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Life

Life

Comedy · Crime · 1999

Two men in 1930s Mississippi become friends after being sentenced to life in prison together for a crime they did not commit.

Movie details

Life

“Share it with someone you love.”

1999 Comedy · Crime 1h 48m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.7 / 10

Community rating

Two men in 1930s Mississippi become friends after being sentenced to life in prison together for a crime they did not commit.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Life?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Weekend at Bernie's

Weekend at Bernie's

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Johnny Dangerously

Johnny Dangerously

Comedy · 1984

An honest, goodhearted man is forced to turn to a life of crime to finance his neurotic mother's skyrocketing medical bills.

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

Comedy · 1988

When the bumbling Lieutenant Frank Drebin investigates events following the shooting of his partner, he stumbles upon an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.

Bandits

Bandits

Comedy · 2001

After escaping from prison, Joe and Terry go on a crime spree, robbing banks through Oregon and California in order to finance their scheme for a new life south of the border. Unfortunately, things get more complicated when they meet Kate, who runs into them with her car. She joins the bandits on their cross-country spree, and eventually she steals something, too: their hearts.

Bullets Over Broadway

Bullets Over Broadway

Comedy · 1994

After young playwright, David Shayne obtains funding for his play from gangster Nick Valenti, Nick's girlfriend Olive miraculously lands the role of a psychiatrist—but not only is she a bimbo who could never pass for a psychiatrist—she's a dreadful actress. David puts up with the leading man who is a compulsive eater, the grand dame who wants her part jazzed up, and Olive's interfering hitman/bodyguard—but, eventually he must decide whether art or life is more important.

Welcome to Collinwood

Welcome to Collinwood

Comedy · 2002

Five hapless inner-city low-lifes attempt to burgle a pawnbroker's safe, but end up being plagued by bad luck.

Snake Eyes

Snake Eyes

Crime · 1998

All bets are off when shady homicide cop Rick Santoro witnesses a murder during a boxing match. Determined to solve the crime, he quickly learns that his search for answers will only uncover yet more questions in an ever-widening web of conspiracy, intrigue, and danger.

Tough Guys

Tough Guys

Comedy · 1986

Harry Doyle and Archie Lang are two old-time train robbers, who held up a train in 1956 and have been incarcerated for thirty years. After serving their time, they are released from jail and have to adjust to a new life of freedom. and soon realize that they still have the pizzazz when, picking up their prison checks at a bank, they foil a robbery attempt.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Adventure · 2000

In the deep south during the 1930s, three escaped convicts search for hidden treasure while a relentless lawman pursues them.

Arsenic and Old Lace

Arsenic and Old Lace

Comedy · 1944

Mortimer Brewster, a newspaper drama critic, playwright, and author known for his diatribes against marriage, suddenly falls in love and gets married; but when he makes a quick trip home to tell his two maiden aunts, he finds out his aunts' hobby - killing lonely old men and burying them in the cellar!

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Ted Demme

Written by

Robert Ramsey · Matthew Stone

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy

Rayford Gibson

Martin Lawrence

Martin Lawrence

Claude Banks

Obba Babatundé

Obba Babatundé

Willie Long

Nick Cassavetes

Nick Cassavetes

Sergeant Dillard

Anthony Anderson

Anthony Anderson

Cookie

Barry Shabaka Henley

Barry Shabaka Henley

Pokerface

Brent Jennings

Brent Jennings

Hoppin' Bob

Court is in session

Put Life on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Cool Ironist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Prestige Tourist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.