Excellent but underrated film

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Great movie, very emotional, well written and acted. Don't tell anybody but I cried thru the whole movie.

Life as a House is an inspirational movie that revolves around the relationship of a terminally ill father(George Monroe) and his troubled son(Sam Monroe). Both of them struggle to enjoy the true value of life and are emotionally hurt. Although everything changes once George is diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer and this movie depicts the transformation of their lives together. Despite being sick, George manages to keep his condition covert and he chooses to make the most of his time while he still has a chance. Sam is a misunderstood teenager who has just never received the necessary guidance to move forward in life, and looks to narcotics as an escape from the the hardships of the real world. Realizing his time is fading, George calls his son over for the summer to share what precious time he has left and to make a lasting impact that will hopefully steer Sam in the right direction. Regardless of the great story line and good performances from Kevin Kline and Hayden Christensen, the movie is below par in a few categories. The supporting actors were poorly cast and their acting seemed to be completely fake in several scenes. The focus on unnecessary side stories also adds time to the film which disengages viewers due to its dullness and uninteresting themes. The soundtrack and filming was also lackluster and failed to serve this movie justice. Despite the weak performances and substandard technical aspects, Life as a House is a breathtaking film. The shortcomings of this movie pale in comparison to the overall plot and acting from the father-son duo. This movie is very deep and emotional, and touches on a lot of sensitive subjects. Exemplifying the true importance of life, Life as a House is a very strong movie that deserves to be recognized as one.

Love, love lost and love gained are what I would consider the defining characteristics of this film. By examining the fates and troubles of a handful of individuals and their interaction with one another this film defines what it is to be a family. The house, its demolition and re-building is the ultimate metaphor that is central to each individual characters transformation. Character functions and the ideologies surrounding life, family, death and re-birth play a crucial role. Life As A House is predominantly a film set around one families struggle to accept one another and how the fate of one persons demise eventually brings them together.

Kevin Kline portrays George Monroe – a father that is disconnected from his angst-ridden son, Sam Monroe (played by Hayden Christensen). Robin (played by Kristin Scott Thomas) and George have been divorced for 10 years, and their son Sam feels that he does not fit in at the house with her new husband and children. He resorts to getting high with pills or by huffing, and tries to end his life. George worked at an architecture firm until he is fired and he has a breakdown at work. As a result, he finds out he has cancer and only has 2-3 months to live.After George's diagnosis, he pushes Sam to stay with him for the summer at his house – which is really just a garage with a bed and a house crumbling around it. George has decided to knock down his old house and build a new one – something he can leave behind for Sam. George realizes that life isn't what you live, it is what you make with it – which is the theme throughout the movie.The lighting throughout the film exemplifies the message. Usually the lighting used is the natural outdoor lighting, but in the garage scene when George confronts Sam's drug usage, the lighting is very dark and ominous, quite fitting given the situation. Toward the end of the film, the mood got darker the lighting also followed, carrying along with the story line and time line of the characters. Along with the lighting, the camera angles also helped to tell the story. When George was up on the roof for example, the camera angles were farther off in the distance, showing George simply as a shadow working on the roof with the setting sun as a backdrop.In the end, George was successful in keeping his health a secret until the house was almost completely framed out. With the help of Sam, Robin, Robins younger children and the neighbors, George's dream of leaving a house behind for his son was realized. After George died, the house became a poignant reminder. Sam decided to pass the house on to the family that was affected by the decisions of his Grandfather.Overall, the film was a romantic drama that lived up to every expectation. He was successful in building the house with his son, and repairing the damaged relationship they had before he passed away. If you liked American Beauty, I recommend checking this film out!