A disappointment considering Corbijn's abilities (particularly when compared to his first and best effort, 2007's Control, another portrait of a tragic artist).

| Oct 9, 2020

Anton Corbijn's snapshot of a photographer and his muse is cool and well made. Unfortunately, in comparison to its tremendous cast, Life is underwhelming.

| Original Score: 3/5 | May 16, 2019

The unexpected delight here is Pattinson, who takes the character of Stock and shows every side of him, the unflattering ones included, to the camera.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 23, 2018

You quickly forget that DeHaan is present, accepting him wholeheartedly as Dean.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 22, 2018

Full Review | Jan 30, 2018

(Dane DeHaan) gives a frankly pretty dreadful performance as iconic actor James Dean. It's mannered, visible (you can definitely see the 'acting' going on) and largely unconvincing.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 26, 2017

A movie that shows a very important period of American cinema and photography, making us part of the troubles of the search for transcendence. [Full review in Spanish]

| Oct 10, 2016

It could have been crammed with dialogue and incident but, instead, there's lots of silence and understated subtlety.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 20, 2016

[Corbijn] elicits wonderful performances from DeHaan, Pattinson and also Ben Kingsley, who steals every scene as studio boss Jack Warner.

| May 25, 2016

DeHaan captures Dean's essence impressively, while Pattinson delivers his best work since David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 11, 2016

Life turned out to be as bland as its title.

| Original Score: C | Feb 24, 2016

For Dean aficionados, this is a wonderful way to get the backstory on some of the most iconic images we have of the star.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 2, 2016

As the film's emotional anchor, Stock isn't nearly as fascinating by comparison.

| Dec 11, 2015

It really is the work of Pattinson, and even more so DeHaan, that makes "Life" a success.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 11, 2015

Pattinson and DeHaan are both strong, portraying real people with a mix of imitation and individuality.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 10, 2015

There's not much to go on here.

| Dec 8, 2015

Corbijn is great at taking real-life flesh and blood people and alchemically rendering them in striking 2-dimensional images that transcend and mythologize the reality, but "Life" shows him fall some way short of achieving the reverse.

| Original Score: C+ | Dec 5, 2015

Both Pattinson and DeHaan could have used more to do, but both actors put in performances that elevate the proceedings.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 4, 2015

Flat James Dean biopic has swearing, some nudity.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 4, 2015

A moody, leisurely and occasionally frustrating piece of work ...

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 4, 2015