Life
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The six-member crew of the International Space Station is tasked with studying a sample from Mars that may be the first proof of extra-terrestrial life, which proves more intelligent than ever expected.
What critics thought
Critics largely agree that Life is a competent, tension-filled Alien derivative that does little to distinguish itself from its obvious predecessors — but they split sharply on whether that competence is enough. Detractors found the characters hollow and the familiar beats numbing, while defenders argued that Espinosa's controlled pacing and a sharp third-act twist make the well-worn formula genuinely work. A subplot involving a children's bedtime story drew particular scorn for tipping the film into unearned sentimentality.
“For all its flashy trappings, weighty ruminations and zero-gravity floatings aboard the International Space Station, Life turns out to be another variant of Alien, though without the grungy horror and grim fun. In space no one can hear you snore.”
Joe Morgenstern·The Wall Street Journal
“not a single actor in Life who manages to fill in and humanize the blank space where a character should be.”
Peter Travers·Rolling Stone
“Life has cool effects, real suspense and a sweet twist. It ain't rocket science, but it does what it does well—even, one might say, with a kind of genius.”
Michael O'Sullivan·The Washington Post
“part Alien, part Gravity, just not as good as either of them. But Life whips along at a decent pace and deploys enough engaging action sequences to make it work.”
Empire
“the crew's memories of the kids' bedtime book are supposed to lend a little gentleness and humanity to the film, and a bit of a narrative breather, but this third-act conceit only succeeds in replacing a creeping sense of tiredness with sentimentality.”
Peter Bradshaw·The Guardian
Genres
Horror, Science Fiction, Mystery
Cast & Crew
Daniel EspinosaDirector
Jake GyllenhaalDr. David Jordan
Ryan ReynoldsRory Adams
Rebecca FergusonMiranda North
Hiroyuki SanadaSho Murakami
Olga DihovichnayaEkaterina Golovkina
Ariyon BakareHugh Derry
Naoko MoriKazumi
Haruka KurodaDoctor
Alexandre Nguyen1st Fisherman
Hiu Woong-Sin2nd Fisherman
David Muir20/20 Anchor
Rhett ReeseWriter
Paul WernickWriter
Seamus McGarveyCinematographyLife
The six-member crew of the International Space Station is tasked with studying a sample from Mars that may be the first proof of extra-terrestrial life, which proves more intelligent than ever expected.
What critics thought
Critics largely agree that Life is a competent, tension-filled Alien derivative that does little to distinguish itself from its obvious predecessors — but they split sharply on whether that competence is enough. Detractors found the characters hollow and the familiar beats numbing, while defenders argued that Espinosa's controlled pacing and a sharp third-act twist make the well-worn formula genuinely work. A subplot involving a children's bedtime story drew particular scorn for tipping the film into unearned sentimentality.
“For all its flashy trappings, weighty ruminations and zero-gravity floatings aboard the International Space Station, Life turns out to be another variant of Alien, though without the grungy horror and grim fun. In space no one can hear you snore.”
Joe Morgenstern·The Wall Street Journal
“not a single actor in Life who manages to fill in and humanize the blank space where a character should be.”
Peter Travers·Rolling Stone
“Life has cool effects, real suspense and a sweet twist. It ain't rocket science, but it does what it does well—even, one might say, with a kind of genius.”
Michael O'Sullivan·The Washington Post
“part Alien, part Gravity, just not as good as either of them. But Life whips along at a decent pace and deploys enough engaging action sequences to make it work.”
Empire
“the crew's memories of the kids' bedtime book are supposed to lend a little gentleness and humanity to the film, and a bit of a narrative breather, but this third-act conceit only succeeds in replacing a creeping sense of tiredness with sentimentality.”
Peter Bradshaw·The Guardian
Genres
Horror, Science Fiction, Mystery
Cast & Crew
Daniel EspinosaDirectorJake GyllenhaalDr. David JordanRyan ReynoldsRory AdamsRebecca FergusonMiranda NorthHiroyuki SanadaSho MurakamiOlga DihovichnayaEkaterina GolovkinaAriyon BakareHugh DerryNaoko MoriKazumiHaruka KurodaDoctorAlexandre Nguyen1st FishermanHiu Woong-Sin2nd FishermanDavid Muir20/20 AnchorRhett ReeseWriterPaul WernickWriterSeamus McGarveyCinematographyStream
Rent & Buy