The Life Before This "The Life Before This" is one of those many unconcluded motion pictures events, where there's obviously a lot to say, but there's nothing said at all. It's one of those films with a spectacular premise that shows great promise, but has nothing to give; it is one of those projects where great actors use their talents while we wonder what the hell they are doing there. I remember "All The Rage".
So, as expected, it is unavoidable to watch the film after its introduction. You may think many times later, that there's no content in it, or that nothing's going to happen, but still you stay focused because the ending is something you want to see no matter what. Meanwhile, the music is intriguing, the stories are many, the characters are real and the performances are good.
Joe Pantoliano, always trustful, plays a lawyer with a big debt to pay. He has a brother who, he thinks, sells illegal substances and makes a lot of money for it. They don't speak, but Jake goes asking him for money, and the scene is quite interesting. In fact, many scenes are. Stephen Rea, as a hard working man who lost his daughter and probably himself, plays a part in two scenes that inspire trance.
Catherine O'Hara plays a single woman who was married and dated gay men, and is now looking for a date; but is too worried about what couples live every day and how difficult it is. Leslie Hope, David Hewlett and Joel Keller play a team (sort of) that wants to commit a robbery but have too much on their minds and a lot of preoccupations. A 20-year old Sarah Polley is superb as she moves in with her boyfriend, who wants to be the man of her life.
Emily Hampshire portrays Margaret, a girl with self-confidence issues, whose mother is an actress when she wants to act, but doesn't want her mother to know. Young Alison Pill is a very smart young girl, a prodigy that plays the violin and loves French, but wants to be with other more popular girls and do different stuff.
Believe or not, all of the situations I've explained have a connection. Is not the kind of connection you'd expect of a powerfully moving film where characters are the one with the connection and you can see it along the film. It is the type of film where the connection is determined by an event; an event that shows all of the characters.
There's one scene, of a young couple talking, about a train accident that happened the day before the movie takes place. "If I had been in the train, I wouldn't be with you here", the girl says. "Yeah, but you weren't and you are", the boy says to her. "But one little thing can change everything; If I hadn't chosen Biology class I wouldn't have met you and I wouldn't love you now".
That theory about one thing being able to change everything it is most likely what explains the last scene of the film that wants to be thought provoking and ends instantly. Canadian Director Jerry Ciccoritti hasn't done many things after this and hadn't done much before. Writer Semi Chellas worked his mind off to come up with this.
As I said, it was not a bad idea. But they both missed the emotional connection, and one subject that worked as the main core of their piece. This could have been a great film
It's bad.
