6.1/10
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37 user 129 critic
Trailer
2:11 | Trailer
A photographer for LIFE Magazine is assigned to shoot pictures of James Dean.

Director:

Anton Corbijn

Writer:

Luke Davies (screenplay)

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Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Pattinson ... Dennis Stock
Peter Lucas ... Nicholas Ray
Lauren Gallagher Lauren Gallagher ... Natalie Wood
Kendal Rae ... Messy Actress
Drew Leger Drew Leger ... Boyfriend
Dane DeHaan ... James Dean (as Dane Dehaan)
Alessandra Mastronardi ... Pier Angeli
John Blackwood ... Raymond Massey
Jason Blicker ... Journalist
Emily Hurson ... Publicity Trooper
Kristian Bruun ... Roger
Joel Edgerton ... John Morris
Emma Pedersen ... John Morris' Secretary
Stella Schnabel Stella Schnabel ... Norma
Allison Brennan Allison Brennan ... Jack Warner's Assistant
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Storyline

This movie chronicles the story behind the 1955 LIFE Magazine photo thread by Dennis Stock of then-rising star, James Dean, and gives us an inside look at some of Hollywood's most iconic images and into the life of a gifted, but troubled man.

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

From Rebel to Icon. See more »

Genres:

Biography | Drama

Certificate:

M | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

James Dean's article written for LIFE Magazine was not very popular at the time when it was first released. See more »

Goofs

The film shows James Dean romancing Pier Angeli in the opening two months of 1955, and being devastated when she abruptly marries singer Vic Damone. In fact, the brief romance between Dean and Angeli had been well over a year earlier and her marriage to Damone had been in October of 1954. At the time of the events of this movie, she was pregnant with her first child by Damone. See more »

Quotes

James Dean: One more orgasm behind you and one step closer to death.
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Soundtracks

Such a Night
Written by Lincoln Chase
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User Reviews

 
Inside look of Dean's short lived fame / anti-fame.
8 February 2015 | by CharlieGreenCGSee all my reviews

James Dean, although the lead-star of only three films, concreted himself as one of the cinema's golden age legends quite quickly in the 1950's - mainly through his unconventional approach to Hollywood's rules - this is, all before his premature death quite soon later.

Portrayed by Dane Dehaan, LIFE is a satirical chronicle of Dean's rise of an unknown to his Hollywood acting debut of success and fame. Yet, the film is not directly told as a documentary of his life - but via the lens of Robert Pattinson's character, Dennis Stock, a rookie photographer for a photo-agency with aspirations of becoming known.

Set in the 1950's, director Anton Corbijn's take on Dean's life is admirably applaudable as it takes us on an inside look of Dean's short lived fame and anti-fame. The sets, the cinematography, the music and the atmosphere all cipher the 50's pose, as smoking and larger-than-life LA are the standard.

First meeting at a party in 1955, Dennis (the photographer) approaches Dean; a young, sophisticated individual wearing a melo- polo, slicked hair with thick framed glasses and asks who he is. For Dehaan, the performance, both visually and in terms of acting is undeniably suited as he resonates Dean's moody and unique approach, showing him as a person, not merely an icon.

Forming sturdy relationships with Jack Warner (Ben Kingsley), of Warner Brothers Pictures, Dean's talent is soon spotted, and through several frustrations of the individual's motives, he told to 'play the part, follow the rules' and he would be made a star.

For Robert Pattinson, his take on iconic photographer Dennis Stock is equally as impressive as he enters the world of Hollywood from the other side of the carpet (and at bottom). Spotting Dean's talent early, Stock, in the two-hour running time attempts to get photographs of Dean before fame kicks in. Deadlines, pressure and awkwardness soon mount-up, and Pattinson expertly presents it onto screen.

Shot-by-shot, we capture each of Stock's photos of James Dean - but, rather than just a photo and what point it was taken - we are inclusively taken into a perspective of why it was taken, the setting and how they were so important - and now, in retrospective of our present - why so iconic.

http://gonewiththemovies.com/reviews/life-review.php


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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK | Germany | Canada | Australia | USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 September 2015 (Australia) See more »

Also Known As:

Life - La naissance d'une légende See more »

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,231,606
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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