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Half-Life (2008)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Jennifer Phang (written by)
Release Date:
2008 (USA)
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Plot:
As troubling signs of global cataclysms accelerate, a brother and sister react to their father's desertion and the powerful presence of their mother's new boyfriend. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
3 wins
&
1 nomination
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NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Ifp No Borders Co-production Market Days 1 & 2 - Focused On Film Financing - Phang Blogs
(From Filmmaker Magazine. 22 September 2009, 12:33 AM, PDT)
Ifp No Borders Nears - Phang Blogs
(From Filmmaker Magazine. 17 September 2009, 8:27 PM, PDT)
(From Filmmaker Magazine. 22 September 2009, 12:33 AM, PDT)
Ifp No Borders Nears - Phang Blogs
(From Filmmaker Magazine. 17 September 2009, 8:27 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Half-Life is a wonderful piece of cinema. Hands down.
more (5 total)
Cast
(Credited cast)| Sanoe Lake | ... | Pamela Wu | |
| Julia Nickson-Soul | ... | Saura Wu | |
| Leonardo Nam | ... | Scott Parker | |
| Ben Redgrave | ... | Wendell | |
| Lee Marks | ... | Jonah Robertson | |
| James Eckhouse | ... | Richard Parker | |
| Susan Ruttan | ... | Lorraine Parker | |
| Alexander Agate | ... | Timothy Wu | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Katrina Agate | ... | Jenny | |
| Mary Angello | ... | Aida | |
| Vonn Scott Bair | ... | BBQ Dad | |
| Mike Bruce | ... | TV Anchorman | |
| Toby Evetts | ... | Documentary Announcer | |
| Deb Fink | ... | Terry Hartman | |
| Chris Flint | ... | Man in Riot Scene | |
| Keisuke Hoashi | ... | Field Reporter / Radio News Reporter | |
| Samantha Martin | ... | Patient | |
| Danton Mew | ... | Tim Wu Sr. | |
| Andrew Pitts | ... | Gunther | |
| John Stuart West | ... | Radio News Reporter | |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
106 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Developed at the Film Independent (FIND) Directors Lab under the instruction of film and television director Rodrigo García.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Behind the Couch: Casting in Hollywood (2005)
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This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (5 total)
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It's pretty well described as "pre-apocalyptic drama" (though I'm not sure "drama" is the right word it does have pretty hilarious moments too.), where a family finds themselves in a world sunk in environmental chaos, while still trying to cope with their own problems. The focus, of course, is not in the setting, but the particular ordeals that the incredibly diverse family have to face: a stressed out mother, Saura, a jaded daughter, Pam, and a reclusive younger son with strange paranormal powers, Tim. Also surrounding the family is Saura's manipulative boyfriend Wendell and Pam's recently outed best friend Scott, for whom she happens to hold deeper feelings than mere friendship. And fully closing the circle there's Tim's teacher and Scott's lover. Oh, and did I forget to mention that Scott's parents are zealous Christians?
The movie manages to blend in live-action scenes with beautifully hand-drawn surreal animated scenes to represent the main characters' fantasy world, giving it a really unique and original feel. I was even told by the filmmakers that they spent three years on the animation alone, so basically most of it was hand drawn frame by frame!
As you can see, there are A LOT of stories to be told, and Jennifer Phang's script does it wonderfully, not leaving a single detail out. The script is beautiful, even poetic, with the characters and their motivations tangible in every scene. But the movie is not just drama; like when Scott is talking to his father about 'reasserting things'. Scott's reply is just PRICELESS: "reassert what, my rectum?". And with some very laugh out loud moments like that one, the movie takes on an even more realistic feel.
One thing I really enjoyed was the music: it just felt RIGHT for every scene and it was beautifully written.
If you're looking for a beautifully told -and on top of everything VERY HUMAN- story, Half- Life may just do it. I thoroughly enjoyed it!