Life as a House (2001)

When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father.

Director:

Irwin Winkler

Writer:

Mark Andrus

Stars:

Hayden Christensen, Kevin Kline, Kristin Scott Thomas

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Kline	...	George Monroe
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Robin Kimball
Hayden Christensen	...	Sam Monroe
Jena Malone	...	Alyssa Beck
Mary Steenburgen	...	Colleen Beck
Mike Weinberg	...	Adam Kimball
Scotty Leavenworth	...	Ryan Kimball
Ian Somerhalder	...	Josh
Jamey Sheridan	...	Peter Kimball
Scott Bakula	...	Officer Kurt Walker
Sandra Nelson	...	Nurse #1
Sam Robards	...	David Dokos
John Pankow	...	Bryan Burke
Kim Delgado	...	Bob Larson
Barry Primus	...	Tom

Storyline

George Monroe is a lonely and sad man. Divorced for ten years, he lives alone on the Southern California coast with his pet dog in the same run down shack he has lived in for twenty-five years, the shack which his father passed down to him. In the intervening years, ostentatious houses have sprung up around him. He's been at the same architectural firm for twenty years in a job he hates, which primarily consists of building scale models. On the day that he is fired from his job, he is diagnosed with an advanced case of terminal cancer, which he chooses not to disclose to his family. In many ways, this day is the happiest of his recent life in that he decides to spend what little time he has left doing what he really wants to do, namely build a house he can call his own to replace the shack. He also wants his rebellious sixteen year old son, Sam Monroe, to live with him for the summer, hopefully not only to help in the house construction, but for the two to reconnect as a family. ...

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Plot Keywords:

abusive childhood | weight loss | house | cancer | construction | 

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Taglines:

Seen from a distance, it's perfect.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, sexuality and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

New Line

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 November 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Haus am Meer

Filming Locations:

Bermuda

Box Office

Budget:

$27,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$294,056, 28 October 2001, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$15,652,637, 30 December 2001

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,920,746, 8 November 2003

Company Credits

Production Co:

Winkler Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the audio commentary of the DVD, Irwin Winkler stated that Kevin Kline lost about 25 pounds. He was also on a constant diet and had a trainer with him. But he was not sick. It's to let the audience think George is getting sicker and sicker.

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Goofs

When George and Robin have their "romp" in the garage the clock on the wall reads 2:30. Afterwards, Sam goes outside and hugs several people then we cut to Robin still in the garage and the time on the clock is 2:20.

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Quotes

George: You're a great architect, and a miserable human being.
[Proceeds to smash one of his architectural models to bits]
Bryan Burke: [Angrily, holding the shattered model in his hands] You're not even a fucking architect, and you're a miserable human being!
George: You're right. You win.
[Calmly walks out]

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Connections

Version of Daibyônin (1993)

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Soundtracks

Both Sides Now
Written by Joni Mitchell
Performed by Joni Mitchell
Courtesy of Reprise Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Incredible movie

I am a college professor and teach a variety of psychology classes, general, adolescent, child, human relations, etc. I have shown this movie to every class and it never fails to grab everyone's attention. Every time I see it I find something else to admire...usually a line I've missed previously. It took about 10 times for me to pick up on "Thinking of jumping? No, pushing." Granted, I'm slow. It is a film that every parent and child should see, together. The acting is meticulous. Hayden Christensen is so good as a troubled teen that I hated him as Darth Vader. He will always be Sam. If you aren't crying or fighting back the tears than you obviously were born without a heart. Oh yes, I'm a father.