, Life, brings to the screen the story of two New Yorkers, during Prohibition and the Great Depression, as they make their way to a small rural town in Mississippi, in order to stock up on some moonshine, which in turn is to be delivered to a NYC speakeasy.
The setting is the early 30's, specifically 1932, and it is a film about human relations, hope and second chances, but most importantly about how trust, friendship, endurance, and inner strength, can lead out of situations, which might seem bleak or desperate at first glance.
On the negative side, the only setback was the scene with the baby. They could have found another way to show the strong sense of solidarity that had developed.
Needless to say, Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence and the rest of the cast have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding to say the least!
The film combines drama and humor, making it one of the best of its kind, and one that can be watched over and over again.
Life is sure to provide for an evening's entertainment.

This movie is one of the best films I've ever seen. It has its funny, even hilarious moments - but it's not a comedy, by a longshot. It's one of the best, most heartwrenching dramas, and was all the more pleasant for being completely unexpected.

The plot concerns two men, who were framed for a crime they didn't commit, and their lives in jail after they are sent to prison for life. It does a wonderful job of subtly showing the racial tensions and interplays in the time period and also showing the changes that come about later on in the time and how it affects their lives in the prison.

Get this movie. You won't be disappointed.

In the mid-1990s, two inmates bury the burned bodies of two lifers at Mississippi's infamous Parchman Farm; a third old-timer relates their story. They'd served 65 years for a murder they didn't commit, framed by a local sheriff while buying moonshine whiskey for a Manhattan club owner to whom they owed money. In flashbacks we see this odd couple thrown together (Ray is a fast-talking con man, and Claude is a serious man about to start work as a bank teller), the loss of Ray's watch (sterling silver, from his daddy), the murder and trial, the hardships of Parchman, and the love-hate relationship of Claude and Ray as they spend 65 years bickering and looking for a way to escape. I found this movie funny and inventive. Eddie Murphy and his worthy partner, Martin Lawrence successfully produce a comedy worth watching. "Life", you won't regret watching it.

I can't believe the poor reviews of this classic movie. Even the 4 and 5 stars are saying it was just OK. Just because Eddie wasn't "Buckwheat" & Martin wasn't "Shanaenae" doesn't mean the movie has to be put down. This was a very good, intelligent & well done film. It shows the acting skills of Lawrence in a big way. He plays the "straight" man very well. It had a lot of history in it as well, if one paid attention, that is. You just can't please everyone. I'm not going on too long, because one would have to have a logical brain & appreciation for good comedy/drama. Apparently, I'm alone around here. And, for people to say the only good thing in it was Rick James? I hope you folks are 13 and 14 years old, and heard about James through parents, or something. Otherwise, I'm worried about you. I mean, watch the damn movie. Pay attention to the story and what is being told.

This movie was sooo funny. Those negative reviewers must be some boring people if they don't find this movie funny. I'm not going to write what the movie was about because the positive reviewers pretty much summed it up.

But, I will say that my favorite scene was the scene when the look on the white girl's father's face when he saw his grandson and he went to the prison to figure out who was the father of his grandbaby and what the older man said and they all roared with laughter. It cracks me up even thinking about it.

Let me be fair, there was one thing I hated about this movie and that was the overuse of the n-word. It was sad to see all the people who had died in the movie, but of course like the movie title said that's LIFE.

I would love to have people see this movie on TV, but there will have to be some intense editing and dubbing to block out all the bad language including the n-word. But, that does not stop me from giving it five stars. It's a laugh out loud movie.