Kat's Film Reviews: My Life Without Me

Thursday, September 09, 2004

My Life Without Me

Here's a simple film, not trying to be more than it is, but being less of a film for not being more complex. Sarah Polley plays a young woman who learns that she will die of cancer in the next few months. The film tells the story of what she does to try and ensure that everything in her life will go on as smoothly as it can without her around. This isn't anything new to tales of people with fatal illnesses, but you are put off by her rational, unemotional approach. In the beginning this gives the film a fantastical edge, until we understand that this is the kind of person she is. Lack of emotion about one's impending deat his disturbing, however. I'm tired of films that portray the stoic cancer patient (One True Thing, Forrest Gump, Stepmom). I'd be upset, wouldn't you? Polley is magnificent in her chosen role, though, as usual. Supporting characters are just as wonderful -- Amanda Plummer as Polley's friend, Scott Speedman as her husband, Debbie Harry as her mother and the ever-present Mark Ruffalo as the man she cheats on her husband with. It's never clear why she doesn't consider how a passionate affair that he is unaware will be short-lived might emotionally destroy him. That's a pretty selfish act, even if you're dying and want to experience as much as possible before you go. The feeling of being in a fantasy world is heightened by the final shots, and though you're meant to leave the film feeling better because of them, their unreal character ended up making me feel worse for those left behind.

year: 2003
length: 106 min.
rating: 2.5
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314412/combined

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