Life (1999)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

Ray Gibson (Eddie Murphy) and Claude Banks (Martin Lawrence), two city boys, are wrongfully accused of murder in the Jim Crow south. Sentenced to Life in prison, the two men that hate one another find themselves on a lifelong journey toward friendship, acceptance, and even freedom. 

The title Life is a double entendre, referring both to the life sentence that Ray and Claude receive, but also the film’s representation and use of metaphor to explain that the harrowing situation in which our protagonists have found themselves is simply a microcosm of life itself. A comedy headed by legendary comedic actors like Murphy, Lawrence, Bernie Mac (Jangle Leg), Anthony Anderson (Cookie), etc., Life is far more than brilliant comedy, it’s an accurate representation of the world in which we live–set against the backdrop of 1930’s racism in America. While the narrative transcends decades, the core of the film remains intact throughout, reminding viewers of a dark history. Whether it’s the mention of Ray’s father, the untimely death of Biscuit (Miguel A. Núñez Jr.), or the fact that Life is tethered together by that aforementioned racism, the film remains grounded, tonally heavy, and perfectly accessible throughout. 

Similarly, Hoppin’ Bob (Brent Jennings), my favorite character of the film, is both hilarious and tragic. He’s found a way to survive in these harsh conditions, being overly subservient to Sgt. Dillard (Nick Cassavetes) and being willing to turn against his own people. Hoppin’ Bob represents internalized racism, a piece of the racist zeitgeist that is far too often omitted in storytelling. Furthermore, but far more simply put, Hoppin’ Bob is the archetypal “Uncle Tom,” looking at survival as the only way, regardless of who he must step on in order to achieve this. Hoppin’ Bob certainly doesn’t lack depth beyond this archetype, however, as there are a series of moments throughout Life in which it becomes incredibly clear his hesitation. Like many of the other characters, Hoppin’ Bob is brilliantly deep–but the years of experience that he wears provides the character a skosche more gusto than the rest. 

While I don’t feel it necessary to dive too deeply into Ray and Claude, as their development and pertinence in Life is wildly apparent–it’s important to note Lawrence’s underutilization in Hollywood these days. I feel he ranks among the best comedic actors in history, comparable to Murphy, Will Smith, Danny DeVito, and the like. His prowess is ever present in Life, often leading the way, and just as effectively supplementing Murphy’s brilliance opposite him. 

It’s likely known by many that Life was nominated at the 2000 Academy Awards for “Best Makeup,” and it’s no secret why. As the film takes place via a series of flashbacks, spanning the majority of the twentieth century, it’s of the utmost importance that the film employ a team of highly qualified individuals to field the various needs in regard to makeup. With around forty individuals playing a role in this department, Life thrives in this area, allowing a vast narrative to remain effectively linear, cohesive, and accessible. While Director Ted Demme often provides expositional text on screen in order to express a shift in time, the makeup alone is often enough to allow viewers to understand when and where a particular scene (or scenes) occurs on the timeline. The makeup department does far more than just create aesthetically pleasing effects–they provide insight into the film that other pieces of this larger puzzle just aren’t capable. 

A tantalizing comedy, Life quickly becomes far more than a humorous look into the past–incorporating drama and crime elements into the narrative as well. There’s an effective balance achieved on the part of Writers Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone that remains prominent throughout. While I do wish that some of the other characters had been more fully realized, I feel that with the time they had this team developed them in a way that has the potential to resonate with viewers. This all-star cast of characters bring comedy and drama to the big screen in a way that perfectly encapsulates the real world, the history of this country, and the humanity that exists in all of us. 

Directed by Ted Demme. 

Written by Robert Ramsey & Matthew Stone. 

Starring Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Obba Babatundé, Nick Cassavetes, Anthony Anderson, Barry Shabaka Henley, Brent Jennings, Bernie Mac, Miguel A. Núñez Jr., etc. 

7.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING