Life

1999
R
1h 48m

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

56K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:39

Buddy Comedy Comedy Crime Drama

In 1932, two strangers are wrongfully convicted and develop a strong friendship in prison that lasts them through the 20th century.In 1932, two strangers are wrongfully convicted and develop a strong friendship in prison that lasts them through the 20th century.In 1932, two strangers are wrongfully convicted and develop a strong friendship in prison that lasts them through the 20th century.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

56K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,544

505

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 6 nominations total

Trivia
When Ray and Claude are standing on a box of bottles, Claude mentions that a one of his toes has slipped into one of them. This actually happened during the take, but Martin Lawrence kept going, despite Eddie Murphy's laughing, which is genuine.

Goofs
When Ray and Claude are older in the superintendents house talking in their room. You can see that Ray is fixing his bodysuit. He is pulling down his stomach.

Quotes
Goldmouth: Maybe I oughta eat *your* cornbread.
Rayford Gibson: Motherfucker, you can't have my cornbread. That's for damn sure. Cause if you try and take my cornbread, Part 2 of my killing spree is gon' begin up in here on your ass, right now. You thinking about my cornbread, better get the taste out your mouth. That's for damn sure.
Claude Banks: Ray, chill out...
Rayford Gibson: No, fuck him. Fuck that, 'cause I'm from New York City, goddammit. Nobody take no cornbread from me. That goes for anyone of you motherfucking farmers who wanna start some shit. You fuck around with me, there's gonna be consequences and repercussions.

Crazy credits
Bloopers are shown during the closing credits.

Connections
Featured in Maxwell: Fortunate (1999)

Soundtracks
Wake Up Everybody
Written by Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen
Produced by Wyclef Jean and Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis
Performed by Robby Pardlo
Courtesy of Booga Basement Records

User reviews191

Review

Featured review

Under Rated

Continuing my plan to watch every Eddie Murphy movie in order, I come to Life (1999)

Plot In A Paragraph: In 1932, two strangers (Murphy and Lawrence) are wrongfully convicted and develop a strong friendship in prison that lasts them through the 20th century.

This is the last movie starring Eddie Murphy, that I chose to go see at the cinema!! That is not counting voice work, I went to see with my kids. This reteams Murphy with his Boomerang costar, Martin Lawrence. 7 years ago, Murphy was a huge star, and Murphy was relatively unknown. Now they were on an equal footing. Ned Beatty (Deliverance) has a small but important role.

I enjoy this movie, and consider it to be under rated. I usually watch this every couple of years. Murphy and Lawrence had genuine chemistry and some out takes and ad libs are actually in the movie. I think this is probably Murphy's last good comedy!! It's not a laugh riot, but it's a seriously touching movie. Probably in my Top 10 Murphy movies.

Life grossed $63 million at the domestic box office, to end the year the 34th highest grossing movie of the year.