MovieChat Forums > The Life Before Her Eyes (2008) Discussion > Things that impressed me about this movi...

Things that impressed me about this movie. (This film is underrated)

posted 15 years ago by jason967
6 replies | jump to latest

*SPOILERS AHEAD.*

The significance of flowers - There are a lot of cool artsy shots of flowers, trees with blossom etc. I think this was meant to reflect Diana's fate of never having the chance to blossom into adulthood.

The song "About Her" by Malcolm McLaren - If you're a deep thinker and read into things like i do, you may have clicked on that Diana was the one who died and her adult "life" was all a fantasy. The song played around 3 times in the movie, but only one line - "Try to find her. She's not there"... very cool and clever in my opinion. And it gave people the chance to figure out the twist early into the movie if you were sharp enough.

I think it's an utter disgrace that people have underrated this movie. It simply infuriates me to think that dumb, big budget Hollywood flicks with no brains, no artistic expression will be seen by more people than this movie. There's so many beautiful things you can do with film, yet have a few college girls get there boobs out and go on a road trip for example is obviously what will make money and satisfy 1 dimensional idiots.

I'd also like to say how beautiful the cinematography was during the scene where the camera moved through the school showing the bodies.

[–] jlent 15 years ago

Yeah, and the scene at the high school "reunion" near the end when the receptionist asks Uma Thurman, "Are you one of the survivors?" and Thurman shakes her head no.

I'd also like to say how beautiful the cinematography was during the scene where the camera moved through the school showing the bodies.

Or exploitative. I'm sorry, one man's meat is another man's poison.

[–] megzorz 15 years ago

I like how it wasn't overly graphic. They used certain angles to make it looks less exploitative, but yes, it is disturbing.

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[–] greenday_2013-1 15 years ago

"The significance of flowers - There are a lot of cool artsy shots of flowers, trees with blossom etc. I think this was meant to reflect Diana's fate of never having the chance to blossom into adulthood. "

since flowers grow in the same place over and over again, i thought this showed how even if she had gotten to live, she would never get to move on from the tragedy. it would keep her in the same place as in the town, the emotional guilt, the school, etc.

[–] Sweet T 15 years ago

@Jason967: The song you hear is not 'About Her' by Malcolm McLaren, but the original version by The Zombies, called 'She's Not There'.

'All music is folk music. I ain't never heard no horse sing no song' - Louis Armstrong

[–] Jem333 15 years ago

Those who agree with the OP as I do might want to check out Mick LaSalle's rave review in the San Francisco Chronicle, which was what prompted me to buy the DVD - that, and the fact that Uma Thurman is in it.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/25/DDP210B4VR .DTL

Notice how LaSalle was careful not to give away the plot twist while still tantalizing the reader with a hint of it. Beautiful photo in the review as well. He followed his review a bit later with a podcast interview with the director and some discussions - searchable at sfgate.com.

[–] Valerie_Vance 14 years ago

It simply infuriates me to think that dumb, big budget Hollywood flicks with no brains, no artistic expression will be seen by more people than this movie.

This is a joke, yes? There are plenty of big budget Hollywood flicks that are better than this film. The Dark Knight and Iron Man, anyone? Bottom line, this film wasn't very good. It's no better than your dumb average popcorn flick. It, however, was a mess. A good idea that was just executed poorly. You're lucky that you wrote this on the internet. You saved yourself from embarrassment.

It's an ordinary high school day. Except that it's not.