Plot
A photographer for Life Magazine is assigned to shoot pictures of James Dean.
Release Year: 2015
Rating: 6.3/10 (1,374 voted)
Critic's Score: 55/100
Director: Anton Corbijn
Stars: Robert Pattinson, Dane DeHaan, Peter Lucas
Storyline
A snapshot in time-the film chronicles the story behind the 1955 LIFE magazine photo thread by Dennis Stock of then-rising star, James Dean, and gives us an inside look at some of Hollywood's most iconic images and into the life of a gifted, but troubled man.
Cast: Robert Pattinson -
Dennis Stock
Peter Lucas -
Nicholas Ray
Lauren Gallagher -
Natalie Wood
Kendal Rae -
Messy Actress
Drew Leger -
Boyfriend
Dane DeHaan -
James Dean
Alessandra Mastronardi -
Pier Angeli
John Blackwood -
Raymond Massey
Jason Blicker -
Journalist
Emily Hurson -
Publicity Trooper
Kristian Bruun -
Roger
Joel Edgerton -
John Morris
Emma Pedersen -
John Morris's Secretary
Stella Schnabel -
Norma
Allison Brennan -
Jack Warner's Assistant
Taglines:
From Rebel to Icon. Based on a True Story.
Trivia:
The film's release is to coincide with the sixtieth anniversary of James Dean's death. See more »
User Review
Author:
Rating: 7/10
James Dean, although the lead-star of only three films, concreted
himself as one of the cinema's golden age legends quite quickly in the
1950's - mainly through his unconventional approach to Hollywood's
rules - this is, all before his premature death quite soon later.
Portrayed by Dane Dehaan, LIFE is a satirical chronicle of Dean's rise
of an unknown to his Hollywood acting debut of success and fame. Yet,
the film is not directly told as a documentary of his life - but via
the lens of Robert Pattinson's character, Dennis Stock, a rookie
photographer for a photo-agency with aspirations of becoming known.
Set in the 1950's, director Anton Corbijn's take on Dean's life is
admirably applaudable as it takes us on an inside look of Dean's short
lived fame and anti-fame. The sets, the cinematography, the music and
the atmosphere all cipher the 50's pose, as smoking and
larger-than-life LA are the standard.
First meeting at a party in 1955, Dennis (the photographer) approaches
Dean; a young, sophisticated individual wearing a melo- polo, slicked
hair with thick framed glasses and asks who he is. For Dehaan, the
performance, both visually and in terms of acting is undeniably suited
as he resonates Dean's moody and unique approach, showing him as a
person, not merely an icon.
Forming sturdy relationships with Jack Warner (Ben Kingsley), of Warner
Brothers Pictures, Dean's talent is soon spotted, and through several
frustrations of the individual's motives, he told to 'play the part,
follow the rules' and he would be made a star.
For Robert Pattinson, his take on iconic photographer Dennis Stock is
equally as impressive as he enters the world of Hollywood from the
other side of the carpet (and at bottom). Spotting Dean's talent early,
Stock, in the two-hour running time attempts to get photographs of Dean
before fame kicks in. Deadlines, pressure and awkwardness soon
mount-up, and Pattinson expertly presents it onto screen.
Shot-by-shot, we capture each of Stock's photos of James Dean - but,
rather than just a photo and what point it was taken - we are
inclusively taken into a perspective of why it was taken, the setting
and how they were so important - and now, in retrospective of our
present - why so iconic.
Plot
The story of two criminals (Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence) who discover the value of life after being sentenced to life imprisonment.
Release Year: 1999
Rating: 6.2/10 (19,521 voted)
Critic's Score: 63/100
Director:
Ted Demme
Stars: Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Obba Babatundé
Storyline 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.
Writers: Robert Ramsey, Matthew Stone
Cast: Eddie Murphy
-
Rayford Gibson
Martin Lawrence
-
Claude Banks
Obba Babatundé
-
Willie Long
Nick Cassavetes
-
Sergeant Dillard
Anthony Anderson
-
Cookie
Barry Shabaka Henley
-
Pokerface
Brent Jennings
-
Hoppin' Bob
Bernie Mac
-
Jangle Leg
Miguel A. Núñez Jr.
-
Biscuit
Michael Taliferro
-
Goldmouth
(as Michael 'Bear' Taliferro)
Guy Torry
-
Radio
Bokeem Woodbine
-
Can't Get Right
Ned Beatty
-
Dexter Wilkins
Lisa Nicole Carson
-
Sylvia
O'Neal Compton
-
Superintendant Abernathy
Filming Locations: Front Street, Norwalk, California, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $75,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $20,414,775
(USA)
(18 April 1999)
(2594 Screens)
Gross: $63,844,974
(USA)
(8 August 1999)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
When Rayford (Eddie Murphy) is getting beat up in a fight, he says: "I know a bitch named Della who hits harder than you." This is a reference to
Harlem Nights, in which Murphy's character is beat up in a fight with a madame played by Della Reese.
Goofs:
Anachronisms:
About halfway through the film, the prisoners are watching a newsreel about World War II. After that, Can't Get Right arrives, and is scouted by a scout from the Pittsburgh Crawfords. The team existed from 1930-1938, three years before the US entered World War II.
Quotes: Willie Long:
I didn't see nothing special the first time Ray and Claude walked into the cage. To me, they were just a couple of fools whose luck had run out. 'Course, I was wrong about that.
User Review
One of Eddie Murphy's best films.
Rating:
If you're not a fan of Eddie Murphy's humor, then skip this
one.
The movie begins in modern times, 1997, with the main characters' funerals.
The movie then flashes back to 1932 to begin telling their story, and
continues as they age in prison in Mississippi.
They were "petty criminals" but were sentenced to life in prison for a
murder they did not commit. However, being black in 1930s Mississippi did
them no favors. The story that unfolds is irreverent and funny and has
enough twists along the way to keep things very interesting.
I can't understand why the average rating of this movie is below "6". I
give it "8" of "10" for its overall entertainment value, plus a few "life's
little lessons" thrown in. I think it is one of Eddie Murphy's best
movies.
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