Rating: 
Summary: "Jazz is the sound of the devil sniggering at our follies"
Review:
Director: Hugh Hudson
Format: Color
Studio: Miramax Home Entertainment
Video Release Date: June 3, 2003
Cast: Robert Norman
Colin Firth
Nary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Malcolm McDowell
Irene Jacob
Rosemary Harris Set circa 1920, when Fraser Pettigrew (Robert Norman) is a 10-year-old the story centers around his childhood memories of his eccentric inventor father, his mother who gave up a stage career to raise a family, and an uncle who came to the family estate in Scotland with his 24-year-old French fiance. It is a family centered, biographical story--a memoir--of a child who is curious about artwork depicting naked ladies and his grandfather's "secret" library. Also involved is the conflict between his father who is reaping sphegnum moss from the family estate for a variety of products, and his uncle who thinks his father's ventures are folly. Uncle Malcolm hopes to inherit the estate from the grandmother and throw everyone else off the place and market the lumber. There is an interesting story here, but not a thriller or murder mystery. It is what it purports to be a story of a youngster's early life. Joseph (Joe) Pierre
author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books
Rating: 
Summary: Well-rounded story, intelligently executed.
Review: Are you a discerning movie goer? Do you enjoy the medium, but dislike sex and violence? Now, do you also lament the fact that many films devoid of these two elements are also devoid of a compelling story, characters, and beauty? Look no further. This film will satisfy all your wants and needs. It feels very modern, yet is a throwback to a time when nuance and suggestion carried much more weight in a film than the latest porno/sadist blockbuster. If you desire the latter, don't look here. But if you want to see proof that a very fine movie can be made without those 'other' elements, take a chance on 'My Life So Far'.
Rating: 
Summary: "My Life" is rather dull
Review: Coming-of-age stories appear in all shapes, forms, and sizes. And if scenery and a top-notch cast could make a good movie, "My Life So Far" would be astounding. Unfortunately, the end result is rambling, poorly-edited, with subplots that do nothing and a dull lead.
Fraser Pettigrew (Robert Norman) lives in a rambling Scottish estate with his enormous family, headed by his brilliant, eccentric father Edward (Colin Firth) and a strong-willed matriarch (Rosemary Harris). Like most kids, Fraser decides that he wants to know what adults know, and takes steps to find out: He studies his grandfather's collection of classy porn, watches his sister flirt with a plane pilot, and investigates the inheritance rumors flitting around But his studies of adulthood takes an unexpected twist. His elderly Uncle Morris (Malcolm McDowell) arrives with the beautiful young Heloise (Irène Jacob) from France. As Fraser befriends (and becomes slightly enamored of) Heloise, he doesn't realize that Edward has become infatuated with her (midlife crisis, where is thy sting?). The increasing tension in this family threatens to explode, unless both Fraser and Edward grow up. The settings for "My Life So Far" cannot be faulted. The vision of rural Scotland in the 1920s is genuinely lovely. There are plenty of lakes, mist, slightly crumbly castles and beautiful aerial shots of the woods and fields. And when the film focuses on Fraser's determination to come of age, there's a gentle, syrup-less humor to the writing. Part of the problem is sloppy editing. Most of the subplots go nowhere and offer nothing. For example, Fraser sees a strange, ragged old man wandering around, who then dies mysteriously. Nothing comes of this, and no one cares. Similarly, his sister's flirtation with the plane pilot comes to nothing. The script meanders all over the map in a seemingly random fashion and peters out from lack of interesting material, rather than actually ending. Most films hinge on the lead actor's performance, but unfortunately Norman is a very unengaging actor. He doesn't have the sparkle to charm us. Firth and Jacob's considerable talents are wasted; Firth's character flipflops randomly between being pitiful and being a genius; while this is how the character is supposed to be, we don't get to know him very well. And poor Jacob is basically reduced to a walking pretty face with a French accent. When you hear that "My Life So Far" is based on the early life of a BBC pioneer and Chairman of The Royal Opera House, you would assume that it's much more interesting than it is. Only a few spurts of humor and the underused talents of Firth and Jacob redeem this at all.
Rating:
Summary: "My Life" is rather dull
Review: Coming-of-age stories appear in all shapes, forms, and sizes. And if scenery and a top-notch cast could make a good movie, "My Life So Far" would be astounding. Unfortunately, the end result is rambling, poorly-edited, with subplots that do nothing and a dull lead. Fraser Pettigrew (Robert Norman) lives in a rambling Scottish estate with his enormous family, headed by his brilliant, eccentric father Edward (Colin Firth) and a strong-willed matriarch (Rosemary Harris). Like most kids, Fraser decides that he wants to know what adults know, and takes steps to find out: He studies his grandfather's collection of classy porn, watches his sister flirt with a plane pilot, and investigates the inheritance rumors flitting around But his studies of adulthood takes an unexpected twist. His elderly Uncle Morris (Malcolm McDowell) arrives with the beautiful young Heloise (Irène Jacob) from France. As Fraser befriends (and becomes slightly enamored of) Heloise, he doesn't realize that Edward has become infatuated with her (midlife crisis, where is thy sting?). The increasing tension in this family threatens to explode, unless both Fraser and Edward grow up. The settings for "My Life So Far" cannot be faulted. The vision of rural Scotland in the 1920s is genuinely lovely. There are plenty of lakes, mist, slightly crumbly castles and beautiful aerial shots of the woods and fields. And when the film focuses on Fraser's determination to come of age, there's a gentle, syrup-less humor to the writing. Part of the problem is sloppy editing. Most of the subplots go nowhere and offer nothing. For example, Fraser sees a strange, ragged old man wandering around, who then dies mysteriously. Nothing comes of this, and no one cares. Similarly, his sister's flirtation with the plane pilot comes to nothing. The script meanders all over the map in a seemingly random fashion and peters out from lack of interesting material, rather than actually ending. Most films hinge on the lead actor's performance, but unfortunately Norman is a very unengaging actor. He doesn't have the sparkle to charm us. Firth and Jacob's considerable talents are wasted; Firth's character flipflops randomly between being pitiful and being a genius; while this is how the character is supposed to be, we don't get to know him very well. And poor Jacob is basically reduced to a walking pretty face with a French accent. When you hear that "My Life So Far" is based on the early life of a BBC pioneer and Chairman of The Royal Opera House, you would assume that it's much more interesting than it is. Only a few spurts of humor and the underused talents of Firth and Jacob redeem this at all.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed the movie very much
Review: I enjoyed this movie very much. While it's not a five star movie I consider it to be well done by all actors. I am a Colin Firth fan since watching Pride and Prejudice. I wish he would make more movies like the famous Pride & Prejudice. I feel his talents are not being used to his best potential. Or maybe he isn't choosing the movies which show his talents as he did in P&P. You will enjoy the young man who is telling the story, for the story is about his life as he sees it.
Rating:
Summary: My Life So Far-- Has Been Boring...
Review: I orginally bought this film and I'm assuming you want to buy this film because it has Colin Firth in it... as a Colin Firth fan I found this movie boring and lacking what Colin usually gives us in his films.
In this one Colin is an inventor with a rather large family including a young rambunctious son who enjoys wandering around the estate causing havoic and looking at pictures of nude paintings. What seems to be the happy family is shattered when Colin's brother brings his have his age french fiance Heloise who he becomes infatuated with-- eventually one day in his factory room he tries to force himself upon her... eventually, his wife learns what has been going on and blows up at her mother's funeral. The movie ends with a reconciliation. The movie takes place through the view of Colin's young son-- focusing more on himself and the events he takes in around him.
All in all I found this movie rather dull and it's not the kind of movie Colin was made for... For really what woman wants to see Colin playing an adulterer? All in all buy Love Actually or Bridget Jones Diary watch Colin charm you in a movie you'll enjoy...
Rating:
Summary: My Life So Far
Review: I rented this movie out of a desire to see Colin Firth (Pride and Prejudice, The English Patient) give an excellent performance. I was not let down. He and the entire cast put out realistic understandings of the characters they portrayed. I was surprised and at times very uneasy in mixed company at the boldness of the young son with his conversations on sex, prostitution, orgies, etc. Granted he was a young child asking questions and the topics did have relevance to the story line, I didn't see the need to be so overt. Overall I thought it was a well made movie with excellent acting and cinematography. I would recommend it to more mature audiences.
Rating:
Summary: I never thought I'd write but - I LIKED IT!
Review: I was bored one day and I flipped to IFC. They were playing this film so I decided to give it a try. Well, in the same likeness that an old song begins to inch its way into your heart, this film slowly began to grow on me. I sat there thinking, why am I watching this, only to find myself laughing at the absurd family in this film as I started to envision what it must have been like to grow up in that eccentric, if not completely captivating, clan. In it, we meet a very inquisitive young man who discovers booze, sketched porn and smoking. His father, battling his own cravings but fronting a semblance of virtue, objects to just about everything his curious son seeks. It is here that we witness the comedy and wit unfold. Give this film a try. The main character is hard to forget and the story, although uncouth is some segments, will still leave a fun impression on your mind
Rating:
Summary: Eccentric Colin Firth.
Review: Playing the dad to a rather large brood of children in Scottish highlands and running a moss factory of sorts. Charming story told from the viewpoint of his son, Frasier.
Rating:
Summary: Eccentric Colin Firth.
Review: Playing the dad to a rather large brood of children in Scottish highlands and running a moss factory of sorts. Charming story told from the viewpoint of his son, Frasier.
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