The last act is monumental - in its crushing revelations, the inevitable deterioration and near-misses of the complex charade, and the chance coincidences that constitute alternating hope and despair.

| Original Score: 10/10 | Aug 25, 2024

"It makes you wonder if “Shakespeare in Love” really deserved the Academy Award for best movie of ’98."

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Aug 26, 2023

“Life Is Beautiful” is quite entertaining and well acted for the most part. Benigni isn’t extremely impressive in the lead role, nor is Cantarini very effective. The plot contains various elements seen in other films and not done much better.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Dec 25, 2022

Schmaltzy, treacly, saccharine — call it what you like, if you’re not blubbing by the end, check your pulse.

| Sep 20, 2022

Benigni does a fabulous job of building his characters and telling his story while planting the reality of their situations in our subconscious. I knew the dangers and I knew the stakes were high.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Aug 23, 2022

Denounces the holocaust with a sentient fairy tale. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 30, 2022

Benigni's infectious energy and sharp comedic talents deliver a beautiful message of hope and love amongst such horror and tragedy. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 5, 2022

Exceptional, well-crafted, uplifting.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Mar 21, 2019

Roberto Benigni's finest hour arrived in 1997 when the triple-threat writer/director/actor delved deep into Charlie Chaplin territory - see "The Great Dictator" (1940).

| Original Score: A+ | Mar 8, 2013

Wrenching Holocaust fable with bittersweet humor.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Dec 25, 2010

The film's title, which very well could have been a straightforward declaration prior to the war, becomes a source of twisted irony once we witness Guido pull down the grate outside his humble bookshop and the words JEWISH STORE are seen sprayed across th

| Original Score: 4/4 | Aug 20, 2009

| Original Score: A | Oct 29, 2008

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 7, 2008

With "Life Is Beautiful," the final frontier of schmaltz has been reached.

| Original Score: C- | Mar 11, 2008

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jul 14, 2007

Sentimental and contrived, Benigni's well-intentioned Holocaust dramedy may only work as a children's fable. Inexplicably, it won a prize at the 1998 Cannes Festival.

| Original Score: C+ | Jan 26, 2007

Benigni does with the Nazi setting what Chaplin didn't dare in The Great Dictator--he lets the liberating nonsense triumph.

| Mar 22, 2006

| Original Score: 5/5 | Dec 6, 2005

| Original Score: 0.5/5 | Dec 6, 2005

Benigni's point, made with tender sensitivity, is that a child's innocence is worth protecting.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Jul 1, 2004