I
have never been much for weepy tearjerkers, but I decided to give LIFE
AS A HOUSE ($25) a spin because of Kevin Kline, who has become a favorite
since his Oscar winning turn in A FISH CALLED WANDA. Of course,
Kline is as adept in serious drama, as he is in comedy, so he gives a
truly moving performance as George- a middle aged man who learns that
he has only a short time to live. Taking stock of a life that did not
turn out well by anyone’s standards, George decides to use the little
time he has left to set his house in order- both literally and figuratively.
With
his remaining time, George sets out to tear down the ramshackle hovel
that he lives in, and build a new home in its stead. George also sets
out to tear down the walls that separate him and his estranged teenage
son Sam (Hayden Christensen) and rebuild their broken down relationship.
And, in his effort to reach out to his son, George even manages to rebuild
some semblance of his connection to his remarried ex-wife Robin (Kristin
Scott Thomas), whom he still deeply loves.
The
performances in LIFE AS A HOUSE are truly first rate, despite the
fact that the film’s screenplay is a bit too manipulative for its own
good. Kevin Kline is incredibly good in brining to life a flawed character,
who has reached the end of his days. Hayden Christensen also delivers
a moving performance as the angst-ridden teen, who has become involved
with drugs and find his way into prostitution. The solid supporting cast
of LIFE AS A HOUSE features Jena Malone, Mary Steenburgen, Scott
Bakula, Ian Somerhalder, and Jamey Sheridan.
New
Line Home Entertainment has made LIFE AS A HOUSE available on DVD
in a 2.10:1 wide screen presentation that features the anamorphic enhancement
for 16:9 displays. This transfer slightly crops the film’s original 2.35:1
theatrical aspect ratio, but was framed this way for home viewing at the
behest of the filmmakers. The wide screen image doesn’t seem to lose any
pertinent information from the periphery of the frame, and the compositions
appear fine as they are. Vilmos Zsigmond’s cinematography is gorgeous
and this transfer is very accurate representation of that beauty. The
picture is sharp, but silky and it produces a wonderful level of detail.
Colors are vibrant and rich, plus the flesh tones always appear very realistic.
Even the most intense hues are rendered with perfect stability and not
a sign of smearing. Blacks are completely pure, contrast is exceptionally
smooth and shadow detail is rich. Dual layer authoring keeps digital compression
artifacts from ever becoming noticeable.
For
this release, LIFE AS A HOUSE has been provided with both Dolby
Digital and DTS 5.1 channel soundtracks. Since LIFE AS A HOUSE
is a dialogue driven drama, neither soundtrack features a particularly
showy sound mix. Subtle sound effects and a great sense of atmosphere
are rendered throughout the movie in a completely convincing manner. Dialogue
is fairly crisp and cleanly reproduced. Music has a nice warm quality
and has excellent fidelity. Both the Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks
sound great, although those with DTS capable systems will enjoy a bit
more sonic detail and clarity because of the higher bit rate of the format.
An English Dolby Surround soundtrack is also encoded onto the DVD, as
are English subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound serve to enhance the DVD’s interactive
menus. Through the menus, one has access to the standard scene selection
and set up features, as well as the DVD’s supplemental materials. Starting
things off is a running audio commentary with director Irwin Winkler,
producer Rob Cowan, and screenwriter Mark Andrus. This is a good commentary
track that offers a solid level of detail on the creative process of behind
the film, as well as recollections of working with the first rate cast.
Two
documentaries have also been included on the DVD. Character Building:
Inside Life As A House runs twenty-four minutes and is the typical
look behind-the-scenes made up primarily of interviews with the cast and
crew. Clocking in at ten minutes is From The Ground Up,
which is a bit more original, since it offers a look at the construction
of the homes featured in the movie. Four deleted scenes, totaling about
twelve minutes of material, are also provided amongst the supplements.
The deleted scenes are presented in 16:9 enhanced wide screen and can
be viewed with or without commentary by Irwin Winkler, Rob Cowan, and
Mark Andrus. A Theatrical Press Kit has also been provided
and it contains production notes, as well as cast & crew biographies.
A theatrical trailer closes out the supplemental features. LIFE AS
A HOUSE is also DVD-ROM enabled, with the film’s screenplay provided
via a script to screen viewer that allows one to access the film from
within the screenplay. Also included in the DVD-ROM section is the film’s
theatrical web site and additional web links.
I
like LIFE AS A HOUSE for the fine performances from a wonderful
group of actors, even though I felt manipulated by the movie’s tear-jerking
premise. Still, if one is drawn to such material, they will thoroughly
love this movie. Anyway, New Line’s excellent presentation of the film
on DVD comes as no surprise, so those who are even moderately interested
in the film can’t go wrong by picking up a copy of LIFE AS A HOUSE
on DVD.
I
have never been much for weepy tearjerkers, but I decided to give LIFE
AS A HOUSE ($25) a spin because of Kevin Kline, who has become a favorite
since his Oscar winning turn in A FISH CALLED WANDA. Of course,
Kline is as adept in serious drama, as he is in comedy, so he gives a
truly moving performance as George- a middle aged man who learns that
he has only a short time to live. Taking stock of a life that did not
turn out well by anyone’s standards, George decides to use the little
time he has left to set his house in order- both literally and figuratively.
With
his remaining time, George sets out to tear down the ramshackle hovel
that he lives in, and build a new home in its stead. George also sets
out to tear down the walls that separate him and his estranged teenage
son Sam (Hayden Christensen) and rebuild their broken down relationship.
And, in his effort to reach out to his son, George even manages to rebuild
some semblance of his connection to his remarried ex-wife Robin (Kristin
Scott Thomas), whom he still deeply loves.
The
performances in LIFE AS A HOUSE are truly first rate, despite the
fact that the film’s screenplay is a bit too manipulative for its own
good. Kevin Kline is incredibly good in brining to life a flawed character,
who has reached the end of his days. Hayden Christensen also delivers
a moving performance as the angst-ridden teen, who has become involved
with drugs and find his way into prostitution. The solid supporting cast
of LIFE AS A HOUSE features Jena Malone, Mary Steenburgen, Scott
Bakula, Ian Somerhalder, and Jamey Sheridan.
New
Line Home Entertainment has made LIFE AS A HOUSE available on DVD
in a 2.10:1 wide screen presentation that features the anamorphic enhancement
for 16:9 displays. This transfer slightly crops the film’s original 2.35:1
theatrical aspect ratio, but was framed this way for home viewing at the
behest of the filmmakers. The wide screen image doesn’t seem to lose any
pertinent information from the periphery of the frame, and the compositions
appear fine as they are. Vilmos Zsigmond’s cinematography is gorgeous
and this transfer is very accurate representation of that beauty. The
picture is sharp, but silky and it produces a wonderful level of detail.
Colors are vibrant and rich, plus the flesh tones always appear very realistic.
Even the most intense hues are rendered with perfect stability and not
a sign of smearing. Blacks are completely pure, contrast is exceptionally
smooth and shadow detail is rich. Dual layer authoring keeps digital compression
artifacts from ever becoming noticeable.
For
this release, LIFE AS A HOUSE has been provided with both Dolby
Digital and DTS 5.1 channel soundtracks. Since LIFE AS A HOUSE
is a dialogue driven drama, neither soundtrack features a particularly
showy sound mix. Subtle sound effects and a great sense of atmosphere
are rendered throughout the movie in a completely convincing manner. Dialogue
is fairly crisp and cleanly reproduced. Music has a nice warm quality
and has excellent fidelity. Both the Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks
sound great, although those with DTS capable systems will enjoy a bit
more sonic detail and clarity because of the higher bit rate of the format.
An English Dolby Surround soundtrack is also encoded onto the DVD, as
are English subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound serve to enhance the DVD’s interactive
menus. Through the menus, one has access to the standard scene selection
and set up features, as well as the DVD’s supplemental materials. Starting
things off is a running audio commentary with director Irwin Winkler,
producer Rob Cowan, and screenwriter Mark Andrus. This is a good commentary
track that offers a solid level of detail on the creative process of behind
the film, as well as recollections of working with the first rate cast.
Two
documentaries have also been included on the DVD. Character Building:
Inside Life As A House runs twenty-four minutes and is the typical
look behind-the-scenes made up primarily of interviews with the cast and
crew. Clocking in at ten minutes is From The Ground Up,
which is a bit more original, since it offers a look at the construction
of the homes featured in the movie. Four deleted scenes, totaling about
twelve minutes of material, are also provided amongst the supplements.
The deleted scenes are presented in 16:9 enhanced wide screen and can
be viewed with or without commentary by Irwin Winkler, Rob Cowan, and
Mark Andrus. A Theatrical Press Kit has also been provided
and it contains production notes, as well as cast & crew biographies.
A theatrical trailer closes out the supplemental features. LIFE AS
A HOUSE is also DVD-ROM enabled, with the film’s screenplay provided
via a script to screen viewer that allows one to access the film from
within the screenplay. Also included in the DVD-ROM section is the film’s
theatrical web site and additional web links.
I
like LIFE AS A HOUSE for the fine performances from a wonderful
group of actors, even though I felt manipulated by the movie’s tear-jerking
premise. Still, if one is drawn to such material, they will thoroughly
love this movie. Anyway, New Line’s excellent presentation of the film
on DVD comes as no surprise, so those who are even moderately interested
in the film can’t go wrong by picking up a copy of LIFE AS A HOUSE
on DVD.
