Rating: 
Summary: amazingly depressing
Review: If your up for a sad, spirit killing, depressing, downer of a movie, than have a ball with this one. I haven't seen this much crying in one place by so many people at one time sinse the twin towers came down on the 11th. What a great holiday movie.NOT!! The acting was good but the story was a total downer. Devorced guy looses everything meaningfull in his life including his son only to find out he is going to die of cancer. My idea of a good movie isn't about watching some poor guy whose about to die spend his last few days trying to make up for all the things he didn't do in the past. Is there not enough depressing stuff going on in the real word these days. My opinion this holiday, do yourself and your soul a favor, go see a happy, fun, uplifting movie.
Rating: 
Summary: IT DESERVES MORE THAN 5 STARS
Review: Life as a House is by far the MOST AMAZING movie I have EVER seen!! I have already seen it twice, and will probably end up seeing it again because i am slowly dragging all my friends - and when it's over, they thank me! I saw this movie for the first time one week ago and I cannot get it off my mind. This movie changes the way you think, changes the way you feel, and changes the way you love. Kline, Thomas and Christensen give these intensely beautiful performances - if this movie doesn't win an Oscar, than everyone is out of their minds!! This movie is the best thing you can do for yourself - I promise!!
Rating:
Summary: hayden's yummy, but the movie is still awesome. =)
Review: absolutely an awesome, heart-wrenching-with-a-good-feeling movie. go see it, take tissues. it's a screwed up family film with a sad ending that leaves you with a good feeling in your heart. great acting, issues and events are easily related to.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best films in a long time...
Review: You almost can't go wrong with Kristen Scott Thomas anyway but that being said- this film was MUCH better than I expected. It was truly lovely- very sad, very sweet and very funny. I personally think it is worthy of an Oscar nomination.
Rating: 
Summary: Predictable, mildly disappointing
Review: Kevin Kline was wonderful, as usual. The acting in general was great. Scenery was spectacular. The house, when done, is beautiful. I found the predictibility caused the movie to be dull. Everything and everyone in chaos at the beginning, everyone and everything perfect at the end. Slight unexpected ending, but nothing really great there. Two sex scenes: one was funny; the other in the shower was just weird and stupid.Can't say I would recommend anyone spend money in a theater for this. Maybe rent it when it comes out. It just wasn't that good overall.
Rating:
Summary: certainly memorable
Review: Life as a house is a brilliant movie. There is never a dull moment. Although it does not have war planes crashing at every second, it still keeps your attention. The story is about a divorced man (Kevin Kline)who has drifted from his family and from his son espcially. His son visits him on certain weekends and doesn't like it too much. Then the dad finds out he is going too die soon so he wants to do the things in his life that he has put off for so long, like rebuilding his beach shack and reconnecting with his lost son, Sam (Hayden Christensen). Hayden Christensen turned in a beautiful performance and he really makes you feel what the character was feeling. Sam is somewhat of a case. Certainly not the kind of kid your parents wanted you hanging around. It will surely be a long time before I forget this film, not only because of the wonderful story line and intense drama, but for the wonderful Oscar deserving performances also. Espcially by newcomer Hayden Christensen(Anakin Skywalker in upcoming Episode 2). He really portrayed his character, Sam, perfectly. He is an outstanding actor; not just for a newcomer. He really gets your attention.
Life As A House is one of the best films I have ever seen. It was certainly a memorable film.
Rating: 
Summary: Good tearjerker!
Review: Although this isn't the most original movie of the year, it is a good tearjerker. I thought the cast was perfect--especially the interaction between Kevin Kline and Hayden Christensen. I thought the relationship between Hayden's character and the girl next door was interesting, too. Also, the soundtrack was pretty cool. After dismal movies that came and went this summer, this is a welcome change. Worth the price of a ticket!
Rating:
Summary: Kevin Kline at his serious best!
Review: The reason I wanted to see this movie in the first place was to see Kevin Kline give a dramatic performance - and boy, oh boy, did he! (clear a space for your Oscar, Kev) I loved the story and the scenery was breathtaking - I did think the relationship between the son (Hayden Christensen is a talented newcomer)and his girlfriend was a little strange. In the shower (yes together) the more nervous of the two 16 year olds was Hayden who "asked permission" to give her a kiss and she said "no" (you can shower nude with me - but no kissing?) I found this pretty funny. Her mother needed a good slap, too. The ending was quick and out of place. It's like the writers felt they needed a little more than the perfect ending that was already there.
Rating:
Summary: A truly memorable film
Review: I was very impressed with this movie's original but understandable concept. A man who is estranged from his family, wants to reconnect; with his son, who is quite a case, especially. His son Sam is played by Hayden Christensen. Hayden turned in one the most wonderful, believable performances I have ever seen. He truly deserves more credit than he is recieving; outside of being the teen Anakin in Star Wars Episode 2 and 3. Sam is a very complex character and Hayden portrayed him perfectly in this movie. Kevin Kline also did a very well job; also not getting the credit he deserves. But in my opinion, new commer, Hayden Christensen, really is the one that got my attention and left me leaving the theater in total and complete amazment.
Rating:
Summary: The Performances save the day in "Life as a House"
Review: As a director, Irwin Winkler has been responsible for some average movies with great casts: "The Net," (Sandra Bullock and Jeremy Northam) "At First Sight" (Val Kilmer and Mira Sorvino)and "Night and the City" (Robert De Niro and Jessica Lange) to name a few. And once again in "Life as a House" he is saved... this time by an extraordinary cast: Kevin Kline (George), Kristin Scott Thomas (Robin), Hayden Christensen (Sam), Jena Malone (Alyssa) and Mary Steenburgen (Coleen). Winkler is much more successful as a producer, the original and best "Rocky" being one of his producing credits.
Kline and Scott-Tomas are pros and almost everything they do in this movie is perfect...all Winkler had to do was make sure they hit their marks and that the camera was in focus. But Christensen is a newcomer, and even though he does an excellent job overall, some of his scenes are overwrought and simply don't ring true...where it is obvious he is play-acting. Ditto for Malone, who is always excellent and is particularly radiant in this film, a firm director would have pulled her back from seeming overly coy and fake in a couple of her scenes.
The basic story is simple: A dying man (Kline) decides to clean up his life by tearing down his eye-sore house and building a new one and in the process hopes to repair his relationship with his son (Christensen)whom he has neglected and "written off."
There is real magic in all the scenes between Kline and Scott-Thomas. The kind of magic that hits you right in the pit of your stomach. Why are both of these actors so underused and under appreciated? Rebuilding a house as a metaphor for rebuilding one's life is obvious and corny without a doubt, but it works here despite my reservations and Kline, Scott-Thomas, Christensen, Malone and Steenburgen are the reasons why.
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