The Low Life (1995)

56% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(180 ratings)

In this drama set in Los Angeles, a group of Yale graduates spend their days as mindless workers at a mundane job and their nights as mooching barflies who enjoy cutting down other patrons with their smart-mouth comments. The main character John loses his roommate and must move into the filthy… More In this drama set in Los Angeles, a group of Yale graduates spend their days as mindless workers at a mundane job and their nights as mooching barflies who enjoy cutting down other patrons with their smart-mouth comments. The main character John loses his roommate and must move into the filthy apartment of Andy, a strange sort who collects and paints Nazi soldier figurines. John later gets a temporary job with a conniving slum lord. Following a failed romance, John suffers a "controlled mental breakdown." ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: George Hickenlooper
Written By: John Enbom, George Hickenlooper
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 28, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Jul 5, 2005
Studio: Vanguard

Critic Reviews

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
A modest but deeply felt film with a solid ensemble cast.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Hickenlooper shows these lonely, mediocre people for what they are but without ever condescending to them or nudging us to feel superior to them.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
The movie belongs to Astin, who brings to the role of Andrew the same intense burning-eyed sincerity with which he imbued the title role of a football-obsessed Notre Dame student in Rudy.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Sean Astin's superbly moving performance nearly saves this flick.
Jonathan R. Perry, Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)
Preternaturally sleazy but strangely watchable.
Kim Williamson, Boxoffice Magazine
Cochrane, Sedgwick and the always-cast- for-dopey LeGros are fine, but it's Astin that again shines, and it's primarily his performance that makes The Low Life an engaging sit.
Steve Davis, Austin Chronicle
There's something beguiling about The Low Life.