The Good Life (2007)

How sad is this?

Absolutely Fantastic

A different way of telling a story

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

This is a quiet movie that builds in power over time. It's a slice of life movie, but much more. It tells a story of how powerful the need to escape can be, but how this need, by its very strength, can make you its slave. The cast is amazing, and the pacing is hypnotic. The leads are perfect and totally engrossing. Often movies like this skimp on plot, but I was very satisfied the movie has a very interesting plot twist 2/3rd through, that makes you reevaluate everything you've seen so far. Yet this twist is completely organic to the story, not something thrown in from outside. Very deftly handled. Well done. Though I don't know why Canadians have to pretend their movies take place in the US, when they take place in Manitoba.

Imagine the life of Jason, a sensitive man suffering from a strange illness, Alopecia, that made him lose his hair. When we meet him, he is working at his daytime job in a desolate gas station. At night, Jason works at the old movie theater that Gus has run for many years. Jason's life is at the center of this bleak story that will reward the viewer that takes a look at it without any expectation. The opening sequence shows Jason walking toward a crowded downtown area with a gun in his hand, something that gives us an indication of the desperation going on his mind.Life in Lincoln, Nebraska for Jason and his mother is not exactly what one would expect. They are hardly making a living; their electric bill has not been paid in quite a while, and the house has seen better days. Yet, for all the problems Jason has to face on a daily basis, he is not bitter at all.Hope arrives in the form of Frances, a kind soul that loves to watch the old movies shown at the Capitol. She bonds with Jason in many ways that might lead us to believe they will go beyond the friendship into something deeper. Yet, Frances has the opposite effect on Jason when he discovers she has been telling hims lies based on borrowed lives of larger than life stars, like Judy Garland, one of her favorites. Jason comes to an abrupt decision after he finds Gus dead in the projection room. The idea of losing his one true friend serves as a waking call for Jason to escape to a different kind of life and leave his miserable days behind. Meeting Robbie, the strange fellow that is attracted by the old films, makes Jason realize how cruel Frances has been to him, while at the same time, going to Robbie's apartment makes one think that perhaps he was looking for an affection, any kind of affection, being from Frances, or from this man."The Good Life" is one of the most misleading titles for an Indie in recent memory because it is not exactly a film that is uplifting, yet, it has some positive message in the way things turn out. Director Stephen Berra shows great promise with this movie that he also wrote. Mr. Berra's second movie shows a sensitivity that in someone else's hand could have turned in another direction. He is to be commended by the performances he got from his cast. Best of all is Mark Webber who makes a great appearance in the leading role. Mr. Webber has been involved in a lot of worthwhile movies and has a bright future that one hopes will take him far. Zooey Deschanel is perfect as Frances, the dippy girl that brings some happiness to Jason while not telling him the truth about herself. Harry Dean Stanton is seen as Gus, the older man whose life has changed after his wife died. Bill Paxton, Patrick Fugit, Chris Klein, Drea DeMatteo, Deborah Rush and Bruce McGill are part of the ensemble players.Patrice Lucien Cochet does justice to the seedy backgrounds where this dark movie takes place. Don Davis incidental music is also effective. The film is worth a look by discerning fans of this genre because the good work of Mr. Berra and his star, Mark Webber.

I've seen this movie compared to Donnie Darko several times, most recently in another comment here on IMDb, however, they're nothing alike. Donnie Darko is a beautiful, thought-provoking film, while this movie just falls flat. It tries so very hard to be deep and depressing, that it ends up almost a parody of itself. The quasi-philosophical mumblings of the main character sound like they where stolen from a manga and none of the characters seem even remotely like actual people.My advice, watch "The Go-Getter" instead. It too has a young man who's lost both a parent and his way, it too has Zooey Deschanel, and unlike The Good Life, it has humor and it doesn't try to be something it's not.

I had the honor of seeing this film at the first annual Lone Star International Film Festival. I really can't remember the last time I was so drawn into a film. I never checked the time or anything I typically do in a movie. It was really a brilliant piece of art.There were many themes throughout the film. The one that really stuck out to me was mental illness. At least 5 characters in the film portray symptoms of various mental disorders. When I asked Stephen Berra about it after the showing, he said that he had never seen it from that light, that it was not intentional, and that he thinks all of us show symptoms of mental disorders. While I understood that, I definitely think that that theme was integral to the story.The only thing is...there are no memorable quotes on here! There were so many good ones...someone please get on that.Also, I really hope this makes it out into the general audiences. This is a great film that I would see again and again.