Life

Theatrical Release Date: 1999 04 16 (USA)

UPC: 025192055928

Studio: Universal Studios

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Mild Violence, Adult Language]

Summary: Comedians Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence team up for a story that wouldn't appear to have many immediate humorous possibilities -- two men serving life sentences in prison for a crime they did not commit. Life opens in Harlem in 1932, where Ray Gibson (Eddie Murphy) is a small-time con man in debt to Spanky, a gangster (Rick James). Ray spots would-be bank teller Claude Banks (Martin Lawrence) at a gambling spot and, figuring him for an easy mark, lifts his wallet -- only to discover Claude is broke. Ray and Claude's mutual need to raise some cash brings them together when Spanky offers them a job bringing back a load of moonshine from bootleggers in the deep south. However, things don't go well for Ray and Claude, and they're arrested by a sheriff in Mississippi who recently killed a man and needs someone on whom he can hang the charge. Since Ray and Claude are black, from out of town and have been caught red-handed with a load of illegal liquor, the sheriff figures they're easy pickings and frames them for the murder. Soon the two men are inmates in a Southern work camp, where they spend the next 55 years learning to get along with the other inmates, avoiding the wrath of the guards, seeing younger prisoners come and go and never losing hope that someday, somehow, their innocence will be proven and they'll be released. Life is the second screen pairing for Murphy and Lawrence, who also shared screen time in 1992's Boomerang, and was scripted by Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone from an original idea by Murphy. The supporting cast includes Ned Beatty, Clarence Williams III, Bernie Mac, Nick Cassavetes and R. Lee Ermey. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Category: Comedy Drama

Awards: Best Makeup – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Features: Spotlight on location
Feature commentary with director Ted Demme
Outtakes; Director's edits
Rock Land/Interscope soundtrack presentation with K-Ci and Jo Jo and Maxwell music videos
Universal showcase
Production notes
Cast and filmmakers
Theatrical trailer
DVD-ROM features

Life

Format: DVD

Release Date: 10/19/1999

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, DDS Dolby Digital Surround

Runtime: 109 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1
0. Chapter List
1. Main Titles [:22]
2. Finally Free [:20]
3. Harlem, 1932 [:01]
4. Spanky's Deal [1:41]
5. Way Down South [:21]
6. Under the Hill [1:12]
7. The Suspects [:02]
8. Life [4:22]
9. Tough Guys [:28]
10. Ray's Boom Boom Room [2:30]
11. The Escape [5:06]
12. 12 Years Later [:11]
13. Who's the Daddy? [:59]
14. Getting Out [2:24]
15. 28 Years Later [5:40]
16. The Real Killer [:13]
17. Claude's Plan [4:10]
18. End Titles [1:27]

Mike DiBella

This Eddie Murphy/Martin Lawrence prison buddy flick is an underrated tale of bad luck and persevering hope. While the film starts off awkwardly -- almost like Harlem Nights revisited -- the narrative takes off when the unkind hand of fate deals the duo a slew of cruel blows. With Murphy and Lawrence aboard (they also teamed up for Boomerang), one would expect a laugh riot, but Life is not a straight comedy: there are many sad and painful moments throughout the film. Both actors give surprisingly versatile performances: their love-hate buddy act has a chemistry reminscent of Murphy and Nick Nolte in 48 Hrs. or Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. Director Ted Demme does a fairly superior job with the material, which embodies elements of Stir Crazy and even a few nods to Cool Hand Luke. Despite its lackluster box office and slighty-overextended scope, Life is above-average tragicomedy. ~ Mike DiBella, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Eddie Murphy  Producer 
Ted Demme  Director 
Brian Grazer  Producer 
James D. Brubaker  Executive Producer 
Karen Kehela  Executive Producer 
Robert Ramsey  Screenwriter 
Wyclef Jean  Composer (Music Score) 
Matthew Stone  Screenwriter 
Eddie Murphy  Actor 
Martin Lawrence  Actor 
Obba Babatunde  Actor 
Ned Beatty  Actor 
Bernie Mac  Actor 
Miguel A. Nuñez Jr.  Actor 
Clarence Williams III  Actor 
Bokeem Woodbine  Actor 
Michael "Bear" Taliferro  Actor 
Barry "Shabaka" Henley  Actor 
Brent Jennings  Actor 
Guy Torry  Actor 
Lisa Nicole Carson  Actor 
O'Neal Compton  Actor 
Poppy Montgomery  Actor 
Ned Vaughn  Actor 
R. Lee Ermey  Actor 
Nick Cassavetes  Actor 
Anthony Anderson  Actor 
Noah Emmerich  Actor 
Rick James  Actor 

Country: USA