Life Itself

"I don't like our lives being in the hands of someone else." Alex (Freeman) and Ruth (Keaton) are getting ready to sell their apartment and begin a new chapter in their life. When they begin to show the space old feelings begin to come back. Now, between the visitors and looking for a new place, they start to remember the times they had together. First of all I have to say this movie was OK, but being 36, if I was about 30 years older I think I would have liked it more. The story is OK but this is a movie that resonates much more with an older crowd do due the subject matter. The acting is great and it was good but many of the subtleties were lost on me since I have never been through something like this. Overall, worth seeing but the older you are the more you will enjoy this. I give it a B-.

It is so refreshing to watch a film with a contemporary story that focuses on older people and their choices and strengths instead of seeing them act foolish or pathetic. Based on Jill Ciment's book as adapted for the screen by Charlie Peters and directed with straightforward good taste by Richard Loncraine, this quiet little film is a wonderful platform for tow of our most respected actors – 69 year old Diane Keaton and 78 year old Morgan Freeman – who create an irresistible chemistry. Briefly, long-time happily married couple Ruth and artist Alex Carver (Keaton and Freeman) who've spent their lives together in the same New York apartment become overwhelmed by personal and real estate-related issues when they plan to move away, having decided to cash in on their sought-after Brooklyn apartment. The story opens with one of the reasons they feel the need to move after 40 years in the '5 flights up' apartment with no elevator: their little dog Dorothy is having difficulty maneuvering the stairs and ends up with a slipped vertebral disc that requires a Vet's expertise and surgery. They engage Ruth's niece, real estate agent Lily (Cynthia Nixon, who is wonderfully, gushingly obnoxious) and the visits to the apartment begin – all manner of rather despicable lookie-loos traipse through and a decision must be made. Ruth and Alex find an apartment in Manhattan that is one the 9th floor and has an elevator, but issues arise that make them alter their initial decision. Beautifully understated is the fact that Ruth and Alex are childless, entered an interracial marriage when it was not fashionable to do so, and have grown old together making every day count. They are wonderful and the film does them justice. It is such a pleasure to see two seasoned and gifted actors make such an impressive statement. Recommended for all those who think happiness is dependent on social media based.

This movie would have been a lot better if the terrorist was actually a terrorist, something actually happened with the dog, or an apartment got sold. As it stands, nothing came to a close and it felt like listening to my great-grandma tell a story about her boring life that didn't even have a point. Unless you feel like wasting your evening, watch something else. The one positive thing I can add is that the acting was great, unfortunately the script sucked... I would like to see an alternate ending that includes the terrorist blowing up the store he was caught at, which would be located below the apartment the two old people were trying to sell!!! =D

I expected a quirky little movie here. The summary seemed to be something that would interest me. Boy was I wrong. So basically, an older couple is looking to sell their New York City (Brooklyn) apartment. Why? Well, because it has five flights of stairs and they are a little concerned about their health. OK. Reasonable enough. As far as I know, they have no other reason. They both do not particularly want to move, in fact they love their apartment. Right, so why are they moving? oh yea, the stairs. The movie continues by showing how the couple moved to the apartment over 40 years ago, it shows flashbacks of their earlier years and all the fond memories they have. But, you know, 5 flights of stairs. The have an annoying as hell real estate agent who has an open house in their apartment. For some reason, everyone, except a sweet little girl are a$$holes. Everyone. I'm not sure why they made it this way, but they were all jerks. I didn't get that. Unless that's how the general populous of NYC is considered? No idea. Never been there Then they start looking for a new apartment. They find one they like, even though they say nothing will ever be as good as our apartment (then why the f*^k are you moving?!!!). I was almost shouting at the TV about how idiotic this move is! It's all about two people moving, who don't want to move. And if you can't guess what happens in the end? let me just say that there is no point to this movie. None. Oh, and for some reason there's a dog who has surgery and a potential terrorist. Pass.