As the 15th anniversary of a fatal high school shooting approaches, former pupil Diana McFee is haunted by memories of the tragedy. After losing her best friend Maureen in the attack, Diana has been profoundly affected by the incident - her seemingly perfect life shaped by the events of that day.
Perelman never overcomes the disjuncture of having two familiar actresses play the same grown character, and despite the endless crosscutting, the two halves settle respectively into ghoulish foreboding and murky psychological drama.
– J. R. Jones,
Chicago Reader,
25 Apr 2008
fresh:
Thoroughly thought through and photographed with imagination and psychological penetration, it's the product of a very shrewd directorial hand.
– Mick LaSalle,
San Francisco Chronicle,
25 Apr 2008
rotten:
What you get, in the end, is a pair of fine performances (from Thurman and Wood) and a technically well-made film that arrives at a foregone conclusion.
– Jeff Shannon,
Seattle Times,
25 Apr 2008
fresh:
In the end, Life is a challenging success, with Wood's performance again affirming her status among the young generation of actors, and Perelman's vision promising more intrigue to come.
– Tom Long,
Detroit News,
2 May 2008
rotten:
Ambition and accomplishment are aeons apart in this would-be meaningful drama.