The Life Before This (2000)

A different way of telling a story

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The Life Before This "The Life Before This" is one of those many unconcluded motion pictures events, where there's obviously a lot to say, but there's nothing said at all. It's one of those films with a spectacular premise that shows great promise, but has nothing to give; it is one of those projects where great actors use their talents while we wonder what the hell they are doing there. I remember "All The Rage".So, as expected, it is unavoidable to watch the film after its introduction. You may think many times later, that there's no content in it, or that nothing's going to happen, but still you stay focused because the ending is something you want to see no matter what. Meanwhile, the music is intriguing, the stories are many, the characters are real and the performances are good.Joe Pantoliano, always trustful, plays a lawyer with a big debt to pay. He has a brother who, he thinks, sells illegal substances and makes a lot of money for it. They don't speak, but Jake goes asking him for money, and the scene is quite interesting. In fact, many scenes are. Stephen Rea, as a hard working man who lost his daughter and probably himself, plays a part in two scenes that inspire trance.Catherine O'Hara plays a single woman who was married and dated gay men, and is now looking for a date; but is too worried about what couples live every day and how difficult it is. Leslie Hope, David Hewlett and Joel Keller play a team (sort of) that wants to commit a robbery but have too much on their minds and a lot of preoccupations. A 20-year old Sarah Polley is superb as she moves in with her boyfriend, who wants to be the man of her life.Emily Hampshire portrays Margaret, a girl with self-confidence issues, whose mother is an actress when she wants to act, but doesn't want her mother to know. Young Alison Pill is a very smart young girl, a prodigy that plays the violin and loves French, but wants to be with other more popular girls and do different stuff.Believe or not, all of the situations I've explained have a connection. Is not the kind of connection you'd expect of a powerfully moving film where characters are the one with the connection and you can see it along the film. It is the type of film where the connection is determined by an event; an event that shows all of the characters.There's one scene, of a young couple talking, about a train accident that happened the day before the movie takes place. "If I had been in the train, I wouldn't be with you here", the girl says. "Yeah, but you weren't and you are", the boy says to her. "But one little thing can change everything; If I hadn't chosen Biology class I wouldn't have met you and I wouldn't love you now".That theory about one thing being able to change everything it is most likely what explains the last scene of the film that wants to be thought provoking and ends instantly. Canadian Director Jerry Ciccoritti hasn't done many things after this and hadn't done much before. Writer Semi Chellas worked his mind off to come up with this.As I said, it was not a bad idea. But they both missed the emotional connection, and one subject that worked as the main core of their piece. This could have been a great film…It's bad.

I was floored by the simple idea that is the basis for this movie, "Some things almost never happen." and how that was acted out in the every day lives of the characters. How the smallest choices that you make -- walking into a restaurant or not, taking a job, having a drink, not answering the phone -- can make such a huge difference in a person's life. I came away from the movie thinking that it isn't always the obviously huge decisions you make in your life that make up who you are...those are important, but so are the decisions that you make every day. The actors and actresses didn't overact -- nothing was overdone or cheesy -- the music was quiet and undramatic. I especially enjoyed Catherine O'Hara's performance -- I could hear people in the audience giggling around me at some of her lines. She is funny, and perfect in this role.If you want to see a subtle yet flooring and enjoyable movie -- check this out. Don't expect the usual sappy hollywood ending...thankfully this movie has a real ending. Parts of it are laugh out loud funny. I walked out of this movie and immediately said "I have to find this on DVD." I guarantee you'll want to see it again too.

Through quirky characters and intelligent Altman like set pieces, the film maker explores themes of destiny and fate in a sensitive and engrossing film. The ending makes us all reflect on our own life and on how the smallest actions can have the most dramatic impact on the way our things turns out.Despite the film starting at the end, the final outcome is completely unpredictable and questions the notion that our future is preordained.Ultimately this low key film tackles well worn themes with more impact than more publicised films such as Sliding Doors.

I agree with a previous reviewer in saying that this film had good potential. And in some spots, it comes through on this promise. Unfortunately, when all is said and done, this film does feel a bit incomplete with some things left unexplained.On the plus side, I like how it shows that life can change very drastically with just one seemingly irrelevant incident or event. However, I felt that there were other ironies that were intended or even implied, but the film failed to get them across. If these ironies were explained, and all of the stories connected in more than just the beginning and the ending, this would have been a much better film and I believe it would have fulfilled its potential.I must say, despite its flaws, I liked it. But I could've liked it better...