Life as a House (2001)

Director:

Irwin Winkler

Writer (WGA):

Mark Andrus (written by)

Release Date:

9 November 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Seen from a distance, it's perfect.

Plot:

When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father. |

Plot Keywords:

Cancer | Exposed Toilet | Huffing | Terminal Illness | Ladder

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Kevin Kline	...	George Monroe
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Robin Kimball
Hayden Christensen	...	Sam Monroe
Jena Malone	...	Alyssa Beck
Mary Steenburgen	...	Colleen Beck
Mike Weinberg	...	Adam Kimball
Scotty Leavenworth	...	Ryan Kimball
Ian Somerhalder	...	Josh
Jamey Sheridan	...	Peter Kimball
Scott Bakula	...	Officer Kurt Walker
Sandra Nelson	...	Nurse #1
Sam Robards	...	David Dokos
John Pankow	...	Bryan Burke
Kim Delgado	...	Bob Larson
Barry Primus	...	Tom

MPAA:

Rated R for language, sexuality and drug use.

Runtime:

125 min | Argentina:122 min | Finland:120 min | Spain:127 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | USA:R (certificate #38322) | South Korea:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:6 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:R21 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Bermuda

Company:

Winkler Films

Trivia:

The featured house had to be removed after filming, but costume designer Molly Maginnis led a group of parents that had it dismantled, reconstructed, and enlarged to become a library for the Kenter Canyon school in Brentwood, California. The new library opened in April 2004.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Sam removes the stud from his chin, it leaves neither a hole nor a scar.

Quotes:

George: It's not my back that's killing me.

Movie Connections:

Featured in From the Ground Up (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

Soluble Words

A Superb Movie About Relationships And Reconciliation

It was the title that first intrigued me. What could this be about? I had never heard of it. Then I noticed that it starred Kevin Kline. With a title like that and Kline as the star I thought it was perhaps a comedy. I started watching it without really knowing what to expect. It was not what I had expected, and I was not disappointed. This was a superb drama, with Kline playing a man who has one last chance to reconnect with those he loves, and especially with his teenage son Sam (Hayden Christensen), who has become rebellious and disrespectful and drug addicted and who is tempted to spend his summer as a male prostitute to make some "easy" money.

The story revolves around George's decision to tear down his old shack and to build a beautiful new house. He enlists (commands?) Sam's help for the project, and we watch as the house (and the relationship) begins to take shape. The journey toward reconciliation in this family is captivating. Kline was absolutely outstanding as George, in what must have been one of his finest acting performances, and one of the best I've seen in a long time. Christensen was almost as good as Sam. The movie also has a strong supporting cast to help out, with folks like Kristin Scott Thomas, Mary Steenburgen, Jena Malone and Scott Bakula all adding to the story.

I found the very beginning of the movie just a bit hard to get into for some reason, but once I was into it I was absolutely hooked. There are times of joy and times of sadness, and the theme of reconciliation running through the whole movie (and dealing not just with the relationship between George and Sam but with various broken relationships) is a powerful one. This was a very, very pleasant surprise.

9/10