Never have I been happier to have cried passionately with a thousand strangers. After the show, I looked around and saw many teary eyes and blushed faces embracing one another. To say the least, this movie is an emotional roller coaster with twists and turns that may leave some feeling uplifted, and others traumatized.
Life Itself is directed by Dan Fogelman. Perhaps you’re familiar the widely popular series he created, This Is Us. It’s a drama that follows an unconventional family of triplets across two intermingled storylines: one from their childhood and the other as their life as adults. The show and the movie are unrelated; however, those of you who have seen it will notice the movie is directed in a similar style.
The movie Life Itself follows college sweethearts Will (Oscar Isaac) and Abby (Olivia Wilde). We witness how the events of their lives ripple across time and the three generations of their family. Each part of the film is separated into a chapter and narrated by a character in it, the whole idea being that it is like a storybook being retold.
The plot takes twists and turns; as characters’ lives unfold, trauma and tragedy seem to follow them along the way. The film tries to show how life is filled with ups and downs, and that we are all connected by little moments, good and bad.
The acting, dialogue, pacing, music, and cinematography all combine to create a strong emotional attachment to the story connected across time and space. It uses interesting visual storytelling techniques, like double takes to play out “what they said” versus “what they meant” and voice-overs to capture a character’s internal monologue.
The most powerful technique proves to be the use of a narrator to draw in the viewer and capture their interest. The problem arises with what it chooses to do once we’re hooked. Abrupt plot twists and mix of drama and humour can leave the audience feeling confused, misled, and emotionally manipulated.
The cast is what truly brings the story to life, with performances that create fleshed out characters each with their own imperfections. Isaac and Wilde have stunning on-screen chemistry, with Isaac delivering one of his most chilling performances perfectly embodying a head-over-heels romantic dealing with a broken heart.
Some may criticize the movie for its likeness to This is Us calling it nothing more than a poorly done knockoff. I’d argue that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The cast, crew, and direction of the film take all the best parts and use it to show the connectedness of everything and the significance of a random moment.
If the idea of everything leading towards you finding your soulmate makes you sick, then this movie may not be for you. But, if you’re looking for an engaging story about love, get ready for a wild ride.
