Speed of Life (1999) User Reviews

Realistic, Moving Drama

[sbrazie · 7/10 · 19 August 2007]

Speed of Life is a drama about a young man who's mother has died and who now has the unenviable task of caring for his father, a once brilliant professor who is now crippled by the onset of Alzheimers Disease and cannot perform any functions such as bathing, eating, or using the restroom on his own. They live in a loft in a drug-ridden borough of NYC. The film follows his attempts to care for his father, earn money, and go to school while meeting a young artist who also happens to be a drug addict.

Excellent film, from writing, acting, script, sets, camera work, etc. Realistic, moving. Scott Caan shows he has range beyond playing the stereotypical criminal and Mia Kirschner in a small but pivotal role excels as usual. The actor portraying the invalid father was phenomenal. A drama that is both depressing and uplifting, worth seeing for avid film watchers.

One word: Brilliant

[lepsaxon · 10/10 · 21 April 2006]

What an incredible movie, intense and touching.

The storyline is incredible, and the pace with which it's told is simply perfect. The cinematography by Matthew Libatique and the music by Ryeland Allison fit perfectly and complement one another.

I found myself hooked from the very first minute and stayed hooked till the very last.

The cast is incredible; Leo Burmester is absolutely incredible, very intense and heart-touching.

But the one I've enjoyed most in this movie is Scott Caan. I am a huge fan of his, but I don't think I've ever seen him better than here. He's really carrying the whole story by himself, an absolutely believable and realistic performance. His pain and brokenness translate to the viewer, they are absolutely palpable.

Definitely a must-see, a true gem of movie making

amazingly moving

[bighead · 1 May 2003]

When the title menu came up, there was no special feature. This was an indication to me that the movie would suck. What a shock I was in for. The film is just what the summary is. I could maybe add one more line for the ending. It is a deeply emotionally mature and sensitive film that blends eloquent film-making with a writer's sensitive rhythm to words and silences, all perfectly executed with the most awesome performances from the actors, director, and film crew. My wife started sobbing as she talked about it. She's artsy and never sobs over films. It was THAT moving.

Complex & Controversial

[pas-argenio · 7/10 · 8 April 2020]

Tradeoffs, consequences of decisions, layers and parallels embedded in a perfectly-paced, exhilarating, action-family-romance. The family part is enhanced thru the device of home-movie/memory footage. What does romance mean & does it count for anything? Love at first sight? So tenuous. The city provides a backdrop for the action & I love that he takes the subway often, between motorcycle & car rides that elude police while taking care of business. School is not nearly as titillating. Drew (Scott Caan) lives 5 different lives at once and all of them vie & suffer. Can he determine what part of himself takes precedence?

Not much plot but it sort of works anyway

[shaggy61 · 7/10 · 6 May 2012]

Like a lot of indie films, it doesn't seem to know what it's about, but it has a nice understated tension that keeps it from being dull. The main thread is about a young man caring for his disabled father. Everything else is a jumble of tangents--his fling with a female artist looking for kicks, his dead-ender street buddy, his run-ins with the cop on the block, his attempts at school and a career, his brief job as a drug dealer. None of these quite make sense, since the son clearly can't afford to leave his father alone for even an instant, given dad's tendency to nearly fall down elevator shafts and wander outside in his wheelchair. Scott Caan channels much of his real father's (James) charm, and I wonder if this was originally intended as a vehicle for them both. Leo Burmester gibbers and drools effectively, though you wish he had more lucid flashbacks. The film meanders without a plan, much like its protagonist, but the threads pull together enough for a "holy s--t" ending. End result is that it deserves to be better known, at least for the performances by Caan and the late great Burmester.

love, love, love

[larryleejensen · 10/10 · 31 October 2006]

Not only do I love Scott Caan, and the way he portrayed his character (Drew)leaves the viewer in awe. His performance was absolutely heart-wrenching. His scenes with his dad (Leo Burmester) were flawless, and the scenes where he was not with Burmester, but was contemplating his life and thinking about his dad were spellbinding.

I liked the feel of the film. It seemed cold; it make the fact that the character seemed trapped even more realistic. From the beginning, when the viewer sees that the 'warehouse loft' was where Drew and his father made their residence gives away the fact that Drew truly cares for his father (in that he'd give anything for his father's happiness).

What a heartwarming tale.

Beautiful

[dynamozoe · 10/10 · 5 August 2003]

This movie was so beautiful and so moving, I cried while watching it.

I was impressed by the visual style and completely unaware of the acting - that's how caught up I was.

I prefer the music on the original film as Saturn before it was redone as Speed of Life.

One of my very favorite movies.

So underrated!

[maryamjanabi · 9/10 · 30 November 2019]

It's one of those movies that leaves you thinking after they're finished. How many people around Us living a stressful life like Drew's and they literally run out of options! Scott caan gives an amazing performance, his father as well! And MIA KIRSHNER!! I was so surprised! I wish there was More to the plot though. It did get a little boring in the beginning plus we never got to understand who sarah really is.. But all in all it's so good for a 90s indie movie.

Saturn- A very sad, self-centered movie.

[martinlane762 · 21 December 2013]

Narcissism is the focal point of this movie...A script that places a drug addicted playboy ahead of his ailing father..oh the decadence of the Western world This movie abandons all self-control, compassion, and empathy, as it reflects upon the world we now live live in.....A world of self-indulgence, reckless behavior, without any consequence....In summation: Accountability is a bygone behavior, of a long forgotten past. Dementia, and Alzheimer's are indeed very challenging diseases...Sadly the writer of this movie did not incorporate more friends and family, that were or could have helped with the sick dad. I was dumbfounded to see the son murder his dad (pops) in cold blood, but I imagine, this is what sells to the masses these days.....just my thoughts.