RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / The Life Before Her Eyes
The Life Before Her Eyes

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Showtimes & Tickets
  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Bookmark and Share

The Life Before Her Eyes (2008)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
25 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 88

Fresh: 22

Rotten:66

Average Rating: 4.4/10

Consensus: Despite earnest performances, Life Before Her Eyes is a confusing, painfully overwrought melodrama.

Rated: 15 [See Full Rating] for violent and disturbing content, language and brief drug use

Runtime: 90 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:27-03-2009

Synopsis: Imaginative, impetuous and wild, Diana (Evan Rachel Wood) can’t wait for her adult life to begin. Whiling away the final days of high school in the lush springtime, Diana tests her limits with sex... Imaginative, impetuous and wild, Diana (Evan Rachel Wood) can’t wait for her adult life to begin. Whiling away the final days of high school in the lush springtime, Diana tests her limits with sex and drugs as her more conservative friend Maureen (Eva Amurri) watches with concern. But Diana’s aura of invincibility is shattered when a senseless act of violence erupts at school, forever changing the lives of the two best friends. Fifteen years later, a grown Diana (Uma Thurman) is still trying to come to terms with the traumatic events of that fateful day. On the surface, the adult Diana has made a picture perfect life for herself. She’s still living in the sleepy Connecticut suburb she grew up in with her husband Paul, a professor at the local college. Her beautiful young daughter, Emma, is smart and creative, and possesses a fiercely independent streak reminiscent of her mother. But all is not well—as the anniversary of her adolescent trauma approaches, the darkness that Diana has tried to escape closes in. Meanwhile, her husband has become increasingly absent, her daughter has taken to hiding from teachers, and worst of all, Diana’s own grip on reality is starting to falter. Moving seamlessly through both stages of Diana’s evolution, THE LIFE BEFORE HER EYES delves deep into the crossroads that we all face—where a simple decision can change the course of everything to come, and where a lifetime can be encapsulated in a single moment. With THE LIFE BEFORE HER EYES, Vadim Perelman, director of the acclaimed HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG, has established himself as one of America’s greatest young directors of serious, probing drama. --© Magnolia [More]

Starring: Uma Thurman, Evan Rachel Wood, Eva Amurri, Oscar Isaac

Starring: Uma Thurman, Evan Rachel Wood, Eva Amurri, Oscar Isaac, Gabrielle Brennan

Director: Vadim Perelman

Director: Vadim Perelman
Screenwriter: Emil Stern
Producer: Vadim Perelman, Aimee Peyronnet, Anthony Katagas
Composer: James Horner
Studio: Magnolia Pictures

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Trailer
    >
    Trailer #2
    >
1 - 2 of 2

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for The Life Before Her Eyes

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

In the hands of the director Vadim Perelman, it becomes a jumble of dramatic scenes and disorientating flashbacks that merge into a confusing, stream-of-consciousness narrative, and the twist, when it comes, is a complete cheat.

Full Review Source: Sunday Times (UK) | comment Comment
03/31/09
Peter Whittle
Sunday Times (UK)

An American high school drama with a tiresomely familiar twist.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
03/31/09
Philip French
Observer [UK]

A thoughtful, if sentimental, semi-successful attempt to craft a drama about life and choice around the difficult subject matter of a school shooting.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
03/28/09
Daniel Etherington
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The movie’s relentless dream-like quality could induce slack-jawed wonder…or chronic narcolepsy depending how receptive the viewer is to non-linear narrative and super-stylised flights of fancy.

Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
03/28/09
Tim Evans
Sky Movies

A touching tale from director Vadim Perelman with a surprise ending that leaves you plenty to ponder.

Full Review Source: Daily Express | comment Comment
03/28/09
Allan Hunter
Daily Express

A sudsy potboiler with a twist you can see coming from the title.

Full Review Source: thelondonpaper | comment Comment
03/28/09
Neil Smith
thelondonpaper

Part Elephant, part Jacob’s Ladder, moments of bruising power are dulled by overwrought symbolism and a baffling wrap-up.

Full Review Source: Total Film | comment Comment
03/27/09
Rob James
Total Film

Ambition and accomplishment are aeons apart in this would-be meaningful drama.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
03/27/09
Trevor Johnston
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Surely the point of a “twist” is that it should slot into the plot with a satisfying click, not that it should invalidate 50 per cent of what came before it?

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
03/27/09
Wendy Ide
Times [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Vadim Perelman's drama is both tasteful and tedious. With its honeyed visuals, affluent air and coy portents of disaster, it's like an advert for private health care played out on an endless loop.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
03/27/09
Xan Brooks
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The film’s dogged repetition of its pivotal scene has to go somewhere, but it’s enslaved to a narrative conceit even M Night Shyamalan might find a trifle gimmicky.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph | comment Comment
03/27/09
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Absorbing.

Full Review Source: Sunday Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
03/27/09
Mark Adams
Sunday Mirror [UK]

Flitting back and forth in time, it's too confusing to entertain, while Wood and Thurman look nothing like one another, making for a disjointed and often dire experience.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
03/27/09
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]

Poorly conceived, badly written and ultimately ridiculous drama with a jaw-droppingly crass twist ending that backfires horribly.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
03/27/09
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

The ending is as baffling as anything preceding it - giving rise to a genre conflict situation.

Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
03/26/09
Victor Olliver
Teletext
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
09/29/07
Screen International

THE LIFE BEFORE HER EYES starts off as superficial, sentimental trite, then turns into an incoherent journey into God knows what.

Full Review Source: Sin Magazine | comment Comment
09/16/08
Austin Kennedy
Sin Magazine

baboyriarika poiitiko aytohaidema toy Perelman meta to House of Sand and Fog (2003), ayti ti fora dipla aforito, horis ena kapoio stori na krybetai kato ap' toys koyfioys loystrarismenoys symbolismoys toy

Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses | comment Comment
09/16/08
Joseph Proimakis
Movies for the Masses

The surprises Perelman has for you along the way will blow your mind and have you talking hours after you leave the theater.

Full Review Source: ReelzChannel.com | comment Comment
09/08/08
Heather Huntington
ReelzChannel.com

It's an underrated, and horrific little dramatic thriller that twists the noose at every turn...

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
06/29/08
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
all

Latest News for The Life Before Her Eyes

September 22, 2008: BloggingSundance.com: An anti-abortion movement propaganda screed masquerading as a teen angst drama. There's apparently a new kind of female road movie out there, called the guilt trip. Opens in new window
More...

February 09, 2008: Trailer & Poster review Opens in new window
More...

See More Topics...

Related Forums for The Life Before Her Eyes

Click here to be the first to post a message on this forum.

See All

More Movies

Coming Soon
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date
92%
92%
Mishima: A Life in Fou… 10/7
86%
86%
Bruno 10/7
60%
60%
Cloud 9 10/7
40%
40%
Soul Power 10/7
27%
27%
Fired Up 10/7
—
35 Shots of Rum 10/7
—
The Private Lives of P… 10/7
—
Echoes of Home 10/7
—
Ichi 10/7

arrow arrow Show more Show less

What’s Hot On RT

Renny Harlin

Renny Harlin

5 Fave Films from the 12 Rounds helmer.

Star Wars

Star Wars

We celebrate 10 years of Episode I.

Drag Me to Hell

Drag Me to Hell

We chat to Sam Raimi and his cast.

Cannes Must-Sees

Cannes Must-Sees

We pick the 10 movies not to miss.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
16
  • Brandon Routh Talks Superman's Future Source: Moviehole
59
  • Sony's Amy Pascal Explains Moneyball Balk Source: Los Angeles Times
6
  • Three Theaters Getting Harry Potter in IMAX Opening Day Source: Collider.com
18
  • Weekly Ketchup: Adam Sandler joins The Zookeeper, David Fincher joins Facebook
72
  • Zak Penn Talks The Avengers Source: Sci Fi Wire
20
  • Watchmen Director's Cut Headed to Theaters Source: Collider.com
32
  • Lorenzo di Bonaventura Talks G.I. Joe, Beverly Hills Cop 4, More Source: Collider.com
14
  • (Teaser) Trailer Bulletin: The Last Airbender Source: MTV
61
  • Johnny Depp Talks Alice, Pirates 4, Dark Shadows Source: Collider.com
12
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers 2 Generates Explosive Box Office
168
  • Critics Consensus: Solid Public Enemies Doesn't Quite Bring The Noise
104
  • Five Favorite Films with Fred Durst
86
  • Total Recall: Johnny Depp's Best Movies
76
  • RoboGeisha: 2009's Most Insane Trailer?
74
  • RT on DVD: Street Fighter, Transmorphers 2, and Uwe Boll's Tunnel Rats!
36
  • Academy Invites Tyler Perry, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen to Join Oscar Ranks
28
  • Box Office Guru Preview: Dinosaurs and Gangsters Spark Fireworks
22
  • Karl Malden: 1912-2009
17
  • Edinburgh 2009: RT's 10 Must-See Movies
9
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
0
  • RT Interview: Tony Scott on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
10
  • Cannes 2009: RT Interview - Sally Hawkins on We Want Sex
2
  • RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
5
  • Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Reflects On her Life in Showbiz
10
  • Exclusive: McG Talks Terminator Salvation
24
  • Georgia Groome - Fresh Talent on RT
5
  • RT Interview: Reading The Reader with Stephen Daldry
11
  • RT Interview: Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo
7
  • Carey Mulligan - Fresh Talent on RT
7
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Life Before Her Eyes at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Life Before Her Eyes at IGN

Fresh Links

Competitions
Blood: The Last Vampire
Blood: The Last Vampire External Link

Combine live-action and manga to create your own movie short and win big!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.